Rico Abreu Scores Top-Ten At Silver Dollar Speedway

Story By: TYLER ALTMEYER / RICO ABREU RACING – PLACERVILLE, CA – For the first time in 2018, St. Helena, California’s Rico Abreu spent an entire weekend racing in the 360c.i. ranks, participating in a pair of events in sunny, Northern California on Friday and Saturday, March 30-31.

Abreu, pilot of the Rico Abreu Racing/Abreu Vineyards/Lucas Oil/Rhino Wipe/Alpinestars/Priority Aviation/No. 24 sprint car, highlighted his holiday weekend in the Golden State with a top-ten finish at Silver Dollar Speedway on Friday, March 30. The top-ten performance was Abreu’s third of the season, as well as his second in the state of California.

In impressive fashion, Abreu’s top-ten performance was accomplished the hard way, forced to race his way forward from the back of the field after driving off the edge of the racing surface. The former Gold Cup champion, who qualified for the Silver Dollar Speedway Weekly Racing Series program by winning his respective heat race, was chasing down the leader from the runner-up spot when the incident occurred.

“I don’t think we were fast enough to win on Friday night, but it feels good to get a top-ten considering what we went through,” Rico Abreu explained. “That’s a tough deal. Lucky for me, I have a great group of guys who work hard and give me the equipment necessary to rebound for a top-ten. It was great getting back to Silver Dollar Speedway. I can’t wait to get back there and do it again.”

Unfortunately for Abreu, the top-ten streak did not continue on Saturday at Placerville Speedway during Sprint Car Challenge Tour presented by Elk Grove Ford and Abreu Vineyards competition. The Rico Abreu Racing entry was forced to race the evening’s consolation B-main after not qualifying for the main event through his respective heat race. On the opening lap of the B-main, Abreu was involved in a red flag incident ending his night early.

“We’ll put that one behind us,” Abreu continued. “That’s racing sometimes. We’ve shown a lot of speed this year, but we’re having some trouble finding momentum. I think once we lock down a little momentum, we’ll be in great shape.”