This message was edited on
December 15, 2008 at
04:21:22 PM by Gary Thomas
Photos courtesy http://www.sprintcarworld.co.nz/default.asp
Jonathan Allard charges for top 5 in New Zealand
By Gary Thomas
Te Marua Wellington, NZ – December 15, 2008…After a month 1/2 off from racing competition Chico, California’s Jonathan Allard got back behind the wheel this past Saturday night as he kicked off his annual down under tour by charging to a fifth place finish at Te Marua’s Wellington Speedway in New Zealand.
Allard is coming off a ’08 U.S. season that saw him capture his second career Golden State Challenge King of California Series title, as well as pick up big wins at the 17th annual Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico and a preliminary night victory at the annual Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup in Washington. The 32 year-old veteran also finished 3rd at the 55th annual Gold Cup Race Champions in Chico, marking his best career finish in the prestigious World of Outlaws sanctioned event.
Going into the International Sprintcar Series Round #1 at the Wellington Speedway Allard looked to continue his momentum from this past season, but early on it didn’t come to fruition as problems, including not being able to get a qualifying time in, relegated him to the back of the C-main, leaving him a tough path ahead if he wanted to make the main event & get a solid finish in it. “JA” was up to the challenge though as he remained composed and brought home a second place finish in the C-feature to transfer into the B-main where he lined-up from the sixth and final row.
Allard was able to proceed to make moves and carve his way forward in the semi to get up to the fourth spot transferring him into the 30 lap A-main event. The two-time & defending King of California kept on rollin’ when the green flag dropped in the feature with the car being set-up to perfection as he charged through the field from the 20th starting position aboard the K&N Filters, Red Line Oil, A.R.T. Ent. No. 0 sprinter. Passing cars high & low Allard charged his way forward and crossed under the checkered flag in the fifth position to cap off a successful end to his opening night of action in New Zealand.
The main event ended up being captured by Craig Dollansky and he was followed across the line by Joey Saldana, both drivers who will be teammates next year on the World of Outlaws Sprint Series tour driving for Kasey Kahne Racing.
Next up- The next scheduled event for Allard will be this coming Saturday night December 20 with the International Sprintcar Series Round #2, which will be held at the Robertson Speedway in New Zealand.
North American Sprint Car Poll- The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame has released its 2008 North American 410 Sprint Car Awards Poll and it saw Jonathan Allard being ranked 20th in the final ’08 410 Sprint Car Poll standings. Allard was sandwiched in-between Tim Kaeding and Tyler Walker, two drivers whom he competed with for much of the Northern California season.
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After some problems to start off the night Chico's Jonathan Allard rebounded for a fifth place finish in the main event at the Te Marua Wellington Speedway in New Zealand
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