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Jonathan Allard rebounds from early spin to charge for podium at Pombo/Sargent Classic in Tulare

By Gary Thomas

Tulare, CA – June 28, 2009…In championship battles never giving up is always a key and on Saturday night Jonathan Allard certainly exemplified that after charging from the rear of the field to score a podium finish following an early race spin during the annual Pombo/Sargent Classic at the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway.

The result was Allard's third consecutive third place finish at the Pombo/Sargent Classic and helped him maintain the point lead in the Golden State Challenge Series standings, over now second place Brent Kaeding. "To be able to come through the field like that really shows just how fast this car is right now and I have to thank my guys for doing a great job," Allard said. "I want to congratulate Brent on another Pombo/Sargent win and Tommy Tarlton for running second tonight and I just wish we could get him out here full-time with Golden State."

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Jonathan Allard runs 6th in Dirt Cup finale after winning Friday prelim

By Gary Thomas

Alger, Washington – June 22, 2009…A victory during the Friday night prelim at the 38th annual Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup highlighted an eventful "Northwest 410 Swing" for two-time & defending King of California Jonathan Allard this past week.

Going into this most recent week Allard sat atop the Golden State Challenge Series point standings as the tour headed for a pair of events in Oregon, however, only one of the two was able to be run following a rainout in Medford on Saturday June 13.

The traveling 410 sprint car series then headed for Cottage Grove Speedway on Monday June 15 and Allard looked to have his second GSC win of the season wrapped up, until a flat right rear tire cost him the lead and forced him to restart from the rear of the field with just two laps remaining in the feature. He would ultimately end the contest in ninth, but it wasn't what he had hoped for after dominating the 30 lap feature and holding a commanding lead for much of it.

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Jonathan Allard wins and takes Feather Falls Casino points lead at Silver Dollar Speedway

By Gary Thomas

Chico, CA – June 12, 2009…Getting a jump-start on his trip up North Chico, CA's Jonathan Allard drove to victory on Friday night during the ninth race of the Feather Falls Casino point season and in doing so was able to push himself to the top spot in the Silver Dollar Speedway 410 sprint car standings.

The victory marked Allard's third overall in 2009 at the Silver Dollar Speedway and gives him a great momentum boost heading into the Pacific Northwest. "It's great to come out here and get a win and it's really due to my great team that I have behind me with Ashley Smith, Bob-O, Trace, Shawn and the all the other guys who help us out and of course my car owners Morrie and Katie Williams," Allard said.

The two-time King of California and current Golden State Challenge Series points leader started from the second row in the 25 lap main event on Friday night, but he didn't waste any time moving his way to the front. The opening lap saw Allard muscle his way past pole sitter Andy Forsberg to put the K&N Filters, Platinum Powder Coating, JP's Paint & Body No. 0 up to second.

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Jonathan Allard heads North in search of 3rd Dirt Cup title following GSC events in Medford & Cottage Grove

By Gary Thomas

Alger, Wash – June 9, 2009…After a washout this past weekend in California current Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Car Series point leader Jonathan Allard is geared up and ready to head to the Pacific Northwest for events in Medford & Cottage Grove on Saturday & Monday nights, followed by the huge $25,000 to win Jim Raper Memorial Dirt Cup on June 18-20.

With last Saturday's GSC event in Quincy being cancelled for weather there are now 11 events remaining on the season schedule, with the next two races taking place in Oregon beginning this Saturday night at the Southern Oregon Speedway in Medford. Allard has had success at the 1/3 mile clay oval, having finished runner-up at the track on three separate occasions the last four years, as well as winning an ASCS Northwest Series race last July behind the wheel of the Williams Motorsports, Butler Built Performance, JP’s Paint & Body Works No. 0.

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MSPA Open Wheel Driver of the year award puts Jonathan Allard in prestigious company

By Gary Thomas

Chico, CA – June 5, 2009…Since hooking up with car owner Morrie Williams in 2005 Chico, California's Jonathan Allard has seen his career skyrocket and last season put together possibly his finest year to date. With that in mind Allard was presented with the '08 MSPA Open Wheel Oval Track Driver of the Year at last months Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial, an award he captured by just a single vote, in what has been said to be one of the toughest categories the association votes on.

This is the 43rd year that the Motor Sports Press Association has given out the awards and they are only handed out in the categories where they believe performance warrants it. "Northern and Central California has an abundance of racing talent in almost every form of the sport that that can go wheel to wheel against any other racers in the country," said Tony Karis, MSPA president. "We appreciate the opportunity to celebrate their talent, which entertains millions of fans and enhances the sport of motor racing."

