|
Stephen Allard & 1m Racing score season best finish in Chico
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA - April 9, 2007... It’s been a slow start to the 2007 racing season for Stephen Allard and 1m Racing, but all that was put on the back burner Friday night in Chico as Stephen drove the 1m machine from 17th to 3rd in the main event. It was a great night to get some confidence back in Stephen and will hopefully be the catalyst to get some more solid finishes in the coming weeks.
Friday night was the second Feather Falls Casino point race at Silver Dollar Speedway and 1m Racing brought out a Rocket Chassis to try and improve the performance level. Stephen was the fourth driver to hit the track in qualifying and unfortunately he couldn’t get the car to fire as he was pushed onto the track. He was finally able to get the engine lit just below the flag stand, but officials didn’t give him an extra lap and he was on the clock as he coasted across the line and jumped on it as the green came out. His fastest lap of 13.344 placed the Cross Creek Trucking, Finley Farms, Platinum Powder Coating No. 1m 22nd quickest out of 30 cars.
Stephen lined up on the pole of the second heat race and fell into line second as the green flag waved. He ran a conservative eight laps as he felt the car out and brought the Miller’s Glass, JP’s Paint & Body Works, Chico Bail Bonds No. 1m home in second place.
The main event was cut back to 20 laps before the start to try and get it done before the 11 pm curfew. With Stephen starting way back in 17th, he would not have much time to try and move forward as 20 laps can be clicked off like nothing on the Silver Dollar bullring. SA was on his game and moved up to seventh by a lap nine caution. The complexion of the race began to change at this point and you would have thought there was a full moon out.
On the lap nine restart, Brandon Wimmer and Stephen’s younger brother Jonathan made contact and flipped off turn three. Also getting into the melee was fifth running Johnny Gray, so Stephen now found himself in fourth for the next restart. As the cars were getting pushed back off following the red, leader Sean Becker came to a stop in turn three with mechanical issues. Becker was unable to get his car fired back off and it moved Stephen up to third for the restart. It was then announced that the race would be cut to 15 laps. Stephen ran the last handful of laps solidly and brought the 1m Racing machine home in third place. It was great way to end the teams first night utilizing the Rocket Chassis and good things look to be on the horizon for Stephen and 1m Racing.
The next race on the schedule for Stephen and 1m Racing is this coming Friday as we compete at Silver Dollar Speedway Point Race #3. For more news and info on Stephen Allard and 1m Racing log onto www.stephenallard.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
|
