5/14/2010
Silver Dollar Speedway
Allard Shines at Chico Once Again
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400"] HRP Photo by Steven Cox[/caption]
Chico's Kevin Sharrah should be proud of how fast his team has been to start the 2010 season. Last Friday, Sharrah was running in the top three when a motor failure ended their night early. Tonight Sharrah jumped out to the early lead and was holding off the likes of Jason York and Jonathan Allard. The first few laps were slowed because of accidents. Menne, who had just won the B main, flipped on the first lap in turn two. On lap two it was Dan Simpson's who brought out the red as he flipped in the fourth turn. Under this second red flag situation second place driver Andy Forsberg went to the pit area with a flat tire. He restarted the race in the last spot. On the third lap Forsberg brought out the yellow when he spun of the track in turn four. One lap later he spun in turn three after trying to avoid another slower car. He was done for the night.
Sharrah continued to lead the race. York was in second and Allard third. On lap nine the race took a dramatic turn. Sharrah went into turn three as the leader but would not make it through the fourth corner. The rear end sawed in half and the right tire came off the car. He almost flipped but came to stop on all four. He climbed from the car and walked away back to his trailer. Once again he was super fast tonight but did not make it to the finish of the main.
This gave the lead to York. For the next six laps York and Allard put on a driving clinic. York was running the mid to high part of the track while Allard was running as far as you could on top of the track without going over. On lap 14 Allard took the lead only to see York pass him back and control lap 15. Going into the first turn Allard drove around York and rocketed back into the lead. Lap 16 Allard was the leader. It was a spot he never gave up again. Lap 19 Clint Wilson flipped and brought out the red flag. During the stoppage the red and green lights were displayed allowing teams to add fuel to their machines.
The final few laps went off without a problem. Allard came across first followed by York. Third spot went to Brett Miller. Miller was a solid car all night but didn't seem as fast as the top two finishers. Sean Becker brought the Sperry Motorsports / Cherry St. Mini Storage #51 home in the fourth spot. Jeff Griffin had a nice run to come home in the fifth spot. It was his best finish of the season.
Terry Schank Jr. put on an impressive display of passing tonight in the wingless main event. At the start of the race Schank spun off the track and brought out the yellow flag. He restarted the race in the 12th spot. By lap 14 he was the leader of the race. It was an impressive run leading up to the point when he took the top spot. On lap 10 he was fifth. He passed Jimmy Pettit for the fourth spot on lap 11. Lap 12 saw him slide underneath Johnny Reeves for third. James Sweeney drifted off the track and that allowed Schank Jr. to move into the second spot. Schank Jr. then chased down race leader Brett Youngman and slid him going into turn three. Schank Jr. came out of turn four with the lead. Youngman stayed in the second spot until lap 16 when he was passed by Reeves. At the line it was Schank Jr. followed by Reeves and Youngman. Jimmy Pettit came across the line in fourth. James Sweeney fell back to a fifth place finish.
Mark Abouzeid led all 20-laps to win the dirt modified main event. Abouzeid is the defending track champion and tonight looked to be in championship form. Abouzeid was never really challenged for the top spot even though second place finisher Tom Purcell shadowed him for most of the night. Purcell had his hands full keeping Darin Ruley in the third spot. Randy McDaniel made the start driving the #96 and finished in the fourth spot. Josh Cullen rounded out the top five.
Chico's Dillon Silverman won for the second week in a row in the ASCS Midget division. Silverman passed early leader Lonnie Alton just past the half way point in the main event. Late in the race Travis Haugh moved around Alton for the second spot. Tom Doherty finished fourth and JR Williams was fifth.
James Sweeney and Brett Youngman were victorious in the wingless heat races. Mark Abouzeid and Darin Ruley won each of their heats in the modifieds. Silverman won the eight lap midget heat race.