Rico Abreu has once again claimed the victory on Wednesday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma, capturing the A-Main victory in the third of five nights of preliminary racing from the 2022 Chili Bowl Nationals.
The victory marks the fifth consecutive year that Abreu has captured a prelim victory, while also allowing Keith Kunz Motorsports to continue their week-long sweep of the prelims, after Tanner Carrick, and Michael Kofoid won on Monday and Tuesday.
Abreu started Wednesday Night’s A-Main from third-place, behind only Jason McDougal and Colby Copeland, but was able to strategically move his way to the front of the field, and hold a commanding lead on the majority of the 30-lap event.
Kevin Thomas Jr finished in second place but was able to use the aggressively-wide cushion in turns three and four to catch Abreu in a mistake, keeping consistent pressure on the two-time Chili Bowl Nationals winner for the lead. However, a rash of cautions, made it difficult for the race to catch a consistent feel, limiting the chance for Thomas Jr. and others to make moves.
Blake Hahn, Colby Copeland, and Jason McDougal rounded out the top-five, while Brad Sweet, Chase Randall, Chance Crum, Corey Day, and Nick Drake rounded out the top-10.
Carson Hocevar – a full-time driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series — was set to compete in the B-Main event, before a mechanical issue made it impossible for him to keep the car running, requiring him to pull off the track before the race began.
