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Steve Lafond Photo
Rico Abreu looks to defend Wine Country Classic next week with the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series at Calistoga Speedway
By Gary Thomas
Calistoga, CA – June 18, 2015…Rutherford, California’s own Rico Abreu is set to defend his Wine Country Classic victory from last season at Calistoga Speedway next week when the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series hits town on Saturday June 27.
Abreu has claimed the previous two KWS events at the half-mile, dating back to his initial Calistoga Speedway victory on Memorial Day weekend 2012. The now 23-year-old last season captured the Louis Vermeil Classic with the USAC/CRA Series, in addition to winning opening night with the USAC Western Midgets. In total he has taken six checkered flags victoriously at his home track. With one more win he would tie Tim Kaeding, Dave Bradway Jr, Sammy Swindell, Lem Tolliver & Rick Horton for 15th on the all-time list.
Competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East this season, Abreu kicked-off the year by winning the prestigious Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Oklahoma. He also raced to big wins with the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series at the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway & the Stockton Dirt Track in March. On June 27 he’s scheduled to compete with the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in Sonoma, before heading to the Calistoga Speedway that night to take on the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series.
In his career Abreu has earned nine wins with KWS, which places him in a tie for 13th on the all-time list with former series champions Jason Statler & Ronnie Day. Last season he scooped up an exciting Wine Country Classic feature, taking the lead from Bud Kaeding on lap-13 and holding off three-time King of the West champ Jonathan Allard and two-time series titlist Kyle Hirst. Fresno’s Dominic Scelzi leads the King of the West standings going into next weekend, following his victory this past week in Stockton.
In addition to the King of the West 410 Sprints on June 27, the Wingless Sprint Car Series presented by Joe Hunt Magnetos will also be in action. The Hunt Series made its Calistoga Speedway debut in April and put on a tremendous show in the main event, which was ultimately captured by Colton Slack of Brentwood. Local driver Joe Stornetta from Napa came home in second, followed by Klint Simpson of Santa Rosa in third. Terry Shank Jr. also from Santa Rosa led the early laps and finished fourth. A great back & forth battle was seen for the lead, with much of the same expected at the Wine Country Classic.
Tickets are on sale for the Wine Country Classic next Saturday June 27 and can be purchased by contacting (916) 773-7225. Adult Reserved Tickets cost $30, with Adult General Admission Tickets $25. Children 6-12 are $10 with kids 5 & under free. Hotel Info: The Sandman Inn / Santa Rosa located at 3421 Cleveland Ave. 95403. Phone Number 707-293-2100. Must Mention CALI15 / Calistoga Speedway for an $85.00 rate.
The infield pit area will open at 9am allowing teams to move in, with the pit booth opening for pit pass sales at noon. Will Call & the ticket window opens up at 2pm, with the front gate opening at 4pm.
The Calistoga Speedway is located on the scenic Napa County Fairgrounds in Calistoga, California at 1435 North Oak Street and has been in existence since 1937. For more information on the half-mile log onto http://www.calistogaspeedway.org and for history visit Bobby Gerould’s Hammerdown USA at http://www.hammerdownusa.com/Calistogacareerwins.html
The Calistoga event is part of a big weekend for the King of the West 410 Sprint Car Series that includes the Pombo/Sargent Classic at Ocean Speedway the night before on June 26. The weekend as a whole is also part of a Prentice Motorsports Group Double Down Bonus Weekend.
If a driver wins both Friday in Watsonville & Saturday in Calistoga they will be awarded an extra $3000 bonus. Therefore if a driver sweeps the weekend they have the ability to go home with $9,000. Be sure and make plans for what looks to be a great weekend of Sprint Car racing, which will be capped at the World’s Most Beautiful Dirt Track.
The front gate at Ocean Speedway will open at 4:30pm next Friday night with hot laps at 5:30pm, qualifying around 6pm and racing to follow. The pit booth will open at 2pm. Adult tickets for Friday night June 26 cost $25, with kids 6-12 $20. Children 5 & under are free. The Ocean Speedway is located on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville, California with the physical address being 2601 East Lake Ave, Watsonville, CA 95076.
Both nights will also feature the Williams Roofing Royal Fan Pill Draw. A trivia question will be asked from the announce booth and the fan that answers correctly will pull a random number (1-22) out of a bag. The fan automatically wins $100 and if the driver wins the feature from the starting spot drawn, the driver receives a $1000 bonus. The Williams Roofing Draw is taking place at KWS events that are part of the Prentice Motorsports Group Double Down Bonus weekends.
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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