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Jason Johnson Classic
81 Speedway | Wichita, Kansas
Saturday, April 08, 2023
Race Recap  

RICO ROLLS: Rico Abreu Banks $20,000 with Jason Johnson Classic Victory

The 81 Speedway fans roared as a victorious Rico Abreu climbed atop his wing and held up four fingers on one hand and a single finger on the other.

The St. Helena, CA native was signaling his support to the man everyone showed up to salute Saturday night, Jason Johnson.

Abreu led the entirety of the fifth Jason Johnson Classic, holding off a late rally by Carson Macedo to seal the win and $20,000 payday. The trip to Victory Lane at the Wichita, KS track was his second with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars in 2023 through only seven starts.

It’s the first time since 2018 that Abreu has claimed multiple World of Outlaws Features in the same season. The 31-year-old is now up to 11 triumphs with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

With Bobbi and Jaxx Johnson joining Abreu in his celebration on the front stretch in front of filled grandstands, emotion swelled for Abreu as he soaked in one of his most meaningful career victories.

“These wins become really emotional when you get up here on the front straightaway in front of a packed house and in front of Jaxx,” Abreu said, patting Jason’s son on the shoulder. “It’s a very cherishing moment for my team and I. We’re all our here racing for Jason Johnson’s legacy.”

Early on Abreu announced he would be tough to beat as he snatched the lead from the outside of the front row when the green flag flew. Behind him Carson Macedo and David Gravel began a war for the runner-up spot with Gravel securing it just before a yellow flag flew.

The opening stage of the race became marred by stoppages including one for championship point leader, Brad Sweet, as he was involved in a multi-car incident entering Turn 1. The four-time and defending champion was able to make repairs and rejoin.

Officials made the decision to utilize single file restarts for the remainder of the main event after the early issues, and it paid off as the yellow flag would not fly again for the balance of the race.

Rico Abreu, Carson Macedo, David Gravel
Rico Abreu leads the pack on a restart (Trent Gower Photo)

Once the race established a rhythm, Abreu pulled ahead on a clear track, and even in early parts of navigating traffic, Abreu kept two of the country’s best in Macedo and Gravel safely behind. Abreu credited his team, led by Ricky Warner, and their growing chemistry for the speed of his #24 machine.

“It all comes down to my team. They do an amazing job,” Abreu said. “Ricky, his critical thinking, and the way Zack adapts to Ricky’s thinking, and how Brady works through and processes things. It’s so cool to see.”

Late in the going, Abreu was forced to fend off a late challenge from the man wheeling the Jason Johnson Racing ride, Macedo. The Lemoore, CA native found some speed on the very top of Turns 1 and 2 and used it to close on Abreu as the laps waned.

Abreu crossed the start/finish line with two to go and made a decision he seldom had all race – going to the bottom of Turn 1. This allowed Macedo to get an even bigger run on the cushion and close quickly exiting Turn 2.

As they screamed down the back straightaway, Macedo ducked low with hopes of throwing a slider in turn three. But Abreu protected the spot and didn’t allow Macedo to edge ahead. The JJR #41 slipped up the track mid-corner, allowing Abreu to pull away with the white flag in his sights.

When the checkered flag flew, Abreu’s advantage had grown back to nearly a second as he became the eighth different winner at 81 Speedway through 14 Series visits and the fifth different winner of the Jason Johnson Classic.

“I knew the #41 was behind me because of the scoreboard on the front stretch, and I knew he was giving it all he had,” Abreu explained. “It’s the style of Carson racing. So, just to be up here and racing in front of the best Sprint Car fans in the world is an unbelievable feeling.”

Macedo wound up second, marking his third consecutive podium. The recent consistency paid off in elevating him into the points lead. While Macedo wanted more than anything to park the JJR ride in Victory Lane for the Jason Johnson Classic, he still walked away with his head held high with a second-place effort and sitting atop the standings.

“It would’ve been really cool to park the Jason Johnson Racing car in Victory Lane at Jason Johnson’s race, but nevertheless we were on the podium again and had a solid night,” Macedo said. “At the end there I gave it everything I had and then some to try and win it.”

Rounding out the top-three was Watertown, CT’s David Gravel. The Big Game Motorsports driver was strong during all 30 laps, even claiming the runner-up spot on multiple occasions, before taking home third. The effort equaled him with Brad Sweet (6) for the most podiums this season. He also moved into second in the standings.

“It was a good effort,” Gravel said. “I wish Carson didn’t get by me there right after that red flag and then I maybe could’ve had a shot at Rico because Rico was searching quite a bit in (turns) one and two.” 

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars are heading to Pevely, MO for a pair of nights (April 14-15) at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch all the action live on DIRTVision.

