After considering several offers, 2005 North State Challenge Series rookie of the year, Derek Thorn, has signed to drive for West Bend Wisconsin's 5K Motorsports. The Ken Wills owned team will compete in the crown jewel of the ASALMS family, the ASALMS Challenge Division, as well as other selected events in 2007.
The ASALMS Challenge Division's 12-race schedule begins on March 3rd at the high-banked 1/2-mile at San Antonio Raceway in San Antonio, Texas and concludes November 4th at the famed Music City Motorplex in Nashville. Highlights will include events at Toledo Speedway, Hawkeye Downs Speedway, Iowa Speedway, Berlin Raceway (MI), Cayuga Speedway Park (Can), Motor Mile Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, and the Milwaukee Mile.
Thorn and the 5K Motorsports team quickly found some success in their two races together in 2006. In their first race, Oktoberfest at LaCrosse Speedway, Thorn made his presence known, qualifying 5th in the 49-car field and finishing 4th. A month later, at the Music City Motorplex, Thorn would qualify 5th in the All-American 200 and lead most of the race before finishing second.
The 20-year-old Lakeport, California driver has relocated to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin and works at the 3000-sq. ft. 5K Motorsports shop in West Bend. " I really look forward to this season with the 5K team," says Thorn. "We had a lot of fun last year and ran well. The 5K guys are a great group of guys and they have a winning attitude. I hope we can all have some fun and collect some wins."
The 5K team, led by new crew chief Paul Christman and car chief Kenny Holz plans to test several times, on tracks the ASALMS Challenge Division will be running, in preparation for a run at the ASALMS Challenge Division championship. They will also be in the chase for the 2007 Pat Bourdow Memorial Rookie of the Year title.
