KOKOMO, Ind. — The Driven2SaveLives Monday MAYhem event lived up to the hype when Kubota High Limit Racing kicked off the Roto-Rooter Midweek Series in jaw-dropping fashion at Kokomo Speedway.
When the 9:05 p.m. checkered flag waved, the Kokomo grandstands were jumping for joy as Rico Abreu shocked Justin Peck in the final corner of the final lap, edging him by 0.101 seconds to steal the $20,000 payday.
Peck controlled 99 percent of the race from the outside pole, handling an onslaught of lapped traffic before he lost it in heartbreaking fashion over the final 100 feet after leading 39 and 3/4 laps.
The agony of defeat on his face post-race while Abreu climbed atop his wing said it all.
For Abreu, it’s his latest conquest amidst an outstanding early-season hot streak. Over the last four weeks, the No. 24 won back-to-back shows at Knoxville Raceway (one with the World of Outlaws) and then three Kubota High Limit Racing features in four tries at Texas Motor Speedway, Lakeside Speedway and Kokomo Speedway.
He’s cleared more than $70,000 in earnings over the six-race stretch.
His 15th High Limit victory extends his record as the winningest driver in Kubota High Limit Racing history.
While the loss came in heartbreaking fashion for Peck, the Rudeen Racing team still has plenty of positives. They’re on a streak of three-consecutive podium finishes with Kubota High Limit Racing since putting a new Ford Performance power plant under the hood.
Behind the lead duo, Brad Sweet earned his ninth podium in 11 races to extend his championship lead to 52 points aboard the Kasey Kahne Racing No. 49.
Rounding out the top five were former USAC National Sprint Car champions Tyler Courtney and Brady Bacon.
The finish:
Feature (40 Laps): 1. 24-Rico Abreu[1]; 2. 26-Justin Peck[2]; 3. 49-Brad Sweet[5]; 4. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[4]; 5. 21H-Brady Bacon[3]; 6. 57-Kyle Larson[17]; 7. 87-Aaron Reutzel[8]; 8. 13-Daison Pursley[7]; 9. 19-Brent Marks[9]; 10. 27-Emerson Axsom[10]; 11. 88-Tanner Thorson[22]; 12. 9R-Chase Randall[16]; 13. 14-Spencer Bayston[19]; 14. 7N-Darin Naida[13]; 15. 2KS-Cory Eliason[11]; 16. 24D-Danny Sams III[21]; 17. 24S-Logan Seavey[12]; 18. 5-Brenham Crouch[15]; 19. 14BC-Corey Day[14]; 20. 4-Zane DeVault[24]; 21. 9-Kasey Kahne[25]; 22. 23-Jimmy Light[20]; 23. 71-Parker Price Miller[6]; 24. 42-Sye Lynch[18]; 25. 51-Scotty Thiel[23]
