CHICO, SANTA MARIA CONCLUDE “CALIFORNIA MIDGET WEEK;”

ABREU “SWEEPS” CALISTOGA’S “VERMEIL” MIDGET FEATURES

Rico Abreu leads the “California Midget Week” standings into this week’s finales at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico (Thursday) and Santa Maria Raceway (Saturday). Thursday’s race is part of the annual “Gold Cup Race of Champions.”

Ronnie Gardner of Norco, Calif. continues to lead the Honda USAC Western Midget standings in search of a third consecutive series title after he took second and fourth to Abreu in both Friday and Saturday’s 8th “Louie Vermeil Classic” races at Calistoga (Calif.) Speedway. He holds a 76-point margin over Cody Swanson in the new standings.

Abreu, of Rutherford, Calif., led the final 16 laps of Sunday’s Calistoga 30-lapper, passing Trey Marcham on lap 15 in his Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Toyota TRD Bullet/Speedway Toyota. Trailing Abreu and Gardner at the finish were fast qualifier Kevin Thomas Jr., Ryan Bernal and Marcham. On Sunday, he passed Shane Golobic on lap eight and led the rest of the way to beat Brady Bacon, Bernal, Gardner and Chase Stockon.