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BeFour the Crowns Showdown
Eldora Speedway | Rossburg, Ohio
Friday, September 22, 2023
Race Recap  

ELDORA EXCELLENCE: Rico Abreu Fends Off Gravel for Third Eldora World of Outlaws Victory

Rico Abreu is on a roll at Eldora Speedway. The high banks and high speeds of “The Big E” seem to suit the Californian perfectly. And on Friday night, Abreu delivered the latest testament to his prowess at the historic facility.

The 31-year-old took the lead on the opening circuit of the 30-lapper and never looked back. Abreu held off early challenges from Giovanni Scelzi and survived a Hail Mary slide job from David Gravel in the final corner to seal a win in the BeFour the Crowns Showdown as the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars kicked off Four Crown weekend.

The victory moved Abreu up to six with The Greatest Show on Dirt in 2023. He’s now at four triumphs in his last 10 Sprint Car starts at the half mile. The other three are last year’s BeFour the Crowns Showdown, another World of Outlaws win this past May, and an Eldora Million prelim in July. As the World of Outlaws closed out their 2023 slate at Eldora, Abreu became the first and only to notch multiple Series victories at “The House that Earl Built.”

“Just more seat time around this track,” Abreu said of his recent Eldora success. “Ricky Warner and these guys work so hard. They’re so passionate about racing. What I’ve understood in my career is just surround yourself with people that are passionate about this sport and want to see me do good, and that’s how we stand up here in Victory Lane. We all just believe in each other.”

The pole position at the drop of the green flag belonged to Logan Schuchart courtesy of topping the Toyota Racing Dash. But it was Abreu blasting around the top side to lead down the back straightaway on Lap 1 and pace the first circuit.

On the second lap, Gio Scelzi quickly began to flex his muscle as he cleared a perfect slide job on Schuchart to take over the runner-up spot in Turns 1 and 2. Right after snagging second, Scelzi went to work tracking down Abreu.

While the pilot of the Rico Abreu Racing #24 ripped the thin cushion all around Eldora, Scelzi made up ground tip-toeing the low line in Turns 3 and 4. The Fresno, CA native rolled tightly along the inside fence to close in. On the seventh lap, Scelzi used a strong run out of Turn 4 to attack. He threw a massive slider at Abreu heading into Turn 1 in a bid for the lead. But Abreu kept the gas pedal mashed to the floor and motored around Scelzi as the two nearly touched exiting the second turn.

Scelzi’s unsuccessful slider scrubbed momentum from the KCP Racing #18 as Abreu pulled ahead down the backstretch. The close call appeared to lift Abreu’s elbows up as he began to distance himself from Scelzi and the rest of the field.

Rico Abreu racing at Eldora Speedway
Rico Abreu’s recent roll at Eldora Speedway continued with a win in the BeFour the Crowns Showdown (Trent Gower Photo)

As the race neared the halfway point, Abreu opened up his advantage as the St. Helena, CA native expertly sliced through traffic. The gap between he and Scelzi eclipsed two seconds on Lap 16, and as the race dwindled to 10 laps to go, Abreu appeared headed to an easy win. But then the yellow lights flashed for the first time as James McFadden got into the fence and spun to a stop.

The race was interrupted one last time as Spencer Bayston had an issue in Turns 1 and 2 to set up a six-lap dash to the checkered flag.

On the late restart, Abreu inched ahead as a surging David Gravel began to challenge Scelzi for second. Gravel could comfortably move his Big Game Motorsports #2 around the surface, and he used a run to slide by Scelzi for the runner-up spot on Lap 27 before setting his sights on Abreu.

Like Scelzi earlier in the race, Gravel found speed on the bottom of Turns 3 and 4, and he trimmed three tenths of a second off Abreu’s lead on the lap after he took over second. The next lap another three tenths were erased as they took the white flag. And as the lead duo rolled down the backstretch one last time, Gravel launched a Hail Mary slider into Turn 3 but barely missed clearing Abreu as the exited Turn 4.

