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Photos courtesy http://www.johnsracingphotos.com
Jonathan Allard set to kick off season at Mini Gold Cup/MSPA Open Wheel Driver of Year Award winner
By Gary Thomas
Chico, CA – March 9, 2009…After completing his annual 'down under trip' defending King of California Jonathan Allard is geared up and ready to begin his fifth season of competition for Williams Motorsports at this weekends 23rd annual Mini Gold Cup, which is sanctioned this year by the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series.
Allard's final two events in New Zealand brought with it more strong performance, although they didn't end exactly how the Chico, California driver would have wanted. His penultimate event saw him dominate much of the overall show until contact with a lapped car while leading put an end to his hopes of victory.
The final double-header event in New Zealand then saw Allard fall back a bit in the main event during opening night, but then regroup in the finale by charging from sixth to second in his heat race and then carve his way from mid-pack to finish fifth in the feature. "We had a good showing overall in New Zealand and it was a lot of fun to be able to race over there and stay sharp during the offseason," he commented.
Allard's attention will now be turned back to his home track of Silver Dollar Speedway this weekend as he guns to bring home the Mini Gold Cup for the first time in his career. "The Mini Gold Cup has always been one of the big events on the west coast and we'd no doubt like to get it under our belts," Allard said. "We finished third in it a couple years ago, but this year will certainly be tougher with the Outlaws coming to town."
The Mini Gold Cup had been the season opener for the Golden State Challenge Series since 2000 and with the World of Outlaws sanctioning the event this weekend for the first time since 1992, it will make it even that much more special for a California driver to be in victory lane come Saturday night. "We definitely want to keep this thing in California and even more importantly we'd like to keep it in Chico," Allard said. "It would mean a lot to bring home the win in front of the hometown crowd and we're pretty confident that we have a shot at it going into the weekend."
Last season when the World of Outlaws invaded Silver Dollar Speedway for the 55th Gold Cup Race of Champions, Allard had a strong showing as he qualified second fastest and finished runner-up in the main event on his prelim night. He then backed that up by scoring a third place finish in the 40 lap finale to put him on the podium for the first time in his career at the prestigious event.
The two-time & defending King of California also claimed his first career victory at the annual Pacific Sprint Fall Nationals in October at Chico when he charged from 13th to first in the 40 lap finale on a rough and tumble racing surface. In addition to that Allard also finished fifth in the Feather Falls Casino weekly track standings, despite missing four events throughout the season.
For 2009 Allard will look to build off the success he had at the end of last year as he'll once again compete with the Golden State Challenge King of California Series, as well as in a number of the Friday night point races at Silver Dollar Speedway, along with a trip to the Midwest thrown in as usual. "I'm really looking forward to getting the season started this weekend because I feel we have a very good package this year," Allard stated.
With the strong amount of competition expected at the Mini Gold Cup it will force teams to be at the top of their games and Allard looks forward to having some fun and feels confident that the No. 0 machine will be at the front of the field both nights. "Ashley Smith has put a lot of work in during the offseason and we really hit on something at the end of last year that I think will help carry us into 2009. We had a great year in '08 but I feel we're going to be even better this season and there are still a lot of things we'd like to accomplish," Allard concluded.
The Mini Gold Cup will go green this Friday night March 13 and will conclude on Saturday evening March 14. All seating will be reserved at the event and tickets will be $35 on Friday and $40 on Saturday.
MSPA Open Wheel Driver of the Year Award-
After his strong season last year Jonathan Allard has been named the Motor Sports Press Association's Northern California Open Wheel Driver of the Year. The prestigious award is expected to be given to him at the Mini Gold Cup this weekend.
For more info on Chico, CA driver Jonathan Allard visit http://www.allardmotorsports.com
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Jonathan Allard pictured getting around the Silver Dollar Speedway at last year's Mini Gold Cup where he brought home finishes of 3rd & 7th in the two main events during the weekend. He'll look for a good showing this Friday & Saturday as many of the best sprint car drivers in the country invade the quarter-mile bullring.
www.sprintcarchallengetour.com
www.placervillespeedway.com
www.stocktondirttrack.com
www.thunderbowlraceway.com
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