Rico Abreu Gets Season Underway With Starts At Knoxville & St. Francois

Story By TYLER ALTMEYER / RICO ABREU RACING – ST. HELENA, CA – Although it was not the start the team was in search of, Rico Abreu and Rico Abreu/Curb Agajanian Racing gained valuable lap time during their recent trip to the Midwest, first joining the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series at Knoxville Raceway on Friday, May 8, followed by a visit to St. Francois County Raceway in Farmington, Missouri, on Saturday, May 9.

After a 20th-place score at the Sprint Car Capital of the World on Friday, Abreu was well on his way to a top-ten performance at St. Francois on Saturday when a rock knocked loose a fuel nozzle forcing the St. Helena, California-native to retire from main event competition before the finish. Abreu started 12th on the grid and raced his way to sixth before the misfortune occurred.

Abreu earned his way into Knoxville Raceway’s main event by way of a third place finish during the evening’s Last Chance Showdown, the product of row three. There were 48 cars on hand for the Return to Racing Invitational.

“We didn’t have the results we wanted, but we’re going to keep working hard and do what we have to do to improve. The outcome at St. Francois was just tough luck, but I still think we could have been better before that,” Rico Abreu said, driver of the Rico Abreu/Curb Agajanian Racing/Abreu Vineyards/Curb Records/Lucas Oil/No. 24 sprint car. “It was a long trip east from California, so I’m proud of my guys for working hard and getting us to that point.”

Although Abreu’s upcoming plans are tentative, preliminary discussions include visiting Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minnesota, for the Great Lakes Shootout on Friday and Saturday, May 15-16. Fans are encouraged to stay alert on social media for any schedule changes and last minute updates.