“I knew,” Abreu said of Gravel’s closing presence. “My pace slowed down on the top. There weren’t too many cars running all the way up on the wall and it was getting crumby. I knew I won a race here a couple years ago just cheating it into (Turns) 3 and 4. The sun bakes that end, so it’s the fastest corner to slicken up. You’ve just really got to pay attention. Racing with the Outlaws things happen really quickly.”

Abreu surviving Gravel’s last gasp allowed him to reach the finish line first to lock up another Eldora victory to continue his recent tear at the Rossburg, OH facility.

“That’s the best Eldora right there,” Abreu said. “It was just really maneuverable with our race car.”

The slide job that came up a little short caused Gravel to settle for second as he narrowly missed making the trip to Victory Lane. The runner-up result marked Gravel’s Series-high 28th World of Outlaws podium of the season. Gravel left feeling satisfied with the strong run but also wished the Feature could’ve been slightly longer with how his machine came alive late.

“We definitely needed a 40-lap race there,” Gravel said. “I felt like everybody was getting worse and we were either staying the same or getting better there at the end. I just kind of figured out (Turns) 3 and 4. And in (Turns) 1 and 2 Rico was leaning on the cushion really hard and hitting it and getting tight and wasn’t making a lot of corner speed where I felt like I was. If I was in clean air in front of him through (Turns) 1 and 2, we would’ve been really hauling ass through there, but still a solid run for us.”

After challenging for the lead early on, Gio Scelzi brought his #18 machine home third to round out the top three. The finish marked his sixth podium of his rookie World of Outlaws campaign. Most importantly, the strong run suppled he and the team with a much needed confidence boost following a rough west coast swing.

“We were fast all night from the drop of the green flag,” Scelzi said. “I felt like every move we made and every change we made really made the car a lot better. It’s been probably the crappiest three weeks I’ve had in my entire racing career. I don’t think people realize whether we suck or whether we win, the same amount of work goes in with my crew guys. This is 100% dedicated to them and all the sponsors that stay behind us.”

Carson Macedo and Logan Schuchart completed the top five.

With Brad Sweet finishing ninth, Gravel’s runner-up helped him trim Sweet’s point lead down from 90 markers to 76.

Donny Schatz collected the KSE Racing Hard Charger with a 15th to 6th drive.

David Gravel earned the Simpson Racing QuickTime Award for the 11th time in 2023 and 108th time in his career.

CASE No.1 Engine Oil Heat One went to David Gravel (234th Heat Race win of career). NOS Energy Drink Heats Two through Four were topped by Giovanni Scelzi (34th of career), Logan Schuchart (119th of career), and Justin Peck (ninth of career).

Kerry Madsen won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

After an incident with less than 10 laps to go ended a potential top 10 run, James McFadden was given the Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars make their last appearance in the state of Ohio on Saturday, September 23 at Sharon Speedway for the Federated Auto Parts Showdown. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 24-Rico Abreu[2]; 2. 2-David Gravel[4]; 3. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[3]; 4. 41-Carson Macedo[9]; 5. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[15]; 7. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[6]; 8. 13-Justin Peck[7]; 9. 49-Brad Sweet[11]; 10. 26-Zeb Wise[19]; 11. 7BC-Tyler Courtney[13]; 12. 8-Aaron Reutzel[8]; 13. 9R-Chase Randall[12]; 14. 3Z-Brock Zearfoss[17]; 15. 21H-Brady Bacon[10]; 16. 11-Cory Eliason[24]; 17. 88-Austin McCarl[16]; 18. 42-Sye Lynch[22]; 19. 4-Chris Windom[23]; 20. 7S-Robbie Price[26]; 21. 9-Kasey Kahne[18]; 22. 1T-Tanner Holmes[25]; 23. (DNF) 5-Spencer Bayston[14]; 24. (DNF) 83-James McFadden[5]; 25. (DNF) 55-Kerry Madsen[21]; 26. (DNF) 9P-Parker Price Miller[20]

