For the first time in five years, Rico Abreu unleashed a whole brand new look on his Keith Kunz Motorsports No. 97. What didn’t change? His Wednesday night dominance.

Leading all 30 laps last night, the St. Helena, Calif. native went without challenge as he cruised to his fourth consecutive preliminary win and six over the last seven years at the Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals.

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His win comes in the first appearance with Kyle Busch’s Rowdy Energy as the primary sponsor on Rico’s ride, which is also sponsored by Pit Pay App. The change comes following a five-year run with Toyota Racing partner Safelite Auto Glass.

Earning the pole position after a 6th-to-1st heat win and 6th-to-2nd qualifier, Rico took the green flag with Collegeville, Penn. racer Alex Bright to his outside.

Rico’s run to the win went without question, but Bright’s lock-in spot was up for heavy debate. At one point following a bobble on the turn four cushion, World of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet drove by and took over the second spot. It was short-lived, however, as Bright came marching back in a hurry.

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Hear from Rico after his Wednesday win.

The final restart with seven laps left got hectic in a hurry as the gloves went off behind Rico. At one point, Sweet, Jake Neuman, Kevin Thomas Jr., Gio Scelzi, Colby Copeland, and Jake Swanson were all six cars under a blanket fighting for third. It was mayhem.

In the end, Rico was gone and running off to the checkered flag, but Sweet had one final hail mary shot at trying to snooker Bright for second. He threw it deep into turn three, but came up just short, settling for third in the RMS Racing No. 1R.

Rico’s victory sends him to his ninth-career Chili Bowl main event, while Bright is heading for his third-career main event and first with Tom Malloy and Jerome Rodella in their King/Ed Pink Toyota No. 25X.

Heading to Saturday’s B-Mains is Brad Sweet, Jake Neuman, Colby Copeland, Kevin Thomas Jr., Jake Swanson, and Daniel Robinson.

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Off the C-Mains is Parker Price-Miller, Gio Scelzi, Sammy Swindell, Brian Carber, Brandon Waelti and Emerson Axsom.

Moving to the D-Mains is Tyler Thomas, Colten Cottle, Steven Shebester, Brett Moffitt, Max Adams, and Jeff Stasa. Racing in Saturday’s E-Mains will be Robert Dalby, Chase Randall, Kameron Key and AJ Hopkins.

The 35th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Midget Nationals continues Thursday with more preliminary action broadcasted live on FloRacing.