By Gary Thomas

Quincy, CA – June 23, 2009…Rebounding from a tough ending to the previous Civil War 360 Series event on June 3 Chico's Stephen Allard and Double-D Motorsports put together a solid night this past Saturday that included setting fast-time and scoring a third place finish in the feature at the American Valley Speedway in Quincy.

The result marked Allard's second California Sprint Car Civil War Series podium in four events so far this year and helped move him into a tie for third in the standings. "With the way the season has gone so far getting a good solid finish is definitely what we wanted to do in Quincy and we did just that so we couldn't be happier," Allard said.

By Gary Thomas

Placerville, CA – June 3, 2009…Competing in the third round of action for the traveling California Sprint Car Civil War Series Chico's Stephen Allard had a likely top five finish taken away after late race contact while sitting in the third position on Wednesday evening at the Placerville Speedway.

So far in 2009 Allard has been very fast in the Double D Motorsports No. 4 sprinter, but luck has not been on his side during the four outings in the car this year. In fact three of the four events have seen top five finishes cut short, with two of those being podium results taken away late in the going. Ironically the lone Civil War 360 Series event this season Allard has been fortunate enough to finish at was the season opener in Petaluma where he brought home a third place result.

Wild Winged Wednesday at the Placerville Speedway saw a 37 car field sign in at the back-gate and it started off well for Allard with him timing-in eighth fastest aboard the Double D Motorsports, JP's Paint & Body, Medi-Pro Billing No. 4. The heat race saw disaster strike on the first corner however, as cars jammed up and Tyler Walker jumped down to the bottom lane directly in front of Allard, but unfortunately the 36 year-old had such a great run that he contacted the rear of the green 24 machine.

By Gary Thomas

Chico, CA – May 23, 2009...Making a rare Wingless Sprint Car start Chico’s Stephen Allard picked up a strong third place finish in the main event to open up the annual Memorial Day Fair Race weekend at Silver Dollar Speedway.

Allard opened the night scoring a second place finish in his heat race and then lined-up sixth in the 20 lap main event. The two-time Silver Dollar Speedway 410 champion was able to get more comfortable in the car as the race went on and made some nice passes to get up to third by the time the checkered flag came out.

By Gary Thomas

Petaluma, CA – April 21, 2009…Making his first 410 start of the season Chico's Stephen Allard hoped for good things while driving the Roth Motorsports No. 83jr, but unfortunately the two-time Silver Dollar Speedway champ happened to be in wrong place at the wrong time on two separate occasions in the feature, putting an early end to the 30 lap contest on Saturday night at the Petaluma Speedway.

Allard went into the evening fresh off a third place finish at the track the previous weekend with the Civil War 360 Series and looked to use that experience to his advantage as he sat behind the wheel of the Roth Motorsports, HR Cattle No. 83jr for the night of competition with the traveling Golden State Challenge 410 Sprint Car Series.

A 23 car field was on hand for what was the fourth event of the season for California's premier winged 410 sprint car series. Allard came out last in the qualifying order and his fastest lap of 12.802 placed the DTR Transport Inc, HR Livestock No. 83jr, tenth quick. The 36 year-old driver then lined-up on the outside of the second row in arguably the most stacked heat of the night.

By Gary Thomas

Petaluma, CA – April 14, 2009…Sitting behind the wheel of the Double-D Motorsports No. 4 sprinter for the second time this season, former Silver Dollar Speedway track champion Stephen Allard tallied a podium finish in the California Sprint Car Civil War Series season opener at the Petaluma Speedway.

The event this past Saturday marked the season opener for the traveling 360 series following a rainout of the previously scheduled opener in Placerville on March 21. In 2003 Allard won three main events with the Civil War Series and finished second in points to Mike Henry, falling shy of the title by just nine short points.

The '09 opener on Saturday night saw 38 cars taking to the always fast 3/8 mile clay oval located at the Sonoma-Marin County Fairgrounds. Allard came out midway through the qualifying order and his fastest lap of 13.282 was good enough to place the Double-D Customs, JP's Paint & Body Works, Medi-Pro Billing No. 4, ninth quick overall.

By Gary Thomas

Chico, CA – March 30, 2009…Competing for the first time this season former two-time Silver Dollar Speedway track champion Stephen Allard looked to be on way to a podium finish on Saturday night, until a blown tire with just two laps left in the main event took that opportunity away at the 28th annual Silver Cup Race of Champions.

Allard was in action this past weekend driving the Double-D Customs No. 4 sprinter in memory of car owner Dave Lee, who passed away in the off-season. The Chico driver began the weekend by doing a memorial lap in tribute to Lee and was happy to be able to come out and run the race this past weekend. "I want to thank the whole Lee family and friends for allowing us to come out and race this weekend in memory of Dave," Allard said.

