ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. – A reporter approached Rico Abreu late Friday night at Williams Grove Speedway, trying to spur conversation.
“I finished 12th, why do you want to talk to me?” Abreu asked.
The subject was meant to be about Saturday’s Dirt Classic at Lincoln Speedway in Abbottstown, Pa.
“I finished fourth last year, right?” Abreu said, his tone perking up. “I’m excited for this year. That’ll be good.”
Post-race interviews haven’t been routine recently for Abreu, who has just two wins this year. The Californian’s dwindling search for more on-track positives this year continues Saturday in the 40-lap, $20,000-to-win Dirt Classic.
He did, in fact, finish fourth last year.
Abreu started the season on a part-time deal in the Paul Silva-prepared No. 57 sprint car owned by Kevin Kolwalski of Northern California. That didn’t last long, though, and the parties split before April.
Abreu’s victories have transpired on big stages, during the Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Okla., and during the Knoxville Nationals in Knoxville, Iowa. But they’ve come on preliminary nights, in the background of greater objectives.
“I’m kind of disappointed,” Abreu said of his year. “We keep plugging away at it.”
Last year, Abreu finished in the top five of the Dirt Classic. One of his six sprint car wins last year were at the three-eighths-mile clay oval, too, a track that normally fits in his wheelhouse of being high-tempo and needing boldness to win.
“We need to qualify well,” Abreu said. “If we do that we’ll be good.”
Macri’s time at Lincoln?
Anthony Macri’s growing pains at Lincoln Speedway are known, but the 22-year-old appears in a more mature state this time around.
“[The Pennsylvania Speedweek race at] Lincoln kicked us in the ass,” Macri said. “Honestly since [the] Knoxville [Nationals], I feel like we’ve been firing on all cylinders.”
Macri was the de facto PA Speedweek points leader in June through night one of the series. Then he failed to qualify at Lincoln on night two, and that sent him through a trialing two weeks of five finishes outside the top 20.
Saturday’s Dirt Classic is the first time Macri visits Lincoln since the rude awakening during PA Speedweek.
He’s found another level since the humbling moment: winning six races, including Friday’s All Star Circuit of Champions race at Williams Grove (Pa.) Speedway, and qualifying for the Knoxville Nationals.
Macri’s last win at Lincoln came June 1, 2019.
Posse or All Stars?
For the first time since 2018, the Pennsylvania Posse have swept the top five in back-to-back All Star Circuit of Champions races.
At the Tuscarora 50, Logan Wagner, Lance Dewease, Macri, Dylan Cisney and Brent Marks carried the team.
On Friday at Williams Grove, Macri led Dewease, Marks, Chase Dietz and Danny Dietrich in the finishing order.
Wagner is the only driver of those eight not expected to race in tonight’s Dirt Classic.
The All Stars owned Lincoln Speedway during the Aug. 28 Kramer Clash, though. Cory Eliason won while invader Parker Price-Miller and Justin Peck joined him on the podium.
Since 2018, the Posse is one-for-six in the Pigeon Hills, with Brian Montieth avoiding a would-be drought with his 2019 Dirt Classic win.
Notes
– A special format will be used this evening, which can be accessed here.
– Tyler Courtney is closing on his first All Star Circuit of Champions title in his rookie winged sprint car season.
The 38th Kings Royal champion owns eight wins and a commanding 260-point lead over Cory Eliason with four races to go.
– Chase Dietz (three wins), Tyler Ross (three wins), Alan Krimes (two wins), Aaron Bollinger, Billy Dietrich, Chad Trout, Cory Haas, Jimmy Siegel, Robbie Kendall, Tim Wagaman and T.J. Stutts lead all Lincoln Speedway regulars dreaming to pull an upset win.