Jonathan Allard wins Friday in Chico and scores 5th at Pombo/Sargent Classic to re-take Golden State Challenge Series point by one-digit over Kyle Larson
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – May 18, 2010…After a less than hoped for ending at the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial the previous weekend Chico's Jonathan Allard returned to his home track this most recent Friday and took the lead from fellow home-town driver Jason York with less than 10-laps remaining in the main event and charged to his fifth overall victory of the year in California.
It marked the 40th career triumph for Allard at Silver Dollar Speedway, making him the fifth driver in track history to reach the 40-win plateau and came during Moore Insurance Services-Wings of Eagles Night. "The track was really fast tonight, but you could move around a bit so that made it fun," he said. "My guys gave me a great car all night and it was a pretty good race with Jason there in the feature and thankfully we were able to get by to put this car back in victory lane."
Allard began the event on Friday by continuing his qualifying dominance at the Chico bullring, as he set fast-time for the third straight race at Silver Dollar Speedway and then brought home a fourth place finish in his heat race to put the Williams Motorsports, Platinum Powder Coating, K&N Filters No. 0 into the main event. With the number eight pill being drawn for the inversion it put him in the fourth row for the feature, but the two-time King of California didn't stay there for long and soon moved up into the third spot.
When race leader Kevin Sharrah encountered problems on lap-nine it slid Allard to second behind Jason York and when the green flag waved again he tried desperately to find a way by on the lightning fast quarter-mile. Giving York a run for his money, yet trying to be patient at the same time Allard proceeded to make the move that won him the race with just under 10-laps remaining, when he charged beneath the red No. 25 sprinter to claim the lead. After that it was all about "JA" up front and the 2002 Silver Dollar Speedway champ drove off to tally his second Feather Falls Casino 410 point race win in as many starts.
On Saturday Allard ventured to the Groppetti Automotive Thunderbowl Raceway for the annual Pombo/Sargent Classic and went into the night just three-digits behind 13-time King of California Brent Kaeding for the Golden State Challenge Sprint Car Series point lead. A late draw in qualifying though and a drying track left him ninth fastest overall to start the evening, before scoring a runner-up finish in his heat race. With all drivers in the top-eight of the qualifying order making it out of the heats it forced Allard to miss his first dash of the season and it put him in the fifth row for the main event.
With the track surface extremely slick and racy the 33-year-old driver fought his way forward as the race went on and was involved in a number of entertaining side-by-side battles throughout the 30-lap contest. As has been the trend for much of the year some outstanding racing was seen for the duration of the main event and when flagman Willie Williams waved the checkered Allard crossed under it in the fifth position, finishing just behind fourth place Bud Kaeding and ahead of defending Lucas Oil ASCS National champion Shane Stewart.
Following the night of racing Allard has assumed a one-point lead over defending Golden State Challenge Rookie of the Year Kyle Larson at the top of the series standings and is just two up on Brent Kaeding, in what has been an extremely exciting point race through eight events. Last season Allard was part of a neck and neck battle with Tyler Walker and Kaeding during the entire GSC season and in 2010 young Larson has thrown his name into the mix.
The tight point fight will resume this Friday night May 21 with the Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Car Series making its return to the Giant Chevrolet Speedway in Hanford, California. Allard has been very successful at the 3/8 mile clay oval since joining Williams Motorsports, having tallied a pair of GSC wins at the track in 2005, as well as claiming victory at the 410 Cotton Classic in 2007 and a 360 win during his most recent visit to the track in September of '08.
"It's pretty much as close as you can get right now and we really hope the fans that are making it out to the races are enjoying it," said Allard. "Kyle Larson is plain and simple an amazing talent and "BK" has been one of the guys to beat out here for over 20-years, so it's really cool to have a good mix of youth and experience up front this year. We're really excited to get back to Hanford this Friday and definitely hope all the fans can come and support the show, because it's been one of the best tracks around for a long time and we believe the new management will return the place to its old form."
For more info on Chico, California's Jonathan Allard please visit http://www.allardmotorsports.com
Former two-time King of California Jonathan Allard scored his 40th career Silver Dollar Speedway win on Friday and then brought home a fifth place finish at the Pombo/Sargent Classic on Saturday in Tulare, which was good enough to give him a one-point lead over Kyle Larson at the top of the Golden State Challenge Series standings. The Chico driver will look to get back into victory lane with the series this Friday night at the Giant Chevrolet Speedway in Hanford. Photo by Steve Cox of http://www.graphxdesigns.com
- Gary Thomas on May 18, 2010
- Article Date: 5/18/2010