RESULTS:

A Feature (30 Laps): 1. 24-Rico Abreu[2]; 2. 41-Carson Macedo[1]; 3. 2-David Gravel[3]; 4. 5-Spencer Bayston[4]; 5. 83-James McFadden[7]; 6. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[5]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 8. 1S-Logan Schuchart[9]; 9. 1A-Jacob Allen[10]; 10. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[15]; 11. 11-Michael Kofoid[12]; 12. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[8]; 13. 15-Donny Schatz[17]; 14. 49-Brad Sweet[11]; 15. 7S-Robbie Price[16]; 16. 25-Scott Bogucki[19]; 17. 1X-Jake Bubak[18]; 18. 21-Brian Brown[13]; 19. 52-Blake Hahn[23]; 20. 20G-Noah Gass[24]; 21. 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[22]; 22. 13-Justin Peck[14]; 23. 8-Aaron Reutzel[20]; 24. 3-Ayrton Gennetten[21]

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Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+124Rico Abreu 300.00030Running150$20,000
21-141Carson Macedo 30-0.914Running146$6,000
3302David Gravel 30-1.374Running144$3,500
4405Spencer Bayston 30-2.657Running142$2,800
57+283James McFadden 30-3.418Running140$2,500
65-118Giovanni Scelzi 30-3.874Running138$2,300
76-117Sheldon Haudenschild 30-4.761Running136$2,200
89+11SLogan Schuchart 30-5.164Running134$2,100
910+11AJacob Allen 30-6.583Running132$2,050
1015+57BCTyler Courtney 30-7.931Running130$2,000
1112+111Michael Kofoid 30-8.391Running128$1,600
128-43ZBrock Zearfoss 30-8.896Running126$1,400
1317+415Donny Schatz 30-9.804Running124$1,200
1411-349Brad Sweet 30-10.345Running122$1,100
1516+17SRobbie Price 30-11.626Running120$1,050
1619+325Scott Bogucki 30-12.181Running118$1,000
1718+11XJake Bubak 30-13.889Running116$1,000
1813-521Brian Brown 30-15.480Running114$1,000
1923+452Blake Hahn 17-13 LapsDNF112$1,000
2024+420GNoah Gass 15-15 LapsDNF110$1,000
2122+115HSam Hafertepe Jr11-19 LapsDNF108$1,000
2214-813Justin Peck 5-25 LapsDNF106$1,000
2320-38Aaron Reutzel 5-25 LapsDNF104$1,000
2421-33Ayrton Gennetten 5-25 LapsDNF102$1,000
KSE Hard Charger: Tyler Courtney
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
1103Ayrton Gennetten 120.00012Running0$0
22015HSam Hafertepe Jr12-6.087Running0$0
33052Blake Hahn 12-6.236Running0$0
45+120GNoah Gass 12-6.989Running0$0
54-15TRyan Timms 12-7.437Running90$300
69+324WGaret Williamson 12-10.281Running90$250
7701JDanny Jennings 12-15.070Running90$225
8809SKyle Clark 12-15.826Running90$200
912+32BBrett Becker 11-1 LapsRunning90$200
106-42CWayne Johnson 7-5 LapsDNF90$200
111106Bill Rose 5-7 LapsDNF90$200
1210-29Kasey Kahne 0-12 LapsDNS90$200
Dash 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+141Carson Macedo 60.0006Running0$0
21-124Rico Abreu 6-2.323Running0$0
34+12David Gravel 6-3.538Running0$0
46+25Spencer Bayston 6-4.578Running0$0
53-218Giovanni Scelzi 6-5.374Running0$0
65-117Sheldon Haudenschild 6-6.662Running0$0
77083James McFadden 6-7.287Running0$0
8803ZBrock Zearfoss 6-8.445Running0$0
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1102David Gravel 80.0008Running
22083James McFadden 8-1.695Running
3301SLogan Schuchart 8-2.911Running
44021Brian Brown 8-6.170Running
55015Donny Schatz 8-6.701Running
66052Blake Hahn 8-7.230Running
78+120GNoah Gass 8-9.032Running
87-124WGaret Williamson 8-9.664Running
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11041Carson Macedo 80.0008Running
22018Giovanni Scelzi 8-0.942Running
3301AJacob Allen 8-3.624Running
44013Justin Peck 8-4.311Running
57+21XJake Bubak 8-6.010Running
65-13Ayrton Gennetten 8-7.480Running
78+12CWayne Johnson 5-3 LapsDNF
86-29Kasey Kahne 0-8 LapsDNS
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+117Sheldon Haudenschild 80.0008Running
21-13ZBrock Zearfoss 8-1.511Running
33049Brad Sweet 8-2.492Running
4407BCTyler Courtney 8-4.020Running
56+125Scott Bogucki 8-5.887Running
65-115HSam Hafertepe Jr8-8.069Running
7701JDanny Jennings 8-10.837Running
8806Bill Rose 7-1 LapsRunning
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11024Rico Abreu 80.0008Running
24+25Spencer Bayston 8-1.145Running
32-111Michael Kofoid 8-1.763Running
43-17SRobbie Price 8-2.952Running
5508Aaron Reutzel 8-3.853Running
6605TRyan Timms 8-5.712Running
7709SKyle Clark 8-10.223Running
8802BBrett Becker 7-1 LapsRunning
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1252David Gravel Watertown, CT13.2340.000
22041Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA13.319-0.085
3153ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA13.344-0.110
