ROSEVILLE,
CA– Lakeport's Derek Thorn returned to the All American
Speedway in
Roseville
Saturday night in grand fashion, aboard two different race cars for
two very highly anticipated events at the popular .333 mile banked
oval. Thorn made outstanding charges in both venues, leading laps
but falling short before the waving of the checkered flags due to no
fault of his own doing.
“I can’t thank
everyone involved in both the JRC and Sunrise Ford organizations for
giving me first class equipment again for my second double duty
weekend with these teams this season, " said Thorn. "We had the
chance to sweep the weekend but came up just a few laps short in
both events."
After a two week
break in competition, Thorn returned to the SPEARS SRL Southwest
Tour Series to compete in the Thunder Valley Casino & Resort 135
last Saturday as well as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West for the NAPA
Auto Parts 150 at the All American Speedway.
The SPEARS SRL
Southwest Tour event was the ninth leg of the ten race 2011 season
schedule and Thorn was back aboard the competitive Superior
Crankshaft/JRI Shocks #26 Toyota Camry led by crew chief Scott
Franchimone for Joiner Race Cars. In the past Thorn has had great
success at All American Speedway. The 25-year-old driver dominated
the spring event in the Joe Farre/Junior Joiner owned JRC machine
and was well on his way to a repeat on Saturday night early in the
race.
After earning the
fastest lap in qualifying for the sixth time this season, a seven
car inversion placed Thorn on the inside of the fourth row for the
start of Saturday's SRL race. He wasted no time in working his way
towards the front at the waving of the green flag, moving to 5th
place in nearly no time at all and then finding his mojo on the high
side of the track where he gained a series of positions and put
himself in the lead.
Once in front,
Thorn was holding off the challenges of former NASCAR West champion
Eric Holmes for the lead with a lead as great as a third of the
track at times. With just 8 laps to go fans were on the edge of
their seats to watch Thorn take his third win of the season. As they
approached the green flag after a quick yellow trouble broke out for
Thorn when the rear end of his #26 Camry failed, forcing him to the
pits as a multi-car melee eventually brought the event under
caution. In the end, Thorn finished in the 14th overall
position.
With Saturday's
finish, Thorn is now in third place in the overall standings in the
SRL Southwest Tour Series. With one event left on the season
calendar he has just 78 points between himself and leader Jim Petit.
The series will conclude October 29th at the Bullring in Las Vegas.
“Derek has had a
great overall season with us," said owner Joe Farre. "The 26 team
will go into Vegas to win the race if we do that then the points
will work themselves out based on our competitors results”
In addition to the
SRL Series, Thorn had a strong run in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West
at Roseville as well, yet, fell short prior to the checkered flag in
an event where he was well on his way to his first career NASCAR
victory.
Thorn made his
second start of the season behind the wheel of the Sunrise Ford
Racing #9 Eibach Spring/Lucas Oil Ford fielded by veteran car owner
Bob Bruncati and led by crewchief Andy Santerre. Saturday's event
marked the first oval track venue that Thorn and Bruncati competed
in together. In 2012 Thorn will drive fulltime for the successful
team.
After turning the
fastest lap in the final practice, Thorn took to the All American
Speedway for the qualifying in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West.
Adapting from the lighter, faster SRL cars to the much heavier cars,
Thorn did well for his first start at Roseville, turning a 13:745
second lap to earn the third fastest lap of the night.
Starting third on
the grid, Thorn displayed great patience in the tight traffic packed
track and pursued Cameron Hayley for the second position, passing
him on the 104th lap of the 150 lap race to become the
bridesmaid and set his sights on leader Dylan Kwasniewski, taking
the lead from the young gun on the 121st lap. A few laps
later his lead vanquished when contact took place when Kwasniewski
drove deep into turn three and made contact sending the leader Thorn
into a spin and ultimately to a 11th place finishing
position which was an outstanding rally back towards the front.
“The Sunrise Ford
team and Andy Santerre gave me a winning car and overall it was a
good weekend," said Thorn. "I just came up a little short of getting
that first win for everyone."
Derek Thorn is
proud to carry the sponsorship of Superior Crankshaft and a number
of marketing partners in the 2011 SRL Spears Southwest Tour. Among
the many contributors are Joiner Race Cars, Sigma Engineering, JRI
Shocks, Eibach Springs, Joe's Racing Products, ARP Bodies,
Finishline Signs, Fastenal and Joiner Motorsports.
To learn more about this talented young driver
visit Derek Thorn's personal website at
www.derekthorn.com.
Further information can also be found at the site of one of his
title sponsors,
www.superiorcrankshaftracing.com.
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