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Photo by Davy Thomas
Tough luck ends Jonathan Allard’s charge in Petaluma
By Gary Thomas
Petaluma, CA – April 19, 2008…Chico’s Jonathan Allard was on the move Saturday night in Petaluma and was battling for the lead when an incident in lapped traffic took away his shot at doubling up during the weekend. After dominating Friday night in Chico Allard came back on Saturday with just as much speed, but unfortunately lady luck wasn’t on his side.
A very windy day was present in Petaluma on Saturday and it made for one of the coldest race days in recent Golden State Challenge Series memory. Many people in the pits already had jackets and beanies on by the time the drivers meeting was held at 4:30 and because of that officials made sure the event went off as quickly as possible.
Allard kicked off the night by qualifying second fastest and winning his heat race in dominating fashion aboard the Williams Motorsports, K & N Filters No. 0. He then pulled the number two pill to put him on the front row of the dash, but contact with the wall caused right rear damage and he was credited with eighth after being towed back to the pits.
The 3/8 mile clay oval remained very racy and fast even despite the winds however, and Allard no problems coming from the fourth row in the 30 lap main event. The 31 year-old driver was on the hammer right from the get go and charged up into the fourth position by the time a yellow flag appeared on lap 10. When the green flag came back out Allard went to work on Bud Kaeding and after battling him for a couple laps, the current GSC point leader took the spot with an inside pass in turn four.
With traffic coming into play Allard got his elbows up and made it a three car battle for the lead between himself, Tyler Walker and Sean Becker. The trio put on a breathtaking show over a handful of laps and Allard was able to slide under Becker for second on lap 18, but just after that Walker and a lap car made contact, which left Allard with nowhere to go.
With Walker having a folded front end Allard had no way to avoid him as he slid down the track and the Chico native slammed into No. 24, which ended with both stopped on the inside of the track. The Red Line Oil, Chris Jones Racing No. 0 was towed off and the crew went to work and got him back out, but the car was still damaged and he looped it in turn three while coming back for the green. He was charged with his second yellow and it put an end to the night.
It was a very disappointing way to end the main event because Ashley Smith and the crew had the car set-up to perfection and it appeared to be getting better as the race went on. Allard made some great moves and did a fantastic job to charge from eighth and put himself in position to win, but that’s how it goes sometimes as there are so many variables involved in our sport.
“JA” and Williams Motorsports will now move ahead to next week with events in Chico and Tulare. The Friday event in Chico will mark the fourth Feather Falls Casino point race at Silver Dollar Speedway and the night will be sponsored by Withrow’s Motorsports and JP’s Paint & Body Works. Allard goes into the night sitting just one point behind Auburn’s Andy Forsberg for the lead in the track standings.
The Saturday show at the Thunderbowl Raceway will be the ninth race of the Golden State Challenge Series season and Allard will take a 33 point lead in the standings into event over Mike Henry. The ’06 King of California finished fifth during the last GSC visit to the 1/3 mile clay oval and will look for his first season win with the series on Saturday.
For more information and news on current Golden State Challenge Series point leader Jonathan Allard log onto http://www.allardmotorsports.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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