[Read More]
Results  
Feature Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
12+124Rico Abreu 300.00030Running150$10,000
24+22David Gravel 30-0.432Running146$6,000
33018Giovanni Scelzi 30-1.245Running144$3,500
49+541Carson Macedo 30-3.811Running142$2,800
51-41SLogan Schuchart 30-4.608Running140$2,500
615+915Donny Schatz 30-5.200Running138$2,300
76-117Sheldon Haudenschild 30-6.938Running136$2,200
87-113Justin Peck 30-7.495Running134$2,100
911+249Brad Sweet 30-8.074Running132$2,050
1019+926Zeb Wise 30-9.176Running130$2,000
1113+27BCTyler Courtney 30-9.755Running128$1,600
128-48Aaron Reutzel 30-10.494Running126$1,400
1312-19RChase Randall 30-11.446Running124$1,200
1417+33ZBrock Zearfoss 29-1 LapsRunning122$1,100
1510-521HBrady Bacon 29-1 LapsRunning120$1,050
1624+811Cory Eliason 29-1 LapsRunning118$1,000
1716-188Austin McCarl 29-1 LapsRunning116$1,000
1822+442Sye Lynch 29-1 LapsRunning114$1,000
1923+44Chris Windom 29-1 LapsRunning112$1,000
2026+67SRobbie Price 29-1 LapsRunning110$1,000
2118-39Kasey Kahne 29-1 LapsRunning108$1,000
2225+31TTanner Holmes 29-1 LapsRunning106$1,000
2314-95Spencer Bayston 24-6 LapsDNF104$1,000
245-1983James McFadden 20-10 LapsDNF102$1,000
2521-455Kerry Madsen 18-12 LapsDNF102$1,000
2620-69PParker Price-Miller 3-27 LapsDNF102$1,000
KSE Hard Charger: Donny Schatz
Last Chance Showdown Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
13+255Kerry Madsen 120.00010Running0$0
21-142Sye Lynch 12-2.0922Running0$0
35+24Chris Windom 12-2.449Running0$0
47+311Cory Eliason 12-2.842Running0$0
58+335Zach Hampton 12-4.868Running90$300
62-41MLandon Myers 12-5.629Running90$250
712+521Brian Brown 12-5.871Running90$225
810+219Ayrton Gennetten 12-6.769Running90$200
911+270Kraig Kinser 12-8.011Running90$200
106-46GGaret Williamson 12-8.386Running90$200
110-11W20Greg Wilson 12-9.001Running90$200
1214+25TRyan Timms 12-12.877Running90$200
139-450YRJ.J. Hickle 12-14.444Running90$200
1417+399Skylar Gee 12-14.681Running90$200
1516+149XTim Shaffer 12-16.743Running90$200
1615-129Carl Bowser 11-1 LapsRunning90$200
170-1715KCreed Kemenah 11-1 LapsRunning90$200
1813-545Kyle Reinhardt 10-2 LapsDNF90$200
194-1523Cale Thomas 8-4 LapsDNF90$200
Dash 1 Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
1101SLogan Schuchart 60.0006Running0$0
23+124Rico Abreu 6-1.668Running0$0
34+118Giovanni Scelzi 6-2.174Running0$0
46+22David Gravel 6-3.562Running0$0
52-383James McFadden 6-4.184Running0$0
65-117Sheldon Haudenschild 6-5.884Running0$0
78+113Justin Peck 6-6.567Running0$0
87-18Aaron Reutzel 6-6.765Running0$0
C Main Results
POSStart+/-#DriverLapsBehindLedStatusPointsMoney
11015KCreed Kemenah 100.00010Running0$0
220W20Greg Wilson 10-0.677Running0$0
39+61TTanner Holmes 10-0.724Running90$150
46+27SRobbie Price 10-4.800Running90$150
53-255TMcKenna Haase 10-5.414Running90$150
68+256RRyan Myers 10-9.333Running90$125
77011NKasey Jedrzejek 10-10.821Running90$125
810+224DDanny Sams III10-13.243Running90$125
95-46Brian Paulus 10-14.789Running90$125
104-620GNoah Gass 0-10 LapsDNS90$125
Heat 1 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1102David Gravel 80.0008Running
22017Sheldon Haudenschild 8-1.017Running
33041Carson Macedo 8-1.935Running
4407BCTyler Courtney 8-3.471Running
