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Photo's by http://fletchermotorsports.smugmug.com/http://fletchermotorsports.smugmug.com/
Jonathan Allard runs 6th in Dirt Cup finale after winning Friday prelim
By Gary Thomas
Alger, Washington – June 22, 2009…A victory during the Friday night prelim at the 38th annual Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup highlighted an eventful "Northwest 410 Swing" for two-time & defending King of California Jonathan Allard this past week.
Going into this most recent week Allard sat atop the Golden State Challenge Series point standings as the tour headed for a pair of events in Oregon, however, only one of the two was able to be run following a rainout in Medford on Saturday June 13.
The traveling 410 sprint car series then headed for Cottage Grove Speedway on Monday June 15 and Allard looked to have his second GSC win of the season wrapped up, until a flat right rear tire cost him the lead and forced him to restart from the rear of the field with just two laps remaining in the feature. He would ultimately end the contest in ninth, but it wasn't what he had hoped for after dominating the 30 lap feature and holding a commanding lead for much of it.
Following the tough end to Cottage Grove, Allard and Williams Motorsports made the haul up to the Skagit Speedway in Alger, Wash for the 38th annual Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup presented by Van's Equipment. Opening night on Thursday went well as the 32 year-old began the event by pacing the 42 car field in qualifying and then finishing a very close second in the first heat race aboard the Karsten Homes, K&N Filters, Village Green Resort, Red Line Oil No. 0.
Allard lined-up 15th on the grid during the main event and was able to charge forward late in the going to score a sixth place finish and earn the second most points for opening night, behind only Tyler Walker. The Chico native came back on Friday and looked strong once again in hot laps, but just before he was set to hit the track in qualifying the skies opened up and began to emit a little more than a light sprinkle. The backstretch had become visibly wetter and his fastest lap was good enough for just 20th quick.
The current Golden State Challenge Series point leader proceeded to rebound after that though to tally a third place finish in the heat race, which set him up with an inside row two starting spot in the feature. With the track being rather narrow it made passing chances tough to come by up front, but late in the going Allard was able to get around Jared Ridge for second and with the white flag quickly approaching he would take advantage of a mistake by leader Peter Murphy to take over the top spot.
Once in front Allard would charge off to pick up the Friday night Dirt Cup main event for the second year in a row. "It's nice to come out here and win tonight and I have to dedicate the win to Brian Healey who passed away yesterday," Allard said. "Peter Murphy was doing a great job out front and I hate passing him because he's a great friend, but I have to thank all my guys for giving me a great car."
After the two prelim nights Allard sat second in the Dirt Cup points and was set to start on the outside of the front row in the A-scramble, but a blown engine during a special qualifying challenge to open the night caused him to miss the scramble, which took away a likely front row starting spot in the feature and forced him to line-up in the third row for the 40 lap contest. With the back-up motor in place Allard ran around the top five in the early going, until a number of cars bunched up in front of him and forced him to get on the binders, which cost a number of spots in the running order.
As the race went on, a bit of attrition and a strong charge around Travis Rutz with just a couple laps left netted the Chico driver a sixth place finish at the checkered flag. With the Dirt Cup complete Allard will return to California action this weekend with races in Chico and Tulare. Going into Saturday night's event he'll bring an eight point lead in the GSC standings over Tyler Walker and a 10 point advantage over Brent Kaeding, in what has been a hotly contested battle for the King of California all season long.
For more news on Chico, CA's Jonathan Allard log onto http://www.allardmotorsports.com
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After having to change a motor to begin the night on Saturday Chico's Jonathan Allard scored a sixth place finish to conclude the 38th annual Dirt Cup at Skagit Speedway
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