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Photos by http://www.stevesracingphotos.com
Jonathan Allard rebounds from Friday crash for third runner-up finish of GSC season in Watsonville
By Gary Thomas
Watsonville, CA – April 25, 2009…Coming back from a grinding crash on Friday at Silver Dollar Speedway, Chico's Jonathan Allard raced to another second place finish with the Golden State Challenge Series on Saturday night at the Ocean Speedway, after leading all but the final lap in an exciting main event.
The event on Friday in Chico saw Allard and another car get together while trying to charge forward in the feature, which resulted in it catapulting the Williams Motorsports No. 0 high into the air for a series of end over end tumbles. It forced the team to work hard over the night and next day to get another car built in time for Saturday's show in Watsonville.
Despite the tough tumble from the previous night and being a tad bit sore, Allard looked as strong as he has all season on Saturday evening at the Ocean Speedway, which also marked the fifth round of action for the traveling Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Car Series. After making passes of Jon Maiwald, Kyle Larson and Shane Golobic to win his heat race, the two-time & defending King of California proceeded to dominate the night's dash to earn the pole for the second time this season.
As the green flag waved Allard blasted into the lead ahead of fellow front row starter Brent Kaeding and early on it was apparent that Ashley Smith and the crew had given him a great car as he held a comfortable lead out front. The 32 year-old racer looked very strong as he navigated his way expertly through traffic during the early parts of the race. Allard picked his spots wisely and never allowed Kaeding a chance to get near his bumper until a red waved on lap 12, taking the leaders out of traffic.
Another red and a caution kept Kaeding close on restarts however, as the 13-time King of California gave Allard a hard run for his money competing on his home track. It didn't intimidate the driver of the Williams Motorsports, K&N Filters, Red Line Oil No. 0 though as he continued to run hard and hit his marks lap after lap. With the laps winding down a new challenger surfaced as Walker had got by Kaeding on the 25th circuit and began to close in on Allard for the lead.
Walker was very fast running the high-line with Allard committed to the bottom side of the quarter-mile bullring and the pair would put on a tremendous show for the fans over the final few circuits. Going into turn three on lap 28 Allard stayed to the bottom, but a lapped car was immediately ahead of him however, and slowed his momentum a bit and it looked like Walker would charge to the lead around the outside. As they rounded turn four though the lapped car slid out slightly and Allard got to the inside with Walker on the outside, making it three wide coming to the white flag.
Going into turn one Walker had the momentum from the high-side and shot out front heading off turn two. Allard was forced to tuck in behind him heading into the final turns and had to settle for a second place finish at the checkered. "We would have liked to get a win here, but to finish second after last night is a testament to this great team I have behind me," said Allard, who has finished second to Walker on three different occasions this season. "I just picked the wrong line again and when you're racing with a great driver like Tyler Walker you almost have to be perfect."
It marked the fourth time in five events though this season where Allard has been in position to win with the Golden State Challenge Series as he continues to battle with Walker and Kaeding for the point lead. "We've been right there pretty much every race and that's really all you can ask for," Allard said. "We're gonna win one of these deals real soon and hopefully it'll be next week in Tulare."
For more news on Chico's Jonathan Allard please visit http://www.allardmotorsports.com
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After finishing runner-up at the Ocean Speedway Chico's Jonathan Allard will head into the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway this coming Saturday sitting second in the GSC points, unnoficially six digits behind Tyler Walker for the top spot. The two-time King of California will also be in action on Friday night at the Silver Dollar Speedway for the third Feather Falls Casino point race of the season.
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