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 BAKERSFIELD,
CALIFORNIA (May 15, 2012)
– Driving the #43 Four Star Fruit/Hronis Racing Ford for Campbell
Motorsports, Derek Thorn continued his dominance over the Las Vegas
Bullring by winning Saturday night's Blackjack 121 for the SPEARS
SRL Southwest Tour. Including his SRL and Super Late Model Open
Show wins at Las Vegas, the victory is Thorn’s third straight at the
fast 3/8ths mile paved venue.
“I really enjoy racing at the Bullring as it is an extremely fast
action-packed venue," Thorn said. "I have been very fortunate to
always show up with great equipment and tonight was no exception as
owner Byron Campbell and the entire team led by Mike Keen gave me
the best car I have ever had here.”
With the win, Thorn has taken his team to second place in the points
standings. At just seven points back, he is knocking on the door to
take the points lead from current leader MK Kanke. Thorn is also
positioned nicely in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, West currently fifth
overall with 12 races left on the schedule.
The Lakeport, CA native started off the night at Vegas by setting
fast-time with a blistering lap of 14.475 around the hot slick
speedway. The task for the 121 lap feature would be daunting
however as an 11 car inversion was pulled.
 Starting
11th in the 27 car field, Thorn wasted no time going to
the front as he took over the fourth position by lap 16 and was up
to second by lap 20. Passing 10 cars in 20 laps, Thorn and crew
chief Mike Keen had a strategy to obtain the race lead early. Thorn
took over the lead from points contender Jim Pettit on lap 36 and
began to reel in lapped traffic.
“There was a lot of green flag racing all night so I was constantly
in lap traffic but the car was so good I could drive it anywhere,"
Thorn said. "My fellow competitors showed a lot of respect moving
over all night for the lead cars."
The final restart was on lap 91 and Thorn pulled away to a ten car
length advantage just a few laps after the race went back to green.
Thorn cruised home for the final 30 laps and took the well-earned
victory which gave him a guaranteed starting spot in the
All-American 400 to be held in Nashville in October.
Thorn and the team will have to wait until June 9th
before the SRL is back in action at Stockton 99. His busy schedule
continues however, as he starts a three consecutive race stretch in
the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, West. Thorn will hit the Rusty
Wallace-designed Iowa Speedway in Newton, IA behind the wheel of Bob
Bruncati's Sunrise Ford #6 led by veteran crew chief Bill Sedgwick.
Derek Thorn would like to thank the following sponsors for their
support in 2012: Sunrise Ford, Four Star Fruit, Hronis Racing, Lucas
Oil, Eibach Springs, Joe’s Racing Products, Oakley, Double Eagle
Transportation, PepperJack Kennels, and Blakesley Sports Media.
Race fans can
learn more about Derek Thorn at
www.derekthorn.com
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