Story By: BOB MILLER / THUNDER ON THE HILL – BECHTELSVILLE, PA – It was a beautiful night of racing presented by Levan Machine and Truck Equipment with a full house of spectators to watch the NAPA Auto Parts Thunder on the Hill Racing Series doubleheader.
Rico Abreu of St Helena, California claimed his first 410 Sprint Car win on ‘the Hill’ as part of Pennsylvania Speedweek presented by Red Robin.
Abreu claimed $10,000 and the Hodnett Cup trophy for his efforts in a race that proved tricky for the leaders barely dodging multiple incidents and avoiding fighting through heavy-lapped traffic.
“We had some breaks with cautions,” Abreu said in post-race ceremonies. “But you have to do everything right to get those breaks in the first place.”
Abreu may have started on the pole but it wasn’t easy for the California native with Christopher Bell moving from inside row 2 into the second position on the start. Abreu fired off fast, approaching a full-straight lead by the fourth circuit with lapped traffic quickly approaching.
With Abreu in a comfortable lead, the battle for second heated up, between Brent Marks and Bell – but a Lap 7 yellow slowed the field when Dylan Norris spun directly in front of the leaders.
On the restart, Rico shot to the high side of the one-third-mile speedway with Marks moving passed Bell and Anthony Macri powering around the outside of Kyle Larson.
Marks pressured Abreu as the laps ticked away, approaching lapped traffic until the red flag flew on lap 14 for Kyle Larson, whose No. 57 machine tipped on its side with a broken rear end.
Abreu continued on the restart, racing around the inside of the speedway while Marks rode around the high side hot on his heels.
The final caution flew on lap 23 for Zach Hampton, who spun in front of the leaders.
Just over ten laps remained on the scoreboard, Abreu took the green flag creating some distance between himself and the battle for second between Anthony Macri and Brent Marks.
Heavy lapped traffic challenged the leaders in the late stages, as the top five positions were nose-to-tail when the white flag flew, but Abreu held them off to claim his third Pennsylvania Speedweek win.
Anthony Macri finished in the second spot, Brent Marks in third, Danny Dietrich in fourth, and Christopher Bell finished in fifth
Macri also picked up the $150 Quick Time Bonus from Clever Girl Winery for the 410 Sprint Cars. Qualifying Heat Races were won by Rico Abreu, Justin Peck, Tanner Thorson, and Kyle Larson.
410 Sprint Cars
Clever Girl Winery Time Trials – 1. Anthony Macri – 12.025 2. Danny Dietrich – 12.030 3. Christopher Bell – 12.037 4. Brent Marks – 12.059 5. Rico Abreu – 12.070 6. Justin Peck – 12.176 7. Tanner Thorson – 12.187 8. Kyle Larson – 12.207 9. Ryan Smith – 12.219 10. Kyle Moody – 12.221 11. Freddie Rahmer – 12.243 12. Skylar Gee – 12.268 13. Zach Hampton – 12.275 14. Austin Bishop – 12.304 15. TJ Stutts – 12.337 16. Lucas Wolfe – 12.368 17. Tyler Ross – 12.401 18. Devon Borden – 12.430 19. Dylan Norris – 12.432 20. Brandon Rahmer – 12.475 21. Jeff Halligan – 12.510 22. Chad Trout – 12.533 23. Chase Dietz – 12.534 24. Mark Smith – 12.573 25. Ryan Taylor – 12.590 26. Tyler Reeser 12.600 27. Eddie Lumbar – 12.643 28. Jon Stewart – 12.798 29. Dave Brown – 12.800 30. Jordan Givler – 12.820 31. Devin Adams – 13.022
Heat 1 (10 Laps) – 1. Rico Abreu 2. Anthony Macri 3. Ryan Smith 4. Tyler Ross 5. Ryan Taylor
Heat 2 (10 Laps) – 1. Justin Peck 2. Kyle Moody 3. Austin Bishop 4. Danny Dietrich 5. Devon Borden
Heat 3 (10 Laps) – 1. Tanner Thorson 2. Christopher Bell 3. Freddie Rahmer 4. TJ Stutts 5. Dylan Norris
Heat 4 (10 Laps) – 1. Kyle Larson 2. Lucas Wolfe 3. Skylar Gee 4. Brandon Rahmer 5. Brent Marks
B-Main (8 Laps) – 1. Jeff Halligan 2. Zach Hampton 3. Chad Trout 4. Mark Smith
Feature (35 Laps) 1. Rico Abreu 2. Anthony Macri 3. Brent Marks 4. Danny Dietrich 5. Christopher Bell 6. Tanner Thorson 7. Justin Peck 8. Ryan Smith 9. Lucas Wolfe 10. Freddie Rahmer 11. Kyle Moody 12. Austin Bishop 13. Tyler Ross 14. Brandon Rahmer 15. TJ Stutts 16. Skylar Gee 17. Jeff Halligan 18. Ryan Taylor 19. Mark Smith 20. Dylan Norris 21. Chad Trout 22. Devon Borden 23. Zach Hampton 24. Kyle Larson