BAKERSFIELD,
CALIFORNIA (June 26, 2012)
– Making his debut on the Sonoma 1.99 mile road course on Saturday
afternoon, Derek Thorn drove Bob Bruncati's Sunrise Ford #6 to a
second place finish in the "Pick-N-Pull 200" for the NASCAR K&N Pro
Series, West. The second place finish moves Thorn within ten points
of third place in the series standings, in his first full season
with the series.
Thorn climbed up into the second position and ran closely behind
eventual race winner and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series veteran David
Gilliland in the closing stages of the 64 lap contest. The second
place finish gives Thorn five top-fives and six top-tens in eight
starts in Fords prepared by crew chief Bill Segewick.
"Running against a guy like David Gilliland says a lot about the
series to have guys like that run with us," Thorn said. "It allows
you to push yourself it was obviously a lot of fun. It was my first
time at Sonoma so we had a lot to learn. Being able to follow David
for the last 10 or 15 laps definitely helped me out a bunch as a
driver. We didn't quite have enough to beat him but it was fun to
run with him.
After Sonoma, Thorn finds himself with one win on the season at
Havasu 95 Speedway in Arizona in April which also locked him into
the UNOH "Battle at the Beach" at Daytona International Speedway
next February.
"I think fourth place in points pays tribute to how hard these guys
work in the shop," Thorn said. "We went from a big track in Iowa to
a road course in Minnesota and then to the short track in Vegas.
Coming into this year we had high expectations as a team and we're
continuing to grow and make ourselves better."
While the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West will take a break until
Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA on July 14, Thorn will turn his
attention back to the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour this Saturday at
Madera Speedway. Driving Byron Campbell's #43 Four Star Fruit Ford,
prepared by crew chief Mike Keen, Thorn has picked up two wins and
the leads the series standings over a flock of veteran tour car
drivers.
"Our SRL program is absolutely phenomenal this year," Thorn said.
"When I raced in the West with (Byron Campbell Motorsports) last
year we always showed up ready to win. We have a (SRL) car that I
think every week can go out and compete for a win. I'm really
confident in the equipment we have but even more confident in the
team we have."
Along with putting together two SRL series wins, Thorn his qualified
in the top-three in all four starts this season. His history with
Byron Campbell Motorsports includes a pole at the 2011 edition of
the Toyota All-Star Showdown showing the mettle of the
Bakersfield-based operation.
Saturday's event at Madera will be Thorn's 13th race in a busy 2012
season between full-time NASCAR West and SRL Southwest competition.
So far Thorn has accumulated three wins, three fast-times, eight
top-fives, and nine top-ten finishes.
Activities this weekend at Madera get underway on Friday with
practice followed by, qualifying, and the "Motor Racing Outreach
125" all on Saturday.
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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