58+33ZBrock Zearfoss 8-6.393Running
65-155Kerry Madsen 8-6.471Running
76-14Chris Windom 8-7.583Running
811+350YRJ.J. Hickle 8-10.272Running
912+345Kyle Reinhardt 8-10.952Running
1010015KCreed Kemenah 8-12.309Running
119-26Brian Paulus 8-14.519Running
127-51TTanner Holmes 4-4 LapsDNF
Heat 2 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
11018Giovanni Scelzi 80.0008Running
22024Rico Abreu 8-1.787Running
33049Brad Sweet 8-2.597Running
46+215Donny Schatz 8-3.685Running
55026Zeb Wise 8-6.250Running
64-242Sye Lynch 8-7.288Running
77011Cory Eliason 8-8.377Running
88070Kraig Kinser 8-9.991Running
910+129Carl Bowser 8-10.448Running
109-155TMcKenna Haase 8-12.071Running
1112+111NKasey Jedrzejek 8-13.321Running
1211-124DDanny Sams III8-15.262Running
Heat 3 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
1101SLogan Schuchart 80.0008Running
23+18Aaron Reutzel 8-2.704Running
32-121HBrady Bacon 8-4.908Running
45+15Spencer Bayston 8-5.509Running
57+29Kasey Kahne 8-6.216Running
66023Cale Thomas 8-6.972Running
78+135Zach Hampton 8-8.204Running
810+221Brian Brown 8-8.624Running
99049XTim Shaffer 8-10.242Running
104-61MLandon Myers 8-11.692Running
1111020GNoah Gass 8-12.493Running
1212056RRyan Myers 8-17.365Running
Heat 4 Results
Pos.Start+/-#DriverLaps CompletedBehindLaps LedStatus
12+113Justin Peck 80.0008Running
21-183James McFadden 8-1.695Running
3309RChase Randall 8-2.305Running
46+288Austin McCarl 8-4.878Running
54-19PParker Price-Miller 8-5.419Running
65-16GGaret Williamson 8-6.003Running
710+319Ayrton Gennetten 8-7.910Running
8805TRyan Timms 8-9.154Running
97-299Skylar Gee 8-10.313Running
1011+1W20Greg Wilson 8-10.973Running
119-27SRobbie Price 8-12.215Running
Qualifying Flight 1 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1192David Gravel Watertown, CT12.9830.000
21318Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.003-0.020
3117Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.010-0.027
4324Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA13.023-0.040
5441Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA13.036-0.053
61149Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA13.078-0.095
7167BCTyler Courtney Indianapolis, IN13.084-0.101
8842Sye Lynch Cowansville, PA13.227-0.244
92155Kerry Madsen Knoxville, IA13.245-0.262
101826Zeb Wise Angola, IN13.269-0.286
11154Chris Windom Canton, IL13.287-0.304
121215Donny Schatz Fargo, ND13.294-0.311
1351TTanner Holmes Jacksonville, OR13.300-0.317
142411Cory Eliason Visalia, CA13.302-0.319
1593ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA13.394-0.411
16270Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN13.396-0.413
17146Brian Paulus Mooresville, IN13.397-0.414
182055TMcKenna Haase Des Moines, IA13.448-0.465
19615KCreed Kemenah Alvada, OH13.498-0.515
202229Carl Bowser Butler, PA13.498-0.515
211750YRJ.J. Hickle Quilcene, WA13.540-0.557
22724DDanny Sams IIINorth Port, FL13.624-0.641
231045Kyle Reinhardt Neptune City, NJ13.811-0.828
242311NKasey Jedrzejek Lagrange, OH14.163-1.180
Qualifying Flight 2 Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
121SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.0610.000
2483James McFadden Alice Springs, NT13.150-0.089
