3/8/2025
Kubota High Limit Racing
PLAYING THE POINTS: Rico Abreu’s Veteran Team Evolving into Championship Form with High Limit
Rico Abreu’s entire sprint car career was spent in the true outlaw sector of the sport – until 2024, when he loved the vision of the upstart Kubota High Limit Racing and took his #24 full-time.
There were struggles in the early stages of the season and it took time to adapt to this new challenge, but with the help of a veteran cast of crew members and the loyal support of his followers, Rico is ramping up his championship-chasing skills and ready to take the fight to Brad Sweet in 2025.
“I’m glad that we got the experience of racing for a championship last year,” Abreu said. “When you are racing for a title, you have to look at things in a different light. We got behind last year and I wanted to think ‘chase Brad, chase Brad’ every night, but having a guy like Ricky [Warner] be able to change my mindset was huge. We learned when we’re down deep in eighth, let’s chase Spencer [Bayston], okay now let’s chase Justin [Peck], and work our way forward. This points racing deal is a process and I’ve been focused on breaking all that down as a driver. It paid off by the end of the season.”
Rico’s right: their ability to simply take things one at a time allowed them to claw their way up the standings after a less than desirable start. When you look at the standings, the Rico Abreu Racing #24 was eighth in April, seventh in May, fifth in June, fourth in July, third in August, and up to second in September. Ultimately, they finished third with Tyler Courtney nipping them by a single point on the final night.
“When you’re down deep and digging yourself out of a hole, you see the roots of a team on full display,” he added. “I know that I have a group of men who are going to march into war with me. That gives me all the confidence in the world. Team chemistry is huge in our sport. These guys believe in me and that’s why I’m so outspoken about their work ethic and how much they grind and prepare these cars. I don’t want that to go unnoticed.”
That chemistry is in part due to the long relationships Rico has formed with his crew members. National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductee Ricky Warner will go into the history books as one of the greatest crew chiefs to ever wrench on a Sprint Car, and he’s entering year four on the #24. Paired with him is Zack Middlebrooks entering his fifth year as car chief. The young one on the team is tire specialist Brady Forbrook, ready to rip in his third year with Abreu.
This group is not only evolving into a consistent championship contender, but they’re also mainstay threats when the biggest events in our sport are on the main stage.
“I’m incredible humbled that we have a shot at these races,” Abreu said looking at the crown jewels. “The big ones are growing and they’re all becoming more prestigious. Look where the Gold Cup is going, look what Skagit Nationals has evolved into. Us focusing on our consistency has put us in a position when the Kings Royal and Knoxville Nationals comes around. You see that as we’ve hit year four, five, six that we’ve fine-tuned our program and the ability to execute has gone up. You practice for the big ones all year and you have to perform when they’re here.”
One of the most impressive parts of Abreu’s operation is the RICO brand he’s built and dedicated to growing the sport. You see his wife Meagan selling merchandise at the t-shirt trailer and beloved dog Gus is as much as a hit as Rico himself.
“I made it a goal to improve my brand a few years back and the people around me like Meagan and Gus have been a huge part of that,” he said. “From the merchandising to our on-track performance to our social media presence, I think everything intertwines in growing the team. The comfort of the race fans at the track has become a big thing for me. I want our fans to have an unbelievable experience. They are spending their hard-earned money to come watch us race and those positive interactions go a long way. They want to talk to you and know you, too. That’s why I’ve dedicated so much time and effort on them.”
As Rico turns his attention to the potential for a championship in 2025, he’ll have the benefit of seeing the least new tracks of any High Roller. The #24 will visit only six tracks for the first time including Central Arizona Raceway (AZ) on March 28-29, Route 66 Motor Speedway (TX) on April 4, Texarkana 67 Speedway (AR) on April 30, Ransomville Speedway (NY) on May 16, 141 Speedway (WI) on June 3, Red Cedar Speedway (WI) on June 4, and Florence Speedway (KY) on July 11-12.
Abreu’s 2025 campaign with Kubota High Limit Racing officially begins at Las Vegas Motor Speedway next week on Thursday, March 13 before a $25,000-to-win event on Saturday, March 15. The 60-race tour will conclude with All-In Championship Weekend at Texas Motor Speedway on October 17 and 18.
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If you cannot join Kubota High Limit Racing at the track, you can watch every lap of every race live on FloRacing, the exclusive broadcast partner of Kubota High Limit Racing.
Watch DIRT Season 2 Presented by NOS Energy Drink
DIRT II: A Season With High Limit Racing presented by NOS Energy Drink goes under the hood of Kubota High Limit Racing’s first full season, giving fans an inside look at Kyle Larson, Brad Sweet, Rico Abreu, Corey Day and more as they battle it out for dirt supremacy. Watch each live premiere exclusively on FloRacing beginning with the first episode on March 13 at 6:30 p.m. CT. For the full DIRT Season 2 release schedule, click here.
To watch the trailer and each episode as it becomes available, click here.
Article Credit: Brian Walker
