From Gary Thomas, image courtesy of http://www.sportsweb.co.nz
Aukland, New Zealand – January 7, 2009…Returning to the Western Springs Speedway on Wednesday night Chico, California’s Jonathan Allard raced to his third victory in four starts at the track during his down under assault aboard the Kevin McGreal owned Hydraulink, Porter Hire No. 0 sprinter.
Allard’s previous start in New Zealand had netted him a third place finish in the feature at Robertson Holder Speedway on January 1, where he closed in on eventual winner Sammy Swindell and second place Ricky Logan late in the going, but ran out of laps to make something happen.
Having already captured a pair of victories at Springs Speedway the two-time King of California came back to the track on Wednesday night looking to continue his success and it started off well right off the bat with him charging from 11th to third in the second heat race. The 33-year-old veteran then picked-up a win in the third heat to give him the pole position for the 30-lap main event.
At the waving of the green flag current New Zealand champ Dean Brindle got the jump into the first set of corners with Allard following along in second. After a pair of cautions the Chico, CA driver attempted to make an inside move on a lap 11 restart, but couldn’t make it stick and was forced to settle back into second. Allard kept at it though and on lap 17 he put the No. 0 machine on the top-shelf and charged around the outside of Brindle in turns three and four to take the top-spot away.
After claiming the lead Allard would hold on the rest of the way to tally his third win in four starts at the Western Springs Speedway since making the trip in late-November. “We’ve been on a roll since coming down here and it’s been great to get this car into victory lane three times so far,” the former Silver Dollar Speedway track champion said. “I have to thank Kevin McGreal, all of our sponsors and the team for the support because it has been a lot of fun and the car has been really quick every time I’ve been in it.”
For more info on two-time King of California Jonathan Allard log onto http://www.allardmotorsports.com