According to Bill Sessa, Vice-president/Journalism Motor Sports Press Association, "All of the drivers who have been honored by MSPA over the years are at the top of the sport. Winning the "oval track, open wheel" award is tougher than most because there is so much talent in midgets and sprint cars, including Northern California drivers who win in nationwide series. For many years, it has been our most competitive category and Jonathan Allard should definitely be proud of winning the award."

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Runner-up finish in Placerville marks 8th straight GSC podium for Jonathan Allard

By Gary Thomas

Placerville, CA – May 31, 2009…In the world of auto racing consistency is always one of the biggest things drivers and teams strive for and Chico, CA's Jonathan Allard continued his strong pace this past weekend by scoring his seventh and eighth consecutive podium finishes in Golden State Challenge Series competition.

Allard hasn't finished off the GSC podium since April 11 and in the eleven events held so far this year he's finished among the top three in all but two. "It was another good weekend for us, but we definitely want to get a win real bad," said the current Golden State Challenge Series point leader. "I have to thank Morrie & Katie Williams, all our sponsors, my crew chief Ashley Smith and this whole team because we're really running well right now."

The double-header weekend for the Golden State Challenge Series opened up on Friday night at the Ocean Speedway and Allard went into it holding a 12 point advantage over Los Angeles, CA's Tyler Walker. Allard began the night by timing-in ninth fastest in the field and claimed victory in his heat race, but with no cars failing to transfer out of the heats it left him out of the dash and put him in the fifth row for the feature.

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Strong Calistoga weekend nets Jonathan Allard Golden State Challenge Series point lead

By Gary Thomas

Calistoga, CA – May 25, 2009…Returning to the Calistoga Speedway this past weekend two-time King of California Jonathan Allard posted a pair of strong podium finishes at the intimidating half-mile and it was good enough to put the Williams Motorsports No. 0 atop the Golden State Challenge Series point standings for the first time this season.

Allard was victorious at the Calistoga Speedway the last time the traveling 410 sprint car series visited the track in May of 2007 and the Chico racer put together another solid showing at the Napa County Fairgrounds facility this past Saturday & Sunday. "We would have liked to get a win during the weekend but it was really a great outing for us regardless," Allard said. "Ashley Smith and the guys gave me some great cars both nights and it was as good as I've ever felt at Calistoga."

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Allard scores third at Tulare and takes 9 point deficit in GSC standings into Calistoga Speedway double-header

By Gary Thomas

Chico, CA – May 19, 2009…Following a third place finish at the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway on Saturday night Chico's Jonathan Allard will go into this weekend's Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Car Series events at the Calistoga Speedway sitting second in the standings, just nine points behind leader Tyler Walker.

Allard opened up this past weekend by charging for a sixth place finish at the Silver Dollar Speedway on Friday night, after having to go to the rear of the field following contact with another car halfway through the feature. On Saturday Allard then headed for the Tulare Thunderbowl and began the evening by setting fast-time, before running third in the feature in which he came up just short of second after a last lap battle with Tommy Tarlton.

With the third place finish in Tulare Allard finds himself nine digits behind current Golden State Challenge Series point leader Tyler Walker heading into a Memorial Day weekend double-header at the Calistoga Speedway. Allard's six top five finishes is tied for the most in the series with Brent Kaeding, but Walker's four wins give him the advantage in the standings going into Calistoga.

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Jonathan Allard sets new GSC track record & wins 4th career Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial with exciting last lap pass at Silver Dollar Speedway

By Gary Thomas

Chico, CA – May 9, 2009…After finishing runner-up on three separate occasions this year with the Golden State Challenge Series Chico's Jonathan Allard was poised to not let it happen again on Saturday and the two-time King of California did just that by executing a thrilling last turn pass to claim victory at the 19th annual Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial.

It marked Allard's fourth career win in the prestigious event held at Silver Dollar Speedway and tied him with Brent Kaeding for the most all-time victories in Dave Bradway Jr. Memorial history. "I was either going to win it or wear it out because I'm getting tired of these second place finishes," Allard said. "I don't think I've ever driven a last turn harder than that and I'm just glad it stuck so I could give this team a win. The Bradway is such a huge race and it means so much to me and it feels outstanding to win it for the fourth time."