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Photo by Johns Racing Photos
Jonathan Allard has consistent 4th of July week
By Gary Thomas
July 8, 2007...Consistency has been the name of game for Jonathan Allard and Williams Motorsports over the last handful of races. After scoring a runner-up finish last weekend in Tulare, Jonathan came back this past weekend and picked up two more second place finishes. Although Jonathan has been disappointed that the wins haven’t been coming, he and the crew have been doing a great job and you can’t argue with solid finishes and being able to roll the car back into the trailer in one piece.
The week actually began on Wednesday night in Chico with a special 4th of July race at Silver Dollar Speedway. For the night JA sat behind the wheel of a Fauver Race Ready Rentals/Rudeen Racing No. 0 machine. Jonathan started from the front row in the 25 lap feature and blasted into the lead at the waving of the green flag. The Chico native was poised to pick up his sixth win of the year in Chico until muffler issues forced officials to black flag him for exceeding the state mandated decibel limit.
Friday night in Chico saw Jonathan get back behind the wheel of the familiar Williams Motorsports 0 as he looked to rebound from the tough luck on Wednesday. The Chico native qualified sixth quick and finished fourth in his heat to transfer the GT Trends, K & N Filters, Red Line Oil No. 0 into the 25 lap feature. Starting fifth, Jonathan moved into third early on as he ran the bottom of the Silver Dollar bullring. The track was prepped just about as good as it had been all year and the top side had become fast in turns one and two.
JA lost third to Brad Sweet on lap 13, but regained the position on lap 19 when he powered around Sweet off turn two. Jonathan found the high side and used it to make up ground and eventually pass older brother Stephen on lap 22. With just a few laps left he tried hard to chase down leader Sean Becker, but he didn’t have enough time and settled for a second place finish in the Karsten Homes, Platinum Powder Coating, JP’s Paint & Body No. 0.
Saturday brought about a GSC race at Antioch and after qualifying in the top five, Jonathan brought home a second place in his heat race. The dash saw Jonathan start from the front row for the first time this season and he used the starting spot to pick up an easy win and earn the pole for the main event. JA jumped into the lead early on in the 30 lap feature and hugged the bottom of the small and narrow 1/4 mile track. He eventually had to deal with Tim Kaeding who was inches off his bumper while dealing with lap traffic.
Kaeding was able to get around Jonathan on lap 20 as JA was stuck behind a lapper. Jonathan stayed with him, however, and carved his way back under TK on lap 24 to re-take the lead. One lap later though saw TK get back by and when a yellow came out on lap 28, it gave the leaders a clear track ahead. The green/white/checkered restart saw Jonathan drive on to finish runner-up in the Sharp Insurance, Chris Jones Racing, BR Motorsports No. 0.
Jonathan will try to put the Williams Motorsports 0 into victory lane this coming weekend with a pair of races at Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico. Friday night is another track point race while Saturday is a Golden State Challenge Series event. This will be Jonathan’s final scheduled race in California until the World of Outlaws invade the West Coast in early September.
For more on Jonathan Allard and Williams Motorsports visit http://www.allardmotorsports.com
Photo by Johns Racing Photos
Photo by Davy Thomas
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