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December 30, 2009 at
03:22:52 PM by Gary Thomas
Story courtesy Evan Griffen
Allard Makes It Two From Two In International Series
Author : Evan Griffen
Two time King of California Jonathan Allard picked up where he left off from Boxing Day taking out round two of the International Sprintcar Series in what was an outstanding race in front of another great crowd for a week day, however it was the worst track so far this season. Auckland’s weather was once again not the best with overnight rain then grey overcast day with little bit of sunshine then the credit goes out to the fans for turning up to witness some exciting racing.
With no real dramas early in the night heat race wins went to Ryan O’Conner in #8 Profloors / Salter Cartage Maxim who is a real rising star in the making, current New Zealand Champion Dean Brindle, #3nz Greg Pickerall in the Century Batteries machine and of course, 3 time World of Outlaw Champion ‘Slammin’ Sammy Swindell.
The A-Main event was lined up once again for a cracker with ‘Little Rock Rocket’ Ricky Logan on pole alongside Brindle whom were followed by highest driver on points for the evening Allard and Swindell on four. On row three was O’Conner and Jamie McDonald, row four was Pickerall and Daniel Eggleton followed by Skinny Colson and Mark Browne to round out the top ten.
As the field rolled through three and four to take the green, Logan and Brindle rubbing wheels and as the green flag dropped, Brindle gets out of shape in front of Swindell cutting a front left tyre, Logan and Allard go at it in the opening lap with Swindell dropping back to 5th. First caution came on lap three when Palmerston North’s Nick Pedley spun, Brindle passes Allard on the inside to take second and chasing down Logan.
Logan starts getting into lapped traffic on lap seven as they start dicing through, Allard gets caught up behind traffic behind the second caution came on when Jeremy Halpin spins and rolls the #96 Porter Hire / Hydraulink on his side in turn 2, on the yellow light Swindell pulls off as the tyre came off the rim. On the restart, McDonald gets out of shape tagging the main straight wall before coming back across in front of the field collecting Browne ending both drivers night with front end damage.
Back to green on lap ten with Logan leading, O’Conner hustles inside Allard turn 2 taking third place and starts working on second, Brindle gets out of shape as O’Conner makes the pass along with Allard, as these two are running hard and fast, Allard up high and O’Conner on the pole, Allard slams the wall coming off turn two damaging the right rear rim before another caution for Colson whom spun in turn four. O’Conner makes the pass on Logan through turn one and turn on the low side taking the lead, Allard launches inside Logan in turn 1 before touching wheels exiting turn 2, leaving Logan with a deflating left rear along with Pickerall with a flat right rear tyre bringing out the caution.
O’Conner leads them slowly down to the green running away from Allard before blasts to the outside of the Young gun before swapping back to the middle through three and four to pass O’Conner for the lead and the race win. O’Conner finished second with Brindle topping off the podium top three.
Another tidy drive in the night was Allan Haigh whom finished fourth followed by Carl Wilson, Alan Wakeling, Harvard Daniels, Eggleton, Glenn Torpey, Pedley, Raymond Griffen, Halpin and Chris Long finishing 13th and final place.
After two rounds complete and two to go Allard leads on 40pts with O’Conner on 37pts, Brindle 34pts, Wakeling 32pts and Wilson on 29pts to round out the top 5. The Series now heads to Robertson Holden International Speedway, Palmerston North on January 1st before finishing in Wellington on January 2nd.
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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