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Photo by Johns Racing Photos
Jonathan Allard & Williams Motorsports persevere for top 5 at Bradway Memorial
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – May 19, 2008…Showing a never give up attitude this past weekend at Silver Dollar Speedway Chico driver Jonathan Allard and Williams Motorsports battled through adversity to post a top five finish at the Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial and maintain a 51 point lead in the Golden State Challenge Series standings.
With the weather around Northern California getting into the 100’s during the end of last week Allard was set for two nights of racing at his home track. On Friday night it marked the eighth Feather Falls Casino point race of the season at Silver Dollar Speedway and going into the evening he sat third in the track standings.
Keeping up his recent string of qualifying success Allard blistered the quarter-mile in 11.672 seconds to record his third straight fast time in the Platinum Powder Coating, K & N Filters No. 0. The former Silver Dollar Speedway track champ then charged from sixth to second in his heat race to transfer into the 25 lap main event where started from the fourth position.
Early on in the feature Allard battled with young Kyle Larson before losing a spot to Tyler Walker on a lap four restart. The Chico native didn’t let that bother though as he began to work the high side with success. Just as Allard was able to get a run on Walker up high in three and four he slipped over the edge and lambasted the turn four wall in one of the scariest hits seen this season.
Allard was briefly knocked out in the accident, but came to and walked back to the trailer under his own power. Things weren’t right however, and he took a trip to the hospital and was found to have suffered a concussion. He was released from the hospital late at night and the crew had gone to work building a new car from the ground up.
The Williams Motorsports team worked all night long and their great effort allowed Allard to be able to compete on Saturday at the 18th annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial. Going into the night “JA” held a 51 point lead over 13-time and defending King of California Brent Kaeding. The Bradway Memorial is always a special race with a number of various items and extra money up for grabs during the night.
The qualifying session had more incentive during the evening as well with a huge prize of $1,500 going to the driver who set the fastest lap. Allard came out fifth in the order and ripped off an 11.871 to make him the only driver out of 43 cars in the 11 second bracket and giving him his fourth consecutive fast time effort at Silver Dollar Speedway. “I want to thank all the people who put up the extra money and most of all have to thank Morrie & Katie Williams and this whole team for working their tails off and getting this car fast right out of the box,” Allard said.
He then carved his way from sixth to second in the opening heat race and moved from fifth to second in the dash to put him on the front row of the main event. The track had developed a large cushion and made for some great racing during the 40 lap contest. Allard diced it up with older brother Stephen for much of the early stages of the feature and after a hard fought main event he brought the Sharp Insurance, Chris Jones Racing No. 0 home in fifth.
Allard’s consistent night at the Bradway Memorial paid off and he still leads the Golden State Challenge Series points by 51 over Tyler Walker. The traveling series will take this weekend off before resuming action on May 30 with an event at the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville. The following night on May 31 GSC will head over to the high-banked red clay bullring of Placerville Speedway.
For more news on 2006 King of California Jonathan Allard visit http://www.allardmotorsports.com
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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