Rico Abreu ended the streak of first-time prelim winners on Saturday, but kept the Keith Kunz Motorsports run at a perfect Chili Bowl in-tact.
The driver of the No. 97 Rowdy Energy car found himself in a familiar spot on Wednesday night.
“That race is just special man – coming here and racing in this building and the crowd gets bigger and bigger every year,” Abreu said on the FloRacing broadcast following the win. “Thank you to my guys and Keith Kunz. Everyone does a great job on these cars.”
The win is Abreu’s seventh-career prelim night victory, bringing him within one of tying Sammy Swindell for most in his career with eight.
The KKM team picked up its third-straight prelim night win as well, as its 15 cars continue to impress throughout the week.
“It’s a whole team effort,” Abreu said on the broadcast. “You’ve got a whole team of minds thinking together and that’s what makes Keith Kunz Motorsports so great. There’s no egos in that room.”
Kevin Thomas Jr. will also clinch a spot in Saturday’s A-Main along with Abreu, as he finished in the runner-up spot on Wednesday.
“It feels pretty good,” Thomas Jr. said on Wednesday. “That was a pretty technical race track there whether it be running the top or the bottom. We’ve got good speed and we felt good early too – 55 laps is going to be a long time on Saturday.”
Chili Bowl Nationals Wednesday Night Prelim Results
1. Rico Abreu
2. Kevin Thomas Jr.
3. Blake Hahn
4. Colby Copeland
5. Jason McDougal
6. Brad Sweet
7. Chase Randall
8. Chance Crum
9. Corey Day
10. Nick Drake
11. Colby Stubblefield
12. Dominic Gorden
13. Karter Sarff
14. Billy VanInwegen Jr.
15. Brody Roa
16. Tommy Kunsman
17. Tony Bruce Jr.
18. Taylor Reimer
19. Tanner Berryhill
20. RJ Johnson
21. Justin Peck
22. Parker Price-Miller
23. Robert Dalby
24. Jake Neal
