By Dick Jordan
Rico Abreu of Rutherford, Calif. has been nothing short of spectacular so far in the Honda USAC National Midget Series this year!
Abreu will try to keep his streak of “podium” finishes intact in three events this week in Kansas. The “Chad McDaniel Memorial” is Tuesday night at Solomon Valley Raceway in Beloit, while the “Belleville Midget Nationals” unfolds July 31-August 2, with Midget races Thursday and Saturday. The USAC Silver Crown cars compete at Belleville Friday.
Abreu’s record in nine races so far is simply amazing, with three wins, two seconds and three thirds! Last year he was second at Beloit and had a first and a second at Belleville!
Abreu’s team, the Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian team, swept Belleville in 2013, teammates Christopher Bell and Tanner Thorson taking first and third respectively in the Belleville finale. They all return this year with sights set on a repeat at the North Central Kansas Free Fair’s half-mile dirt oval.
Top challengers in the Kansas events are expected to be three-time Belleville champ Jerry Coons Jr., two-time Belleville champ and 2014 Chili Bowl winner Bryan Clauson, two-time Belleville king Dave Darland, Tracy Hines, teammates Chris Windom and New Zealander Michael Pickens, Zach Daum and Andrew Felker.
Abreu enters the Kansas swing with a whopping 96-point lead over Bell, but with over 200 points available in the three races, the standings could change.
2014 Honda USAC National Midget Standings: 1-Rico Abreu-609; 2-Christopher Bell-513; 3-Tracy Hines-494; 4-Bryan Clauson-472; 5-Tanner Thorson-445; 6-Chris Windom-387; 7-Zach Daum-357; 8-Andrew Felker-332; 9-Michael Pickens-323; 10-Kevin Thomas-317.