DEREK THORN SIGNS WITH SUPERIOR CRANKSHAFT FOR 2011 SRL SPEARS SOUTHWEST TOUR

11/6/2010 - Team press release

Lakeport, Calif. standout Derek Thorn will drive for sponsor Superior Crankshaft for the entire 2011 SRL SPEARS Southwest Tour, it was announced today.

Thorn will compete in a car fielded by Bob Strandwold Racing and supported by Junior Joiner at Joiner Motorsports.  Superior Crankshaft entered the SRL SPEARS Southwest Tour in 2010 to activate its new TITAN Crankshaft, which brings international crankshaft technology to the short track world.

The first race under the new sponsorship will begin at the prestigious Toyota All Star Showdown at Irwindale, California in late January. Thorn will also be attending the California Classic at TOYOTA Speedway on November 27.  The California Classic is a televised, non-points event for the SRL SPEARS Southwest Tour that is 110 laps and $5,000 to win.

Thorn recently completed another big season for his career, as the 24 year-old finished third in the 2010 SRL SPEARS Southwest Tour points.  He accumulated two wins, four fast-times including two track records, and seven top-ten finishes in 10 starts.

In addition to the SRL SPEARS Southwest Tour, Thorn competed in six additional races between Super Late Model, Late Model and Modifieds.  His biggest accomplishment among those starts was a third place finish in the Super Late Model portion of the TOYOTA All-Star Showdown last January.

Thorn comes to Superior Crankshaft with a career that spans NASCAR East Series, SRL Southwest Tour, ASA Late Models, Super Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Outlaw Karts. 

In 124 asphalt starts, Thorn has 25 wins, 46 fast-times, and 101 top-tens.  Thorn burst onto the national scene in 2007 when he finished fifth in the ASA Late Model Challenge Series national points as a rookie.

Activities get underway for Thorn at the California Classic with a day of practice on Friday, November 26.  On Saturday, November 27, Thorn will race in the 110 lap “California Classic” that will be televised in a one-hour special on VERSUS at a later date.

Sponsorships are still available with this exciting young talent as plans are for Thorn to compete in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, West in addition to the full 2011 SRL slate.

SP Racing is online at www.superiorcrankshaftracing.com   An all-new Derek Thorn website is coming soon to www.derekthorn.com