---

Rico Abreu Victorious in Silver Dollar Points Opener

CHICO, CA (4-15-16) - With 22 Sprint Cars on hand for the 410 Sprint Car Points Opener at the Silver Dollar Speedway, we had some of the top names in west coast sprint car racing on hand. With a field of drivers including Abreu, Becker, Allard, Forsberg, etc. there was sure to be plenty of action on the racing surface. They did not disappoint, as they put on a great show with St. Helena, CA driver Rico Abreu winning his first sprint car race of the 2016 season. Other winners during Points Race #2 included Wyatt Brown in the Economy Sprints, Brian Cooper in the Sport Mods, Ryan McDaniel in the Ltd. Late Models, and Brian Compton in the Hobby Stocks.

Rico Abreu started on the Pole of the 25 lap A-Main event with 5-Time Champion Sean Becker to his outside. On the start Abreu would get the advantage over Becker. Abreu would continue to lead throughout the race, but Becker was able to maintain pace. As the two leaders began to reel in the slower cars at the rear of the field, that allowed the Tri-C Machine #3C of Jonathan Allard to close in as well. Soon we had a three car battle for the race lead between Abreu, Becker, and Allard. Allard would get around �The Shark� midway through the race and set his sights on Abreu. Allard looked as though he was going to be able to get around Abreu as Rico had trouble with lapped traffic. Late in the race business picked up as Abreu threw his car into turns three and four on the bottom to try and get around the slower car of Cory Eliason. Rico slid up the track and into the side of Eliason nearly causing Abreu to get upside down. That allowed Allard to pull even down the front straight, but contact with Abreu at the flagstand would allow the #75 of Becker to get back around Allard. After a couple of late cautions Rico turned up the heat, as he pulled away from the field with blistering lap times in the 11.2 second range. Possibly the fastest laps we have ever seen in a feature event at Silver Dollar Speedway. At the line it was Rico Abreu with his 8th career win at the � mile. Sean Becker was second, with Jonathan Allard settling for the third spot. Brad Bumgarner had a great run finishing in the fourth spot, and Bobby McMahan ran fifth in a rare appearance at the speedway for the 2009 Track Champion. Bobby McMahan was the quickest car in Time Trials as the only car in the eleven second bracket at 11.747. Rico Abreu, Mason Moore, and Brad Bumgarner all picked up Heat Race Victories.

Wyatt Brown picked up his third career victory at the Silver Dollar Speedway behind the wheel of his Ed Brown Trucking, Burkett's Automotive #2 Economy Sprint Car. Brown and Cameron Haney battled for nearly the entire race for the lead. On the final lap going into turn one Brown had about a five car length lead over Haney. Brown went to the outside of a lapped car, but when Haney tried to do the same there was contact made sending Haney for a vicious ride off of turn number two. Haney would climb out of the car ok, but the car not so much. It was a tough way to end the night as he definitely put on a great show along with eventual race winner Wyatt Brown. Across the line it was Brown, followed by Ron Wyman second, Mike Ficklin third, Mike Sayre fourth, and Cameron Haney fifth. Wyatt Brown also won the one and only Heat Race of the night.

Brian Cooper dominated the Sport Mod A-Main event, picking up his first win of the season at Silver Dollar Speedway. The Main Event nearly got off to a rough start as Clinton Earl got up on two wheels on the opening lap. Somehow he was able to wrangle it back in though and continue on in the race. In the end though it was Cooper crossing the line first, followed by Jimmy Ford second, Todd Cooper in the third spot, with Jerry Bartlett fourth and Mike Merritt rounding out the top five. Heat Race victories were claimed by Jim Lipke and Sean Halterman.

Ryan McDaniel absolutely dominated the Ltd. Late Model Main Event. He would lead every lap of the 15 lap Main Event. He also claimed the lone heat race for the class as well. Behind McDaniel was the #96 of Ken Micheli in second, Ray Trimble finished third, with David Larabee and George Magenheimer rounding out the top five.

Brian Compton has been a fixture atop the leader board in the Hobby Stock for the last few years at the Silver Dollar Speedway. It didnt take long for him to find that spot in 2016 as he would charge to victory in the Hobby Stock class. The #21A of Kyle Allen had a solid start to the season as well finishing in the second spot, with Cy Cooper third, James West and Todd Hemman would round out the top five. Brian Compton and James West both picked up Heat Race wins earlier in the evening.

We will be back in action next friday night April 22nd for Point Race #3 featuring the 410 Sprint Cars, Economy Sprints, Street Stocks, Dwarf Cars, and Hobby Stocks. For Ticket information please visit our website at silverdollarspeedway.com. Or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates throughout the week.

Back to News