After the weekend however, all of the equipment is expected to be for sale unless sponsorship funding can be found. "We'd love to find some sponsors to try and run some more races, but the equipment will be for sale after this weekend," said Allard, who won the Silver Dollar Speedway track title in 2007 and also was co-track champ with Shane Scott in 1996. "I just am really grateful for the opportunity Dave gave me last year and it's certainly something I'll never forget. He was a great man and will be dearly missed."

Photos by http://www.JohnsRacingPhotos.com

Stephen Allard claims 7th place finish in overall standings at 15th annual Trophy Cup

By Gary Thomas

Tulare, CA – October 28, 2008…Chico’s Stephen Allard finished off the ’08 racing season this past weekend at the 15th annual Trophy Cup and drove to a seventh place finish in the overall event points, in what was just his third outing aboard the Double D Customs No. 4d sprinter.

The 15th annual Trophy Cup saw one the most successful events in the history of the race and Allard went into it looking for redemption following his last outing, which had seen him get upside down at the Fall Nationals in Chico while racing on the rough and tumble quarter-mile. The two-time Silver Dollar Speedway track champ showed that he had put that behind him however, and put together a solid Trophy Cup at the Tulare Thunderbowl Raceway, which kicked off this past Thursday night.

Last season’s Trophy Cup had seen Allard very nearly pick up a main event victory during the final night as he led for 26 laps, before getting passed for the lead by Randy Hannagan. The 32 year-old didn’t let that deter him though as he regrouped and attempted a dangerous move to the high-side to get by Hannagan, which unfortunately didn’t stick and resulted in him finishing fifth at the stripe.

Photo by http://www.JohnsRacingPhotos.com

Stephen Allard wins Cotton Classic at Kings Speedway in first start with Double D Motorsports

By Gary Thomas

Hanford, CA – September 29, 2008…Making the most of his first outing in the Double D Customs No. 4 machine Chico’s Stephen Allard put together an impressive performance to capture victory in the 410 Winged Sprint Car portion of the annual Cotton Classic this past Friday night at the Kings Speedway in Hanford.

The triumph on Friday evening marked Allard’s first win of the season and it came just shortly after a new partnership with Double D Motorsports and crew chief Randy V. “It feels great to be able to pick up a win in our first race together and I just can’t thank this team enough for giving me a shot,” Allard stated in the pits after his victory.

A total of twenty-two 410 sprint cars were on hand for Friday’s portion of the two-night Tachi Open Wheel Invitational at Kings Speedway and the opening evening of racing was also billed as the annual Cotton Classic. Allard would kick off the night by qualifying the Double D Customs, Platinum Powder Coating No. 4, seventh fastest in the field, before bringing home a third place finish in the opening heat race.

Photo by Johns Racing Photos

Stephen Allard charges from rear to 5th at Ocean Speedway

By Gary Thomas

Watsonville, CA – August 18, 2008…Chico’s Stephen Allard put on the charge Friday night at the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville to score a top five finish and in doing so locked himself into the running of the 48th Johnny Key Classic to be held on August 29.

For this most recent Wright One Construction 360 Series event Allard climbed back aboard the Wayne Cox Gunite, David Key Trucking No. 86 sprinter in hopes of claiming one of the remaining guaranteed starting spots for the Johnny Key Classic.

Allard’s previous 360 sprint car start in the black No. 86 machine netted him a fifth place finish during the Mark Forni Classic at the Placerville Speedway on July 12 and he hoped to duplicate that performance this past Friday at the Ocean Speedway.

The defending Silver Dollar Speedway track champion began the event on Friday by clocking the 10th fastest lap out of 28 cars in qualifying, but issues during his heat race forced him into running the B-main. Starting 10th in the semi Allard carved his way forward to bring home the sixth and final transfer spot into the main event.

“SA” then started way back in the 22nd starting position for the feature and charged his way forward on the slick surface that had began to take rubber in spots. Allard used his veteran experience to move up through the field and cross under the checkered flag in the fifth position to cap off a strong run.

Using the momentum from this past weekend’s race Allard will look to breakthrough for his first win of the season at the upcoming Johnny Key Classic on Friday night August 29. Allard has been quick in his appearances at the Ocean Speedway this season while driving the Wayne Cox Gunite No. 86 and should be a threat to take home the Key, in what should be a talent filled field of sprintcars.

More news on Chico, California’s Stephen Allard can be found at http://www.stephenallard.com

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Stephen Allard will look to put the 86 machine up front on August 29 during the 48th running of the Johnny Key Classic at the Ocean Speedway in Watsonville. Photo by L & J Photography

Photo by Johns Racing Photos

Stephen Allard drives Main Motorsports No. 35a to 8th place finish on Friday with GSC

By Gary Thomas

Chico, CA – July 29, 2008…An eighth place finish on Friday night at the Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico highlighted the final weekend of the Golden State Challenge Series season for defending track champion Stephen Allard.

For the very last weekend of the GSC season Allard hopped back aboard the H.A.M. Construction, JP’s Paint & Body No. 35a sprinter to do battle against an extremely talented field of race cars.