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Strong run in Tulare caps weekend for Jonathan Allard
By Gary Thomas
Tulare, CA - July 2, 2007...With only a few weekend’s left in California before taking off and traveling, Chico’s Jonathan Allard and Williams Motorsports put together a strong weekend that was only blemished by an engine problem on Friday night. Saturday’s performance was very solid though, and ended with a strong runner-up finish at the Thunderbowl Raceway in Tulare.
Jonathan started off Friday night’s point race in Chico by setting his third fast time of the year in the Feather Falls Casino series. The 30 year-old driver carved his way around the 1/4 mile in a quick 11.777 seconds, easily beating second place’s time of 12.101. A second place finish in the opening heat set JA up for the main event where he pulled the #8 pill for the inversion.
The track for the main event this week at Silver Dollar was hooked up, which was very different from the previous weekend’s slick and dusty conditions. Jonathan diced it up with "TK" Tim Kaeding over the first handful of laps but around the eighth circuit, smoke began to appear from the Williams Motorsports, GT Trends, BR Motorsports, JP’s Paint & Body No. 0. A caution came out just before the midway point of the 25 lap feature and during it, Jonathan retired to the pits with a problem in the Kistler power plant.
Saturday brought about the final Golden State Challenge Series event in Tulare this season. Jonathan began the evening by setting the second quickest lap in qualifying and finishing fifth in his heat race. The pill draw once again stuck JA near the back of the dash as he started from the outside of the third row. Jonathan was on the gas from the get go, however, as the track was very fast and had multiple grooves during the dash. After making a beautiful outside pass of Ricci Faria for third, JA closed in on Brent Kaeding as the laps ticked off. He was on BK’s bumper the final lap, but couldn’t make anything happen as he ran out of time and settled for a third place finish.
The 30 lap feature saw the track change drastically from the dash and it had now become a one lane expressway on the bottom. This was the third time it has happened at the Thunderbowl this season, which is unusual because the 1/3 mile clay oval is always one of the raciest tracks in California. Jonathan got a great jump the first start and was up to second after getting by Brent Kaeding in the first set of corners. As the leaders had already completed 1 3/4 laps, the yellow flew for a spun car and race officials decided to call for a complete restart.
When the race finally got underway Jonathan settled into third, but he was all over BK’s 69 machine. As they entered traffic around lap six, JA made a crowd pleasing move to the high side of turn two and split both BK & a lap car to move the K & N Filters, Red Line Oil, Sharp Insurance, Weld Racing No. 0 into the runner-up position. Jonathan then motored on in third over the next 15 laps trying to chase down leader Tim Kaeding, but multiple cautions slowed the race down drastically. On lap 22 the final caution of the main event came out and Jonathan had no lap cars between himself and TK.
As the green flag came out Jonathan slipped underneath the 10 car heading into turn one and powered off turn two in the lead. As he entered turn three, however, Jonathan couldn’t get slowed down in time to hug the bottom and TK was able to squeeze underneath to retake the lead off turn four. JA went on to bring home a second place finish aboard the Karsten Homes, Chris Jones Racing, Graph X Designs, Platinum Powder Coating No. 0.
Although not a win, it was a strong run nonetheless. When you have a tough customer like Tim Kaeding on the front row, it’s always a challenge and with the track being one lane it made it even tougher. JA & Williams Motorsports will come back strong this week and look to put the ZERO machine into victory lane. Another point show in Chico is on tap before heading to Antioch for a GSC event at the narrow and tight 1/4 mile located on the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds. Jonathan and the team only have two weekend’s left in California before taking off and doing battle out of our home state.
For more news and info on Jonathan Allard and Williams Motorsports visit http://www.allardmotorsports.com
Photos by Johns Racing Photos
Photos by Davy Thomas
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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