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Allard Wins 32nd Career Feature at Chico
By: Troy Hennig
(Chico, CA 4-18-08)...Chico's Jonathan Allard started on the pole position Friday night at Silver Dollar Speedway and cruised to his 32nd career feature event win at Chico. The former champion held off a charging Tyler Walker to get the popular win. “I want to thank NMI Industrial Contractors for sponsoring tonight and I have to give a big thanks to my sponsors K & N Filter, Red Line Oil and everyone who makes this car a pleasure to drive,” said Allard into Gary Thomas' infield microphone. Walker also pulled onto the front straight and thanked the crowd for their support. A strong fan base consisted of the workers, friends and family of NMI Industrial Contractors who where the most vocal cheering section of the night. Allard's win earned him and the Morrie and Katie Williams owned #0 a $2,000 winners check.
Chico's Jimmy Pettit earned is first career non-wing spec sprint main event. Pettit was impressive throughout the night. Former track champion Scott Rogers of Redding won the street stock main event. A total of 59 drivers entered point race number three during the Feather Falls Casino Friday night point championship series.
Allard led from the green flag during the 25-lap sprint car main event. Allard beat Kyle Hirst into turn one. Hirst settled into the second spot while Walker moved into third. Andy Forsberg and Jason York had a spirited battle for fourth and fifth. Throughout the main event the two former champions and now veterans of the racing at Silver Dollar Speedway kept swapping the fourth spot on the track. Up front Allard was in cruise control. Just when he started catching the rear of the field various yellows and a red helped clear the race track and give Allard a clean track. Brett Miller took a tumble down the back stretch half way through the event to bring out the red. Contact with Kevin Sharrah resulted in Miller ending his night on the tow truck. Sharrah continued on and finished just outside the top ten. Up front Walker made a charge around Hirst with three laps to go. Walker looked to be closing in on Allard for the lead but it was not meant to be. Allard crossed the line three car lengths ahead of Walker. Hirst finished in the third spot. Forsberg beat York for the fourth spot.
Paradise resident Justin Funkhouser led the first lap in the non wing spec sprint main event. Funkhouser looked to be in control of the race early on. Jimmy Pettit moved into the second spot while Taylor Simas ran third. Mason Myers was charging to the front until a flipped going into turn one. He stayed in the cockpit and once the safety crew rolled him back on all four he continued on. Myers would finish ninth. Terry Schank Jr. had won the previous two nights of main event racing at Chico and tonight he climbed to the fifth spot. But problems forced the driver into the infield and he would not finish the race. Point leader Keith Bloom moved into the fourth spot. Bloom could not move further forward and finished fourth. Back up front Funkhouser slipped up the track and Pettit came through on the bottom. Pettit and Funkhouser raced side by side going into turn one. Pettit had the momentum and took the lead. Pettit led the final few laps and got the popular win. Pettit started in the pure stock division at Chico then moved to the Outlaw Karts. The past few seasons he has competed in the wingless division and had good finishes, however, tonight was his fist win. It was a good feeling to see him get a long overdue victory.
Redding street stock ace Scott Rogers won his first main event of the year. It was only the second time the street stocks raced at Chico this year. Kevin Pendergrass led the early part of the race. He held a strong lead until lap five when Rogers made his move. Rogers took the lead and never looked back. Defending two time champion Jeff Olschowka finished second. Heather Bartlett finished in the third spot. Pendergrass fell back to a fourth place finish.
Kevin Sharrah led all 12 laps to win the sprint car B main event. Jason York finished second and Mark Hall was third. The pass of the night went to Mike Henry as he passed Jason Botsford for the final transfer spot on the last lap. Henry brought the crowd to their feet with his electrifying pass.
Dan Simpson win the first 410 winged sprint car race. Sean Becker led all eight laps to win the second heat. Willie Croft survived a smoking engine compartment to capture the third heat win. Jonathan Allard won the fourth heat.
Tyler Walker turned the fastest lap of the night at 12.267. A total of 27 drivers qualified in the sprint division.
Terry Schank Jr. won the first non-wing heat race. Jimmy Pettit had a perfect night by winning the second heat race.
Jeff Olschowka dominated the first heat race in street stock action. Heather Bartlett won the second heat race.
Complete results are available at www.johnpadjenmotorsports.com
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