We have been to the Chili Bowl previously, and are itching to return, but this year we had to settle for watching a live video stream. But even via the miniature speakers of an Ipad we could hear the crowd chanting Rico! Rico! Rico! after 2014 USAC champion Rico Abreu won the 29th running of the world’s largest indoor motor race.
It is an understatement to say that Abreu’s victory was a popular one. It is likely that a measure of this popularity stemmed from Abreu having defeated the Swindells – father Sammy and son Kevin – who between them have won nine of the previous 28 races. Racing fans tend to acknowledge the obvious abilities of the Swindells only grudgingly at best, largely because Sammy Swindell has always appeared sullen and contentious over the course of a lengthy racing career. newnews11915
Kevin Swindell finished second, and Sammy Swindell came home fifth.
But distaste for the Swindells is only a small component of the story. The real story is that Abreu is immensely popular for his talents, skills, and accomplishments, all of which are accompanied by a winning personality and a distinctive sidebar: At 4-foot 4-inches in height, Abreu is a self-described “little person” who now stands among the greats of racing.
Abreu’s winning drive on January 18 was part of a compelling race, a 55-lap sprint around the dirt track built each winter inside Tulsa’s River Spirit Expo building, with 24 drivers culled from a 326-driver entry list via a five-day series of preliminaries. Abreu started third, fell back to fifth and then crept back forward before seizing the lead prior to the half-way point.
With their chants of Rico! Rico! Rico! as the victory interviews were taking place, the fans put their unmistakable stamp of approval on the race and its winner.