|
Photo's courtesy http://www.johnsracingphotos.com
Stephen Allard picks up podium finish at Civil War opener
By Gary Thomas
Petaluma, CA – April 14, 2009…Sitting behind the wheel of the Double-D Motorsports No. 4 sprinter for the second time this season, former Silver Dollar Speedway track champion Stephen Allard tallied a podium finish in the California Sprint Car Civil War Series season opener at the Petaluma Speedway.
The event this past Saturday marked the season opener for the traveling 360 series following a rainout of the previously scheduled opener in Placerville on March 21. In 2003 Allard won three main events with the Civil War Series and finished second in points to Mike Henry, falling shy of the title by just nine short points.
The '09 opener on Saturday night saw 38 cars taking to the always fast 3/8 mile clay oval located at the Sonoma-Marin County Fairgrounds. Allard came out midway through the qualifying order and his fastest lap of 13.282 was good enough to place the Double-D Customs, JP's Paint & Body Works, Medi-Pro Billing No. 4, ninth quick overall.
Allard then lined-up on the outside of the second row in his heat race and ran a smooth 10 laps to bring home a runner-up finish behind Willie Croft, transferring him into the main event. When the number four pill was then drawn for the inversion it put the 36 year-old driver on the pole of the feature. Starting alongside Kyle Hirst the pair would fight for the lead on the first lap and Allard would edge him out at the line to lead the opening circuit.
After battling with Hirst for a couple more laps Allard would lose a spot to defending Civil War champ Sean Becker. Sitting in third the two-time Silver Dollar Speedway track champion would safely run in the spot as the two leaders weaved in and out of lapped traffic during a long green flag run. With the top two not making any mistakes Allard ran smartly over the remaining circuits and drove the Platinum Powder Coating, Butler Built Performance, Bell Helmets Maxim to a third place finish after 30 laps of racing. "It was a good run for us and I'm just really happy that Dorothy is giving us a chance to come out and race," Allard said. "It's nice to get this car back up front."
The finish continued the good performance that the Chico native has had while driving the Double-D Motorsports sprinter. "We're trying hard to get this motor running because it just doesn't seem like it's up to full song so to come out of here with a third feels good," he said. "I want to thank Randy V, Russell Moore and the gang for giving me another good car tonight. This is our first podium of the season, but we've been really strong and it would be great if we could run this thing more often."
In fact Allard's first start in the No. 4 machine this year came at the Silver Cup in Chico where he was charging forward on opening night until contact with another car dropped him to 10th at the finish. On Saturday at the Silver Cup he was sitting in the third spot when a tire blew with less than two laps remaining in the feature. "We've been in position to run in the top three every race so far this year so that definitely gives us confidence," said Allard, who also won the Cotton Classic and finished seventh in the final Trophy Cup standings last season aboard the Double-D Motorsports sprinter.
Plans are still up in the air for Allard and the Double-D Motorsports team as funds are still needed to continue running. "We're still searching for sponsors to try and run this car a little more often. I'm really appreciative though of Dorothy Lee, JP's Paint & Body, Medi-Pro Billing and everyone who is helping out with this team. We know that we can run up front and we just need to have the funding to help out and get us to the track," Allard concluded.
More news on Chico's Stephen Allard can be found at http://www.stephenallardracing.com
---------------------------
Two-time Silver Dollar Speedway track champion Stephen Allard scored a third place finish on Saturday night with the Civil War 360 Series at the Petaluma Speedway
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
|
