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Photo by Johns Racing Photos
Late race spin relegates Stephen Allard to 15th place finish in Chico
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – May 27, 2008…Chico’s Stephen Allard was giving it his all to record a top five finish in Civil War Series competition on Sunday night and very nearly got it done until a late spin took away his chances at that bid.
This past Sunday’s special California Civil War Series event at the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico marked Allard’s first time competing with the traveling 360 circuit this season. The annual Memorial Day event at the track is also always part of the Silver Dollar Fair and makes it a fun weekend for everyone around the Chico area.
Driving the H.A.M. Construction, JP’s Paint & Body No. 35a Allard did the best he could to charge forward in the main event on the tricky/thick cushion that had developed on the outer portions of the speedway. The 35 year-old came into the night fresh off a fourth place finish the previous week during the prestigious Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial.
For the second week in a row the track surface slicked off nicely to allow for some great racing on the quarter-mile bullring. Starting in the sixth row for the 30 lap main event Allard tried to run the high side for much of the distance, but didn’t seem to have the forward bite like he had possessed last weekend during the Bradway Memorial.
The defending Silver Dollar Speedway track champion raced neck and neck with Greg Decaires and Brad Furr as the laps ticked off and just as he was getting ready to put himself into the top five, he got loose and looped the car in turn four to bring out a caution. Allard was fired back off and brought the Medi-Pro Billing, Watson Carbon Fiber JEI home in the 15th position.
“It was just one of those deals,” Allard said after the race. “We were starting to get good and I was hoping to pick a few more cars off in the closing laps, but we’ll come back strong next time and I’m just happy being able to drive this car for the Main Family,” he concluded. Earlier in the night Allard had timed in 12th fastest with a lap of 12.669 and finished a strong second in the fourth and final heat race.
This Friday will see Allard make the drive to Watsonville’s Ocean Speedway to compete aboard the David Key Trucking No. 86 machine. The night of racing will be Round #13 for the traveling Golden State Challenge King of California 410 Series. Allard last competed in the No. 86 sprinter during the GSC show in Tulare on May 10 when he brought home a ninth place finish in the main event.
Allard also had a very strong run in the 86 car at the Ocean Speedway on April 18 when he battled it out with Jason Statler before finishing the feature in the runner-up position. He’ll look to put the car up front again this Friday night as he competes against some of the best 410 drivers on the west coast at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds bullring.
For more news and info on Chico’s Stephen Allard visit http://www.stephenallard.com
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Stephen Allard will back in the David Key Trucking sprint car for this Friday's GSC event at the Ocean Speedway. Photo by Davy Thomas
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