Rico Abreu in Victory Lane after winning the Skagit Nationals finale at Skagit Speedway in Burlington, WA (Photo: Watte12worth Photography)
BURLINGTON, Wash. — Ecstatic about winning Friday night, Rico Abreu went into Saturday’s 40-lap grand finale of the Skagit Nationals at Skagit Speedway happy as a clam. Abreu also being on the pole added to the happiness.
On the outside was James McFadden and as they mashed their gas pedals, it was McFadden who took the initial lead. Right behind Abreu lingered Shane Golobic who was just looking to get past the midget for second.
Five laps in, Abreu got up close and personal with McFadden for the lead and was not looking back. Abreu went to the outside of McFadden going down the backstretch and had the perfect opportunity to slide down to claim first when McFadden slammed the door in Abreu’s face by jumping in front of him to block the advance.
The two of them kept swapping lanes with Abreu vying for the top spot. After trying and trying, lap traffic became a factor for the leaders and it worked out in Abreu’s favor because McFadden had to change lanes once again, giving Abreu the top. He slid in front of McFadden going into Turns 1 and 2 and held that lead long enough to put some space between himself and the Aussie to lead on Lap 15.
With Rico out front and continuously putting space between himself and McFadden the position up for grabs was the one that he, himself, was in. Brad Sweet went to the bottom of McFadden coming off of Turn 2 to race side-by-side down the backstretch. As they neared Turn 3, Sweet gave it all he had and managed to slide in front of McFadden for second with 11 laps to go. But just as soon as Sweet claimed second, he lost it to McFadden because of a successful slide job that was pulled in Turn 2.
Sweet and McFadden fought for second with the former being the victor, and Abreu held both of them off for the duration of the race to win the biggest paycheck of his career: $102,626.26. His first six-figure win, as well, to end the west coast swing.
High Limit Racing heads back to the east coast starting on September 5th for the Tuscarora 50 at Port Royal Speedway in Port Royal, PA.
| Finish | Start | Car No. | Driver | Sponsor | Status |
| 1 | 1 | 24 | Rico Abreu | Rothwell Hyde | Running |
| 2 | 2 | 83 | James McFadden | Mobil 1 | Running |
| 3 | 5 | 49 | Brad Sweet | Napa Auto Parts | Running |
| 4 | 4 | 17W | Shane Golobic | NOS Energy | Running |
| 5 | 11 | 1A | Jacob Allen | Pell’s Tire Service | Running |
| 6 | 8 | 2X | Justin Sanders | Farmers Brewing Co. | Running |
| 7 | 7 | 55X | Trey Starks | T&C Concepts | Running |
| 8 | 6 | 19 | Brent Marks | M&M Painting and Construction | Running |
| 9 | 18 | 18 | Jason Solwold | R.P.M Performance | Running |
| 10 | 23 | 9 | Kasey Kahne | Kahne Paints | Running |
| 11 | 13 | 21 | Cole Macedo | Tarlton | Running |
| 12 | 17 | 21S | Jesse Schlotfeldt | JRS Motorsports | Running |
| 13 | 15 | 8 | Cory Eliason | Commercial Edge | Running |
| 14 | 9 | 21P | Robbie Price | Millstone Heating and Sheet Metal LTD | Running |
| 15 | 10 | 13 | Justin Peck | Pella | Running |
| 16 | 24 | 5 | Spencer Bayston | Truetimber Camo | Running |
| 17 | 20 | 9P | Parker Price-Miller | Chalk-Stix Torsion Bars | Running |
| 18 | 21 | 45 | Landon Brooks | N/A | Running |
| 19 | 22 | 26 | Zeb Wise | Sundollar Restoration | Running |
| 20 | 14 | 7BC | Tyler Courtney | NOS Energy | Running |
| 21 | 19 | 96 | Greg Hamilton | N/A | Running |
| 22 | 16 | 77 | Levi Klatt | Chilliwack’s Ford | Running |
| 23 | 12 | 88 | Tanner Thorson | Smith TI Brake Systems | Running |
| 24 | 3 | 14 | Corey Day | Four CCCC’s Construction | Running |
