By Clayton Johns / Rico Abreu photo by James MacDonald
OHSWEKEN, Ont. – June 6, 2017 – Ohsweken Speedway officials are excited to announce Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series star Kyle Larson and open-wheel phenom Rico Abreu will race at the high-banked, 3/8-mile oval during the Burger Barn Northern Summer Nationals on July 24 and in the World of Outlaws Craftsman® Sprint Car Series Six Nations Showdown presented by Arrow Express.
Larson, 24, is a former open-wheel dirt racing standout turned Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series star with two career wins on NASCAR’s biggest stage, including earlier this season at Auto Club Speedway in California. The Elk Grove, Calif. native is currently second in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series point standings and has four career wins with the World of Outlaws.
Larson has already competed with the Outlaws in 2017 during Brad Sweet’s Short Track Showdown at Placerville Speedway in California. Larson is eager to tackle Ohsweken for the first time in his career.
“I am really excited to make my first trip to Canada and also to be racing a Sprint Car,” Larson said. “Ohsweken has always produced great racing with multiple lines so it should be fun to try and adapt to the track. Hopefully we can pick up a couple wins while I am there.”
Abreu, a 25-year-old native of St. Helena, Calif., has become synonymous with open-wheel racing excellence in North America for his success in Midgets and Sprint Cars. Abreu won the 29th and 30th annual Chili Bowl Midget Nationals in Tulsa, Okla. in 2015 and 2016, the biggest of more than 90 open-wheel wins in his young career.
Abreu also has six World of Outlaws victories in part-time competition with the Series. His sixth win came earlier this season on April 8, 2017 at Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek, Ariz. July’s events will also mark Abreu’s first career visit to Ohsweken’s 3/8-mile clay oval.
“I’m excited to compete in Canada at the famous Ohsweken Speedway,” Abreu said. “All I have heard is great things about the racing surface as well as the facility. It is definitely something we’re looking forward to.”
Larson and Abreu will take on the best 360 Sprint Car drivers in the northeast during the Burger Barn Northern Summer Nationals on Monday, July 24. Then, they will battle the best drivers in all of Sprint Car racing when the ‘Greatest Show on Dirt’, the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series, rolls into town for their only Canadian stop of 2017 in the Six Nations Showdown presented by Arrow Express on Tuesday, July 25.
“We are very excited to have Kyle and Rico race at Ohsweken Speedway,” said Glenn Styres, owner of Ohsweken Speedway. “The raw talent of these two racing superstars is unmatched. We are looking forward to showing them how great all of our Ohsweken and Canadian fans truly are.”
Last season, Kasey Kahne claimed the Northern Summer Nationals win when he invaded Ohsweken while reigning eight-time World of Outlaws champion Donny Schatz won the Six Nations Showdown for the fourth time in his career. Canadian Stewart Friesen won the 2015 edition of the race while Tony Stewart beat the Outlaws in back-to-back years in 2011 and 2012.
Advanced reserved seating tickets for both the Burger Barn Northern Summer Nationals on July 24 and the World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series Six Nations Showdown on July 25 are available online at ohswekenspeedway.ticketforce.com or by calling (519) 717-0023.
TICKETS PLEASE!
Tickets for the World of Outlaws Six Nations Showdown, Northern Summer Nationals, Triple Crown Showdown, and Canadian Sprint Car Nationals are on sale now! Visit ohswekenspeedway.ticketforce.com or call 519-717-0023 to order and for more information.
About Burger Barn: Since opening in 2011, Burger Barn has quickly gained a reputation for large portions, friendly staff, great food, and fair prices. Tips from satisfied customers even led Food Network Canada to feature Burger Barn on their show “You Gotta Eat Here”. Burger Barn takes pride in their product, and they never get tired of hearing “That was the best burger I’ve ever had”. Their menu also includes all-day breakfast, wings, chicken burgers, fish and chips, pulled pork, daily specials, and much more! Burger Barn is located at 3000 Fourth Line in Ohsweken, just 5 miles from Ohsweken Speedway. Call them at 519-445-0088, and visit www.BurgerBarn.ca for more information.
About Arrow Express: Arrow Express Sports is a sports and entertainment company that is dedicated to preserving and teaching Native American Indian sports, culture, music, and languages. Based at the Arrow Express Sports Entertainment Arena, the company owns and operates the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League, and the Hamilton Nationals of Major League Lacrosse. Arrow Express owns and operates the multipurpose 3,000 spectator capacity arena which hosts lacrosse, music, and festival events. The mission of Arrow Express Sports is to help children by advocating healthy lifestyle choices. Visit the Arrow Express Sports website at www.ArrowExpressSports.com.
About Ohsweken Speedway: Founded in 1996, Ohsweken Speedway is a motorsports complex which includes a 3/8 (0.375) mile clay oval track. The facility is owned by the Styres family, and located in the village of Ohsweken, Ontario, Canada. Ohsweken’s weekly Friday night racing program runs from May to September each year, featuring 360 Sprint Cars, Crate Sprint Cars, Thunder Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Bombers, while the season finishes each year with the annual Canadian Sprint Car Nationals. Ohsweken Speedway also hosts weekly Micro Sprint racing on Thursday nights, and has been a yearly stop on the World of Outlaws Sprint Car series schedule since 2007.
OHSWEKEN SPEEDWAY MEDIA
Website: www.OhswekenSpeedway.com
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/OHSWEKENSPEEDWAY
Twitter: @OhswekenSpdway
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/OhswekenSpeedway
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/user/OhswekenSpdway
OHSWEKEN PARTNERS
Ohsweken Speedway thanks the following partners for their support in 2017: Arrow Express, Kool Kidz Ice & Water, Corr/Pak Merchandising Inc., Renway Energy, Case IH O’Neil’s Farm Equipment, Hoosier Tire Canada, EPIC Racewear, McDonald’s Restaurants of Paris & Brantford, Ackland Insurance, Strickland’s GMC, Lucas Oil, Burger Barn, Pinty’s Delicious Foods, Creative Edge Signs & Graphics, Insta-Insulation, Middleport Mechanical, HRW Automotive, and Gale’s Auto Aftermarket.