|
Photo by Paul Trevino Racing Photos
Jonathan Allard extends GSC point lead with victory at American Valley Speedway
By Gary Thomas
Quincy, CA – May 3, 2008…After putting himself in position to pick up a Golden State Challenge Series win at virtually every race this season, Chico’s Jonathan Allard was finally able to get the monkey off his back and pick up his first victory of the year with the series on Saturday night at the American Valley Speedway in Quincy.
Allard and Williams Motorsports had to work hard during the day on Saturday after a flip the previous night in Chico, but the team gutted through it and worked on the car right up to the point when wheel packing was set to get underway. The night’s racing was delayed a bit just before qualifying due to a brief rain shower that passed over the track, but the surface was worked back in and everything went off as normal.
Going into the night Allard held a 40 point lead in the Golden State Challenge Series standings and looked to maintain that with the season already nearing the halfway point. After timing in fifth fastest during qualifying he finished third in the second heat race before drawing the pole for the dash. The six lap contest saw Allard fall into second where he would run the remainder of the laps to score an outside front row starting spot for the 30 lap main event.
When flagman Willie Williams waved the green flag Allard once again settled into second behind leader Tim Kaeding. So far during the early season “JA” and “TK” have seemed to always be right by each other on the track and this night was no different as the pair put on a great show for the fans on the long 3/8 mile oval. With the fast racing surface the only way to make things happen was in traffic and when it came into play around lap five, Allard rapidly gained ground.
The 31 year-old drove to the inside of Kaeding on lap six, but didn’t have enough momentum to complete the pass. A caution then appeared on lap nine taking the leaders out of traffic, but after going back green there were no more stoppages, which allowed for some hectic racing in slower traffic. Right around the midway point of the feature Allard closed up to the rear of Kaeding and hounded him for a handful of laps as they navigated their way through the lappers.
Coming off turn four on the 21st lap Allard got the opening he needed and cut to bottom of the speedway and used a lap car as a pick to put the K & N Filters, Red Line Oil No. 0 into the lead of the race. Knowing that Kaeding wouldn’t give up “JA” continued to drive hard over the remaining laps and with the white flag waving the two were separated by just a couple car lengths.
Allard wasn’t about to let this one get away however, and powered on to pick up his 18th career Golden State Challenge Series win. After stopping on the front stretch he climbed from the car and was overjoyed to pick up his first GSC victory of the season. “I just can’t say enough about Morrie and Katie Williams and this whole team,” Allard said into Troy Hennig’s infield mic. “We really needed a win and to be able to race with Tim for it was really cool. He had a faster car in the open track, but traffic made it a race and it was a lot of fun.” Crew chief Ashley Smith and the Williams Motorsports team would also like to give special thanks to Todd Ventura for his support.
The Golden State Challenge Series now heads back to Tulare’s Thunderbowl Raceway this coming Saturday for the annual Chris & Brian Faria Memorial. Allard will take a 52 point lead in the series standings into the night and will look to extend that mark at an event in which he won in 2003. On Friday night Allard is scheduled to compete at Chico’s Silver Dollar Speedway. Please stop by and pick up one of our new slick looking hand out cards.
For more news and info 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
|
