From Gary Thomas
Stockton, CA — (March 2, 2015) — In the brief two-year history of the Stockton Dirt Track no driver has taken the checkered flag more than Rutherford, California’s Rico Abreu. In fact, the 23-year-old wheel-man is the only competitor to win multiple main events at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds facility, which opens the season on Saturday & Sunday March 21 & 22 with a World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series double header.
Despite competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East this year, Abreu will also have a full slate of open wheel racing on his plate, which includes a visit to the Stockton Dirt Track to take on the World of Outlaws in the FVP Western Spring Shootout March 21 & 22.
Abreu has raced to three career victories at the Stockton Dirt Track, including the 2013 Tribute to Gary Patterson with the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series. He then backed that up last season by winning the Tribute to GP during the Civil War 360 Series portion of the night. His other triumph came during a Winged 360 Sprint Car event that kicked-off the FVP Western Spring Shootout weekend last March. Abreu’s 2014 season was nothing short of spectacular, which saw him claim 25 overall victories, along with the USAC National Midget championship.
The 2015 season has already started off solid for Abreu, as he raced to a big victory in January at the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event is as prestigious as they come in dirt track racing and acts as an all star showcase, with drivers coming from all parts of the country, as well as outside the US, and from various forms of racing. This season saw 326 drivers compete at the Chili Bowl and Abreu captured both his preliminary night feature and the 55-lap finale on Saturday.
With three races complete in the World of Outlaws season Grass Valley, CA’s Brad Sweet sits atop the standings by just four-points over six-time & defending series champion Donny Schatz of Fargo, North Dakota. Sweet’s Kasey Kahne Racing teammate Daryn Pittman from Owasso, Oklahoma stands third, only six-markers out of the lead going into the next event as of press time that takes place this week in Las Vegas. Last season saw Sweet claim five victories and capture Rookie of the Year honors with the tour. He capped the year by finishing sixth in the points.
Career Winged Sprint Car wins at the Stockton Dirt Track
Rico Abreu 3
Kyle Larson
Willie Croft
Dominic Scelzi
Tim Kaeding
Kerry Madsen
Andy Gregg
Colby Copeland
Jonathan Allard
Shane Golobic
Two-night adult General Admission tickets for the March 21 & 22 FVP Western Spring Shootout weekend are available for a great value at just $59 & two-night Reserved Grandstand tickets cost only $69. Single-night tickets & box seats are also available. Children 10 & under are free in G.A. only. To purchase tickets log onto http://dirtcar.ticketforce.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=165 or contact the ticket hotline at (877) 395-8606.
Camping will also be available during the weekend with a number of great spots for RV’s and Campers on the fairgrounds. To reserve your spot contact 916-370-9417. We will do our best to accommodate everyone as well as we can.
Delta Speedway, also located on the Fairgrounds, will be running a special Micro race on Friday March 20, making it a three-night happening on the property. There is also a post race party in the works for Saturday night following the races, along with a breakfast on Sunday morning. During the day on Saturday & Sunday there will be a live band & car show behind the grandstand area, so make plans to arrive at the track early.
The Stockton Dirt Track is a lightning fast 3/8 mile clay oval and is located on the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton, California. It is built inside a one-mile horse track and boasts one of the nicest dirt track facilities in the state. The physical address is 1658 S Airport Way, Stockton, CA 95206. For information on the speedway visit www.stocktondirttrack.com & info on the World of Outlaws can be viewed at www.woosprint.com