Results tell all; Allard wins on 15th to first push

Local fan favorite looks to continue success Wednesday in ASCS Nationals

Cameron Park’s Stephen Allard has been turning heads and putting fans on the edge of their seats at Placerville Speedway after teaming with local car owners Scott Russell and Kami Arnold of Placerville.

Saturday night, Allard made his biggest impression yet in the Red Hawk Casino – Hoosier Racing Tires Championship series, charging his way from deep in the field to score his third win on the season.

“I just have to thank all the great sponsors and everyone on this team for all their support and hard work,” Allard said. “After tonight we’re ready for this Wednesday to see if we can take on the national ASCS guys. We’re hoping we can be the local team up front.”

Allard started 15th in Saturday’s 25-lap feature event. The opening lap saw 2011 Rookie of the Year Jake Morgan lead the field into the first turn before a melee sent him upside down and off the track while  collecting point leader Andy Forsberg. Morgan retired while Forsberg made repairs that pushed Allard up two positions.

After a series of false starts and spins, Jeremy Phillips took the early lead and was challenged quickly by Sean Becker who charged past Phillips on the ninth lap. Meanwhile, Allard sliced and diced his way into the top three on lap 13 and just one lap later made a bonsai move that overtook Carson Mecedeo for second and Becker for the lead on the 14th lap.

Becker redeemed the position until Allard finished the dogfight on the 16th lap to take the lead for good as the grandstand rose to their feet in excitement of the success of El Dorado County’s newest racing hero.

At the checkered flag Allard picked up his third championship win of the year while Becker finished second followed by Mecedeo and Tommy Tarlton. James Sweeney of Placerville finished in fifth after starting ninth in the field.

In the Pure Stock division, Matt Tilford returned to victory lane for his ninth win of the season. Prior to last weekend Tilford had a win streak of eight races and entered Saturday’s event with a 29-point advantage over Placerville’s Chris Curtiss.

Tilford started Saturday’s 20-lap affair on the outside of the front row and once he found his way around pole sitter Chris Van Roakel, he led the rest of the way.

The event fielded 15-cars and had its share of caution flags, the lengthier involving Kyle Grunert and Placerville’s Danielle Clauson. Both received damage in the collision; Clauson was disqualified for rough driving and Grunert penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct.

At the finish line it was Tilford, Stone, Dennis Armstrong of El Dorado, Scott Grunert and Rick Grunert.

“We gained some points tonight which helped us a little bit since I have to miss the next race,” Tilford said. “We’ve done the math and its going to tighten things up a bit but we’ll be OK.”

In the Limited Late Model division, James Edens drove his way to victory lane in a wild shootout that was one of the division’s most exciting races. At the finish line, Edens was followed across the line by Matt Davis, Jay Norton of Cameron Park, Charlie Mars and Tom Tilford.

“This was a lot of fun tonight up here,” Edens said. “We’re planning to run the rest of the season with these guys and its nice to get a win already.”

This Wednesday is a big night of racing at Placerville Speedway as the best 360 drivers in the nation make their trek from the Midwest to compete at the bullring for the ASCS Nationals Tour. Tickets are available through the track office in advance or at the event Wednesday night. All tickets are for general seating.

Adult tickets are $20, seniors are $18, juniors are $12 and children are $6. For further information visit placervillespeedway.com.