BECHTELSVILLE, Pa. — In front of a capacity crowd at the Grandview Speedway, Rico Abreu won the Rich Mar Florist High Limit Sprint Car Series main event powered by Levan Machine & Truck Equipment and presented by HVAC Distributors on Wednesday night.
Abreu, claiming his second consecutive 410 sprint car win at the Bechtelsville dirt track, took home the $23,023 winner’s share as part of the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series.
“This was just good racing,” Abreu claimed after climbing out of his No. 24 machine. “My car was unbelievable, we set it up for the end of this race, and I just had to let the car come to me.”
Abreu was slated to start fourth on the 24-car field, however outside polesitter, Tim Buckwalter suffered an engine issue following the dash, retiring his machine and criss-crossing the field.
Hunter Schuerenberg – inheriting the outside pole — shot to the early lead overtaking Kyle Larson as the green flag dropped but a tangle on the initial start would negate the battle and ultimately end the night for Freddie Rahmer, the victim of the on-track collision.
With a second chance at keeping Schuerenberg at bay, Larson powered into turn one holding the top spot and bringing Justin Peck with him. Larson and Peck raced side-by-side as the laps ticked away giving Abreu the opportunity to make up ground on the leaders.
Abreu moved passed Peck on lap 12 and set his sights on Larson.
The caution flag flew at the halfway mark with Peck – running comfortably in the third position – stopped with a right-rear flat tire retiring Peck’s No. 13 machine from competition at lap 17.
The move of the race took place at the next restart, with Larson selecting the high side and Abreu choosing the inside. Abreu hammered down into turn one, overtaking the lead from Larson and setting a rapid pace in the second half of the 35-lap main event.
Larson showed signs of life, closing in the final circuits of the event. However, Abreu remained dominant etching his name in the Greg Hodnett Cup trophy for the second time, claiming the inaugural High Limit Sprint Car Series win at Grandview, and his second Thunder on the Hill series win.
Larson settled for the runner-up spot, with Brent Marks in the third position, Danny Dietrich in fourth and Cory Eliason finishing in fifth.
Kasey Kahne finished in sixth from the 19th starting position.
The finish:
Feature (35 Laps): 1. Rico Abreu 2. Kyle Larson 3. Brent Marks 4. Danny Dietrich 5. Cory Eliason 6. Kasey Kahne 7. Cap Henry 8. Kyle Reinhardt 9. Hunter Schuerenberg 10. Lance Dewease 11. Tyler Ross 12. Ryan Smith 13. TJ Stutts 14. Devon Borden 15. Ryan Taylor 16. Chase Randall 17. Ryan Timms 18. Justin Peck 19. Jake Karklin 20. Kyle Moody 21. Austin Bishop 22. Dusty Zomer 23. Freddie Rahmer