KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Rico Abreu drove to an impressive win Saturday at the Knoxville Raceway on Weiler Night featuring the All Star Circuit of Champions.
The St. Helena, Calif., native earned $8,000 for his sixth career win at the Sprint Car Capital of the World.
Garet Williamson bested a 52-car 360 field in the last event before the Xtream Powered by Mediacom 360 Knoxville Nationals Presented by Great Southern Bank commences August 3-5. The Columbia, Missouri driver pocketed $2,000 for his victory.
Michael “Buddy” Kofoid led from the pole early in the 25-lap All Star feature, ahead of Anthony Macri, Justin Sanders, Abreu and Justin Henderson. Henderson moved by Abreu on lap two for fourth, before Ian Madsen came to a stop in turn three.
Henderson continued his surge on the restart, garnering third from Sanders on the high side of turn two. Abreu used the same move two laps later to climb to fourth. On lap seven, he reeled in Henderson and passed him for the third spot. Meanwhile, Austin McCarl moved into the top five.
Kofoid was in lapped traffic on the ninth circuit, while Abreu disposed of Macri for the runner-up spot behind him. Henderson followed into third on lap 11.
On lap 12, Abreu shot a slide job on Kofoid in turn one to take the lead. He began to pull away from there. McCarl passed Macri for fourth on lap 14 before Scott Bogucki spun on the frontstretch, bringing the final caution.
Abreu pulled away from there, winning by nearly four seconds. Kofoid was second, ahead of Henderson, McCarl and a late surging Brian Brown
Garet Williamson led from the outset of the 18-lap 360 feature, but it was a rocky event. Two laps in, Jamie Ball spun. Sammy Swindell had nowhere to go and flipped. That collected Davie Franek.
Tony Rost flipped in turn one on the restart. He was uninjured. Williamson led Reutzel on the restart. Chase Randall surged into third, ahead of Kelby Watt and Clint Garner. Sixth running Kade Higday flipped five laps in.
The last 13 laps went unimpeded. Williamson set a blistering pace. Reutzel closed with five laps to go, but finished second. Randall was third, and Garner won a great battle with Watt for the fourth spot.
The finish:
Feature (25 Laps): 1. Rico Abreu (6); 2. Buddy Kofoid (1); 3. Justin Henderson (3); 4. Austin McCarl (10); 5. Brian Brown (9); 6. Anthony Macri (2); 7. Justin Sanders (4); 8. Davey Heskin (14); 9. Garet Williamson (5); 10. Sam Hafertepe Jr. (8); 11. Chase Randall (19); 12. Kerry Madsen (24); 13. Tasker Phillips (21); 14. Zeb Wise (25, prov.); 15. Dusty Zomer (18); 16. Sawyer Phillips (17); 17. Lachlan McHugh (11); 18. Ian Madsen (7); 19. Jamie Veal (13); 20. Lynton Jeffrey (22); 21. Chris Windom (26, prov.); 22. Kasey Kahne (20); 23. Parker Price-Miller (16); 24. Tim Kaeding (15); 25. Scott Bogucki (12); 26. Jamie Ball (23).