41924Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA13.368-0.134
51083James McFadden Alice Springs, NT13.382-0.148
63118Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.396-0.162
72817Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.405-0.171
8111Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA13.407-0.173
9141SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.455-0.221
10231AJacob Allen Hanover, PA13.456-0.222
11449Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA13.464-0.230
12167SRobbie Price Cobble Hill, BC13.490-0.256
132421Brian Brown Higginsville, MO13.519-0.285
142613Justin Peck Monrovia, IN13.526-0.292
1537BCTyler Courtney Indianapolis, IN13.563-0.329
1695Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN13.570-0.336
173015Donny Schatz Fargo, ND13.584-0.350
18133Ayrton Gennetten Versailles, MO13.601-0.367
19515HSam Hafertepe JrSunnyvale, TX13.608-0.374
2078Aaron Reutzel Clute, TX13.637-0.403
212152Blake Hahn Sapulpa, OK13.649-0.415
22189Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA13.667-0.433
233225Scott Bogucki Mclaren Vale, SA13.728-0.494
2425TRyan Timms Oklahoma City, OK13.786-0.552
25624WGaret Williamson Columbia, MO13.878-0.644
26111XJake Bubak Arvada, CO13.895-0.661
27121JDanny Jennings Norman, OK14.057-0.823
28179SKyle Clark Sapulpa, OK14.072-0.838
292220GNoah Gass Mounds, OK14.220-0.986
3082CWayne Johnson Oklahoma City, OK14.222-0.988
31276Bill Rose Plainfield, IN14.505-1.271
32292BBrett Becker Odessa, TX14.785-1.551
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1252David Gravel Watertown, CT13.7250.000
21924Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA13.754-0.029
33118Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.771-0.046
43225Scott Bogucki Mclaren Vale, SA13.821-0.096
52421Brian Brown Higginsville, MO13.890-0.165
62041Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA13.904-0.179
795Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN13.985-0.260
83015Donny Schatz Fargo, ND14.012-0.287
92613Justin Peck Monrovia, IN14.014-0.289
102817Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH14.020-0.295
111083James McFadden Alice Springs, NT14.081-0.356
12153ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA14.143-0.418
132220GNoah Gass Mounds, OK14.171-0.446
14133Ayrton Gennetten Versailles, MO14.183-0.458
15231AJacob Allen Hanover, PA14.192-0.467
16167SRobbie Price Cobble Hill, BC14.340-0.615
17292BBrett Becker Odessa, TX14.349-0.624
182152Blake Hahn Sapulpa, OK14.401-0.676
19111XJake Bubak Arvada, CO14.441-0.716
20141SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA14.569-0.844
21276Bill Rose Plainfield, IN14.679-0.954
22121JDanny Jennings Norman, OK14.746-1.021
2325TRyan Timms Oklahoma City, OK14.774-1.049
24449Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA14.776-1.051
25111Michael Kofoid Penngrove, CA14.856-1.131
26624WGaret Williamson Columbia, MO14.889-1.164
2782CWayne Johnson Oklahoma City, OK14.906-1.181
2878Aaron Reutzel Clute, TX15.017-1.292
29515HSam Hafertepe JrSunnyvale, TX15.041-1.316
30189Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA15.061-1.336
3137BCTyler Courtney Indianapolis, IN15.074-1.349
32179SKyle Clark Sapulpa, OK15.074-1.349
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

Jason Johnson Classic
Saturday, April 08, 2023
81 Speedway
7700 N Broadway St
Wichita, Kansas 67219 

Event Description
After a six-year absence, the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars return to the 3/8-mile Park City, KS Speedway - this time for the 5th annual Jason Johnson Classic.

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

To Win Amount
$20,000.00

Feature Laps Length
30

Event Schedule
2PM Gates Open
5PM Grandstand Gates Open
6:30PM Hot Laps/Qualifying
Opening Ceremonies
and Racing to follow
*All times Central

Ticket Options  
Options And Prices
Reserved: $40 Advanced / $45 Day of
Adult GA: $35 Advanced / $40 Day of
Child GA: $10


Trackside Parking: $50
Vehicle Pass for Pits: $20

Frequently Asked Questions  
To Win Amount
$20,000.00

Credit Card Use
Pit Gate, Ticket Window

Track Info  

81 Speedway
7700 N Broadway St
Wichita, Kansas 67219 

Track Phone
(316) 755-1781

Track Type
0.375; Dirt Oval

Sprint Car Track Record
13.207 by Travis Whitney on 8/20/04

Late Model Track Record
15.718 by Mike Marlar on 10/22/22

Track Map
Competitor Info  

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