Allard 2nd in New Zealand Championship
PETERSEN MEDIA: With all of his success in New Zealand, Jonathan Allard still had the 42nd New Zealand Championship at South Island’s Ruapuna Speedway as the race he wanted to win above all others. After all, JA was the defending winner, and was able to adorn the number 1NZ this season.
The event got underway on Friday night with a pair of heat races, then concluded Saturday with two more heat races to ultimately put the top-18 in the 25-lap feature event.
Friday night, JA and his Porter Group/Hydraulink/Albany Toyota backed machine opened the weekend stout, as he gridded the field from the pole position, and proceeded to dominate the heat and pick up the win.
JA’s second heat was equally strong, as the Chico, CA driver lined up in the 10th spot, and muscled his way to a third place finish, giving him the points lead after the first night ahead of Sammy Swindell, and young Austen Wheatley.
The second night JA began the night by sending a message to the rest of the field, as he grabbed another heat win from his sixth starting spot.
During his final heat race, things began to take a turn for the worst for Allard.
Lining up in the fourth spot, Allard hotly pursued NZ local, Jamie Duff for most of the heat.
As the heat came to a close, Allard tried getting around Duff, but made contact with the drivers right rear tire, and sent his Zero Motorsports machine into the wall with extensive damage.
Allard and his Zero Motorsports crew thrashed to get the No.1NZ machine ready for the feature, and they did just that as cars were being called to staging.
By result of his DNF in his heat, JA was the 4th highest points getter, and lined up in the second row behind Sammy Swindell.
Swindell motored away with the lead, but Allard stayed hot on the Hall of Famer’s tail, as the duo excited the crowd.
Jonathan actually was able to get passed Swindell late in the race, but the yellow flag flew, negating the pass and put Allard back in the second spot.
As the leaders got into lapped traffic, Allard could not get back to Swindell to challenge and settled for the second spot as the race came to a close.
“I just hate this for all my guys, and all of our sponsors,” said a dejected Allard. “I can’t thank everyone who pitched in and helped get this Hydraulink/Porter Group/Albany Toyota/Maxim back together after that heat, but this really was the race I wanted to come down and win. Sammy did a good job, and I congratulate him on the win.”
STAY CONNECTED: For more information on Jonathan, including upcoming events, pictures, and news please check out www.allardmotorsports.com, or follow JA on twitter @Allard0.
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- Petersen Media on Feb 07, 2012
- Article Date: 2/7/2012