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Great Friday run highlights Bradway weekend for Stephen Allard
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA - May 14, 2007... Stephen Allard and 1m Racing were in position to pick up season win #1 on Friday night in Chico and SA was as fast as he’s been all season and did a great job during the race to put himself in position to battle with leader Trevor Green as the laps wound down.
Stephen started the 25 lap main event from the pole and he settled into second on the start aboard the Cross Creek Trucking, Finley Farms, Johnny’s Lock & Safe, Rocket Chassis No. 1m. The track had become very slick and treacherous as strong winds late in the night took its toll.
Turns three and four were one lane on the bottom, but one and two developed a high side as the race went on and Stephen found with about 10 laps to go. SA tried everything to get around leader Trevor Green up top, but he just didn’t have enough get by him before turn three where he had to get back down on the bottom. Stephen then felt heavy pressure from Sean Becker and the pair put on a good show battling for second with just a handful of laps left in the race. Becker was able to get by Stephen with a couple laps to go and the final lap was one of the wildest we’ve seen in a long time.
Green had continued to lead but he hit an infield tractor tire on the final lap and had a broken front end. Everybody had to take evasive action to get by and they also had to deal with a tractor tire in turn three which had been pushed out onto the surface. Stephen had to make a hard right to avoid the tire and at the flagstand he brought the Miller’s Glass, Hunt Magnetos, Chico Bail Bonds, Graph X Designs No. 1m home in third. It was Stephen’s fourth top five finish of the season in Chico and although not a win, it was a very good run nonetheless.
In preliminary action Stephen qualified 11th quick and finished third in heat race number three. It was a solid night and gave the team some confidence heading into Saturday’s Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial.
Stephen and 1m Racing were ready for the Bradway on Saturday and SA started off the night by qualifying 11th quick out of 43 cars. He then lined up on the outside of the second row in heat three. Stephen jumped out into the lead with a beautiful high side pass of the front row off turn two. A car spun in turn four that same lap, however, and officials decided to not score the lap complete. It made for a complete restart, but SA now found himself on the front row because the car that spun to bring out the caution originally started on the outside of the front row. Stephen settled into second as the green flag came out again and was battling within the top four when he suffered a flat tire on lap six. He pitted to get it fixed, but on the restart he clipped a tractor tire in turn four and he parked in the infield to put an end to the heat.
Stephen officially finished 10th in the heat and it put him in the night’s C-main which was packed with talent up front. Also in the C-main were top competitors Jonathan Allard, Jason Statler and Brandon Wimmer. With only two drivers transferring into the B-main, it meant there would be some fast guys not making it out. Stephen was in third after a lap was completed and he then began to hound Wimmer for second. Lap four saw Stephen’s brother Jonathan, who was the leading the race, break and retire from the event. This moved Stephen up to second where he would go on and finish.
The B-main was up next and SA started outside the second row in the 12 lap contest. Stephen did his job and got up to second early on and remained there for the duration of the B-main to transfer himself into the 40 lap Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial main event. Stephen started 12th in the race and with rubber down conditions, it made passing difficult. He sat in 10th when a caution appeared on lap 12 and during the yellow he pulled the 1m into the work area with a flat tire. The crew got him back out and he went on to finish the 40 lap event in 17th.
Next up for Stephen and 1m Racing will be Silver Dollar Speedway Point Race #8 this Friday. Stephen goes into the night sitting fifth in the SDS point standings.
For more news and info on Stephen Allard and 1m Racing log onto http://www.stephenallard.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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