31721HBrady Bacon Broken Arrow, OK13.247-0.186
41113Justin Peck Monrovia, IN13.272-0.211
5208Aaron Reutzel Clute, TX13.294-0.233
6239RChase Randall Waco, TX13.301-0.240
731MLandon Myers York, PA13.316-0.255
899PParker Price-Miller Kokomo, IN13.325-0.264
9195Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN13.359-0.298
10166GGaret Williamson Columbia, MO13.376-0.315
111023Cale Thomas Fairland, IN13.376-0.315
122188Austin McCarl Altoona, IA13.389-0.328
13139Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA13.443-0.382
14799Skylar Gee Leduc, AB13.513-0.452
152235Zach Hampton Mooresville, IN13.525-0.464
1685TRyan Timms Oklahoma City, OK13.529-0.468
17549XTim Shaffer Aliquippa, PA13.547-0.486
18147SRobbie Price Cobble Hill, BC13.579-0.518
191821Brian Brown Higginsville, MO13.583-0.522
20119Ayrton Gennetten Versailles, MO13.614-0.553
211520GNoah Gass Mounds, OK13.641-0.580
226W20Greg Wilson Benton Ridge, OH13.688-0.627
231256RRyan Myers Lewisburg, OH13.851-0.790
Hot Laps Results
POSStartCarDriverHometownTimeDifference
1261SLogan Schuchart Hanover, PA13.1530.000
2435Spencer Bayston Lebanon, IN13.270-0.117
3448Aaron Reutzel Clute, TX13.273-0.120
4192David Gravel Watertown, CT13.296-0.143
5379Kasey Kahne Enumclaw, WA13.326-0.173
6339PParker Price-Miller Kokomo, IN13.346-0.193
74588Austin McCarl Altoona, IA13.360-0.207
84221Brian Brown Higginsville, MO13.414-0.261
9167BCTyler Courtney Indianapolis, IN13.419-0.266
101149Brad Sweet Grass Valley, CA13.420-0.267
114121HBrady Bacon Broken Arrow, OK13.429-0.276
123423Cale Thomas Fairland, IN13.436-0.283
132883James McFadden Alice Springs, NT13.483-0.330
143920GNoah Gass Mounds, OK13.487-0.334
15479RChase Randall Waco, TX13.508-0.355
16271MLandon Myers York, PA13.535-0.382
171318Giovanni Scelzi Fresno, CA13.536-0.383
18387SRobbie Price Cobble Hill, BC13.544-0.391
19406GGaret Williamson Columbia, MO13.550-0.397
203199Skylar Gee Leduc, AB13.613-0.460
2193ZBrock Zearfoss Jonestown, PA13.618-0.465
222519Ayrton Gennetten Versailles, MO13.621-0.468
233513Justin Peck Monrovia, IN13.623-0.470
242155Kerry Madsen Knoxville, IA13.626-0.473
251826Zeb Wise Angola, IN13.664-0.511
26154Chris Windom Canton, IL13.748-0.595
271750YRJ.J. Hickle Quilcene, WA13.760-0.607
28324Rico Abreu St. Helena, CA13.780-0.627
292055TMcKenna Haase Des Moines, IA13.781-0.628
301215Donny Schatz Fargo, ND13.797-0.644
31842Sye Lynch Cowansville, PA13.808-0.655
32146Brian Paulus Mooresville, IN13.843-0.690
333656RRyan Myers Lewisburg, OH13.916-0.763
344635Zach Hampton Mooresville, IN13.918-0.765
35270Kraig Kinser Bloomington, IN13.934-0.781
36325TRyan Timms Oklahoma City, OK13.941-0.788
3730W20Greg Wilson Benton Ridge, OH13.967-0.814
38117Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster, OH13.987-0.834
392311NKasey Jedrzejek Lagrange, OH14.001-0.848
402949XTim Shaffer Aliquippa, PA14.047-0.894
412229Carl Bowser Butler, PA14.079-0.926
421045Kyle Reinhardt Neptune City, NJ14.095-0.942
43441Carson Macedo Lemoore, CA14.175-1.022
44615KCreed Kemenah Alvada, OH14.288-1.135
4551TTanner Holmes Jacksonville, OR14.338-1.185
46724DDanny Sams IIINorth Port, FL14.413-1.260
472411Cory Eliason Visalia, CA14.413-1.260
DIRTVision Highlights  
Event Info  

