American Rico Abreu continued his dominant run in Western Australia, by claiming the third round of WA Speedweek at Bunbury Speedway last night, Monday, January 1.
Abreu took the win from Queenslander Luke Oldfield and fellow American Cory Eliason in front of a big crowd to welcome in the new year at the South West venue.
It was Abreu’s second win in WA from three outings, with his other appearance being a second to fellow American Brad Sweet in the last round.
Abreu started from p3 in the 30-lap final, an improvement from his p7 start in the previous two feature races.
At the start of the show he was third quickest in his qualifying group, setting up a front-row start in his heat race which he duly won from Sweet and Eliason for an all-American trifecta.
Abreu then started on the outside of Callum Williamson in the A Dash which Williamson won from Abreu and James Inglis.
Oldfield started the night strong, being the quickest in his qualifying group before starting from p4 in his heat race.
He was unable to make up any positions in the heat race, but after starting from p2 in the B Dash, he raced to a win after Eliason, who started from p1, went up high in the Dash and almost flipped the car in an attention-grabbing moment.
The American held on for second, but not before Oldfield snuck under to take the win.
Eliason was the last driver in the third qualifying group to run against the qualifying clock and the wait was worth it as he was quickest overall to set the Victory 1 Performance Quick Time.
He converted a p4 start to a third in his heat race before the second to Oldfield in the B Dash.
Williamson started on the front row with Oldfield for the final, but it was the latter who got the jump to lead on the first lap.
The race was only two laps old when a red lot stoppage was activated after heavy contact between Trent Pigdon and Victorian Brenten Farrer relegated both to the infield.
Abreu got by Williamson for second after four laps and the front runners held their positions until about midrace – Abreu took the lead over Oldfield, while Eliason, who dropped to fourth early on, moved into third over Williamson.
From there until the checkers there were no changes to the top four spots.
Jamie Maiolo, who started from p8, rocketed up a few spots early and then maintained his pace to take a fifth, his best result of his comeback season after having the best part of four seasons off.
American Brock Zearfoss, started and finished sixth, while defending Maddington Toyota Sprintcar Series Champion James Inglis took seventh after starting from p5.
Brad Maiolo was eighth after starting from p7, in another top 10 finish for the LJM 77.
Dayne Kingshott moved up five spots to finish ninth, while Kris Coyle dropped one spot to make the top 10, complete with a damaged front wing.
Kaiden Manders crossed the line in 11th after starting from p17, to be this round’s Kincrome Hard Charger.
Ryan Lancaster dropped two spots to be 12th, and while he would not be happy to drop spots, it is more valuable points for the overall points championship.
American-based Lynton Jeffrey raced from 19th to 13th in what was a good recovery after earlier crashing out in the Midpack Madness.
Jason Kendrick also moved up six spots to be 14th, while Jason Pryde dropped three spots to be 15th.
He started the night in a big way, only being bettered by Eliason in his qualifying run.
Taylor Milling took 16th, a drop of three spots after he won the Midpack Madness, while Andrew Priolo moved up one spot to 17th, Kye Scroop raced up four spots for 18th, Cameron McKenzie moved up five spots to be 19th, Jaydee Dack moved up three spots for 20th and Jack Williamson started and finished 21st to be the last finisher.
Five-time World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet, who won the previous Speedweek round at the Perth Motorplex, was a non-finisher after starting from p11.
After he finished second to Abreu in his heat race, the team put in a new rear-end before the A Dash which he started and finished sixth in.
Ken Sartori was one of the casualties on the night, clouting the pits bend fence in the first heat race, putting him out of the show, while Nathan Swan was out of the event before qualifying was over.
Mitchell Wormall, who took a fifth in his heat race, ended the Midpack Madness in brutal fashion after an incident with Farrer, which saw the front of the W97 completely broken off.
