2023 High Limit Sprint Series at Bridgeport Speedway

Rico Abreu's High Limit Sprint Car Win At Bridgeport Signifies Elite Status

Rico Abreu's High Limit Sprint Car Win At Bridgeport Signifies Elite Status

Rico Abreu reached the dozen win mark in his stellar season Tuesday with the High Limit Sprint Car Series at Bridgeport Motorsports Park.

Oct 4, 2023
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After winning his 12th overall race of the season and third feature in the last five High Limit Sprint Car Series events on Tuesday at New Jersey’s Bridgeport Motorsports Park, Rico Abreu isn’t blowing things out of proportion with the following.

“There’s only certain eras that race car drivers go through where you get to experience these opportunities of success,” Abreu said. “You’ve seen what Steve Kinser went through all those years, and Donny Schatz and Brad Sweet the last 10 years. And what Kyle Larson and Paul Silva have done the last 10 years. We’re building to put ourselves in one of those elite categories.”

Of course, Abreu isn’t directly comparing himself to the accomplishments of Kinser, Schatz, Sweet and Larson

What Abreu’s articulating is that, with a robust team led by crew chief Ricky Warner, he’s now one of the biggest threats — if not, the biggest threat — to win anytime, anywhere, these days in Sprint Car racing. It’s allowed him to compete in the biggest races this year, like winning an Eldora Million semifeature and finishing runner-up in the $250,000-to-win High Bank Nationals at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, S.D.

RELATED: Rico Abreu Continues Joy-Filled Season In High Limit Win At Grandview

Now there’s so much momentum behind Abreu he just might erase Kyle Larson’s 15-point High Limit Series lead down to effectively win the series title in next Tuesday’s finale at Lincoln Park Speedway in Putnamville, Ind. And while he’s at it, he may very well bank Thursday’s $60,000 Tuscarora 50 at Port Royal (Pa.) Speedway.

“It’s a very fortunate situation for us,” Abreu said. “All of the stars have aligned with a team. We have the best sponsors behind us that allow us to go race wherever we want and don’t have their thumbs pressed on us.

“It’s just been a critical and uplifting year for us and this team,” he added. “We’re very fortunate to be in this position. We’ve had unbelievably fast race cars. I put a lot of this on my team. They do an unbelievable job preparing. The races are won in the shop. These guys, they just don’t quit. It’s just cool to be part of a team like this.”

While Tuesday was a run-of-the-mill result, so to speak, with Abreu controlling all 35 laps from the pole ahead of Larson in second, the St. Helena, Calif., fan-favorite won’t ever allow himself to go through the motions. Like, never allowing himself to put on the face that he expects to reach victory lane because it's his job.

“I just remember the days and the years I went through where I got my ass kicked every single night,” Abreu said. “And the phone calls that were made to me, the little bit of pressure that was put on me. I don’t ever forget about those days.

“When you get put in these positions of winning, it’s really important for me as a person to stay very humbled and to stay on track, on the path, of what got me to this position. I always think about that and always look back on that. It keeps me extremely hungry.”

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WATCH: Rico Abreu's interview with FloRacing's Matthew Dillner leading into this summer's Eldora Million.


When it comes to his crew, which also consists of Zack Middlebrooks and Brady Forbrook, Abreu isn’t blurting some cliche when he relentlessly praises their efforts. Their handiwork ultimately convicts Abreu to go out and obtain the very results the world’s witnessing.

“I say it again and again: this sport is so driving off team work and people, how critical the people are in this industry,” Abreu said. “Getting a guy like Ricky Warner to work on your car and the success he’s had in the industry through the years. Now you have an elite crew chief right in your pocket. You better go perform now.”

As far as the High Limit Series title goes, Abreu isn’t expecting to roll into Putnamville, Ind., next Tuesday and come away as the tour’s champion.

“I just think it’s cool we’ve tracked the best car and the best driver in the country down,” Abreu said. “And now we have their backs against the wall. If it was a 50-race schedule, it’d be a whole different story.”

RELATED: It's Kyle Larson vs. Rico Abreu For The High Limit Sprint Car Series Title

And if April 11’s series opener at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., didn’t prematurely end for Abreu with a flat tire that knocked him out of the lead, he’d be ahead of Larson. That night, Abreu was credited with a 22nd-place finish while Larson placed fifth. That’s a 21-point swing.

“Take Lakeside out of the equation and we’d have a 30-point lead,” Abreu said. “I’m not really worried about these points. It’s extremely good and extremely cool that Kyle and Brad have done this for the industry. They’ve changed the game in the sport. When you really look at it and pinpoint it, what they’re going to do next is going to elevate this industry.

“This is incredible for us race car drivers and team owners. They have such a good vision on it all. They’re pushing really hard. I want to be behind people like that in this industry and support them. And be a part of something like that.

“That’s why I made it a point to my guys we’re running all 12 of these High Limit races, run all the points races and see where we’re at. We’ve had an incredible, consistent year this year. That’s what wins the championships at the end of the day.”