BeFour the Crowns Showdown
Friday, September 22, 2023
Eldora Speedway
13929 State Route 118
Rossburg, Ohio 45348 

Event Description
"The Big E" hosts the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series for the final time in 2023.

Series Racing
World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series

Event Schedule
1:30PM Pit Gates open
2PM Grandstand Gates open
6PM Hot Laps/Qualifying
-Racing to follow
*All times Eastern

Ticket Options  
Options And Prices
ADMISSION: Ages 13 & up are $29. Ages 12 & under are free (general admission areas only). Add $5 more for reserved seats. Reserved seats are all seats under roof (Sections BB - K) and ST, NTA,NTB.

CAMPING: Reserved camping available in Lots 1-2-3-4-5 and Eldora Village. Only $35 for the weekend.

Reserved Seating
Top 11 rows of Main Grandstand, Patio seats, NTW, plus NTA, NTB & ST (bring your lawn chair)

Handicapped Seating Location
The top row of main grandstand and terrace sections. Reserved seats are recommended. Companion seating is available, please request when ordering tickets. Chair not provided.

Pit Age Requirement
Must be 14 years of age or older. Minors aged 14 through 17 require fully completed Minor Waiver & Parental Consent form.

Parking Cost
$10 or FREE

Handicapped Parking Location
Main parking lot (entry off of State Route 118) and outside of the Turn 4 admission gate.

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite, showers, waste services

Camping Cost
$49

Frequently Asked Questions  
Reserved Seating
Top 11 rows of Main Grandstand, Patio seats, NTW, plus NTA, NTB & ST (bring your lawn chair)

Stadium Seating
Seat cushions are permitted. Stadium style seats may NOT exceed 18 inches, cannot have arms/armrests. No high back seats.

Handicapped Seating
The top row of main grandstand and terrace sections. Reserved seats are recommended. Companion seating is available, please request when ordering tickets. Chair not provided.

Handicapped Parking
Main parking lot (entry off of State Route 118) and outside of the Turn 4 admission gate.

Pit Age Limit
Must be 14 years of age or older. Minors aged 14 through 17 require fully completed Minor Waiver & Parental Consent form.

Personal Coolers
Yes, personal coolers are allowed in the track. Maximum size is 14" in any direction. Glass items are prohibited. Fans cannot bring in their own alcohol.

ATMs
1

Credit Card Use
Concessions, Ticket Window

Alcohol Sales
Alcohol is available at the track

Smoking Policy
State law prohibits smoking in all spectator areas, buildings, structures and lines. Smoking permitted in designated areas only.

Parking Cost
$10 or FREE

Camping Availability
non-electric, onsite, showers, waste services

Camping Cost
$49

Track Info  

Eldora Speedway
13929 State Route 118
Rossburg, Ohio 45348 

Track Phone
(937) 338-3815

Track Email
[email protected]

Track Type
0.500; high banked

Sprint Car Track Record
12.599 seconds by David Gravel on 9/23/20

Late Model Track Record
14.761 seconds by Brandon Sheppard on 10/12/18

Closest Airport
Dayton, OH (DAY / KDAY) James M. Cox Dayton International Airport

Other Airport
Fort Wayne, IN (FWA / KFWA) Fort Wayne International Airport

Track Map
Competitor Info  

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