PLYMOUTH, Ind. – official release — Stephanie Reichelt photo — Rico Abreu made the most of an unexpected off weekend from the Honda USAC National Dirt Midget Series by winning Saturday’s Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt finale at Plymouth Speedway.

Abreu, the current Honda USAC National Dirt Midget Series championship leader, was originally scheduled to contest the Gold Grown Midget Nationals at Tri-City Speedway in Illinois. That event was canceled by rain earlier in the weekend, so instead he pulled out his family sprint car and made the trip to Plymouth Speedway on Saturday night.

The Sprints on Dirt had a tough points battle going with Ryan Ruhl and Dustin Daggett each having a shot to claim the series championship. Ruhl came into this race 12 points ahead of Daggett and Ruhl would fight early to keep it that way. Ruhl started on the outside pole while Daggett started eighth. Ruhl took the early lead in the race and Daggett slowly made this way to fifth by the fifth lap.

It appeared that Ruhl had the handle on the race until two lapped cars got into trouble in front of him and collected him in a three car pileup in turn one about halfway through the 25-lap contest. Ruhl would quickly get to the pits to make repairs, but he would restart the race at the tail.

By this time Abreu had moved up the field from his 10th starting position and was poised to make a move. Scotty Thiel would go to the point after the caution but he and Jim Lingar would get jumbled up in between turns three and four, which handed over the lead to Abreu.

At that point there were only four laps were left in the race and Abreu was able to keep the lead and take home the trophy. Shawn Dancer finished second and Daggett was third, which was enough for him to lock up his fifth Engine Pro Sprints on Dirt championship. Ruhl finished eighth.

Other feature winners Saturday night at Plymouth included Dave Gross (supermodified), Travis Wolford (super street), Josh Scott (UMP modified), Bryce Shidler (thunder stock) and Guy Sutton (cyber stock).