BAKERSFIELD, California — Derek Thorn, driver of the Le Rivage Hotel/Approved Memory Chevrolet in the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series, has started the year in championship form winning round one of the 10-race championship. Now he sets his sights on the tight and tricky quarter-mile paved oval that is Orange Show Speedway in San Bernadino, CA for the Citizens Business Bank "135" Saturday evening.
Thorn is making his third career start in the Southwest Tour this weekend and is already become the talk of the series after taking over the ride held by former champion Craig Raudman. "All I ever wanted to do was race," Thorn said. "I am so excited about this season and to start the year with a win is awesome. I am really looking forward to the race at Orange Show and hopefully it will be another great weekend for the Strandwold team."
While all competitors on the Southwest Tour started their career on short-tracks, the oval at Orange Show is different than any other track. Originally, the stadium was a high school sports facility but started hosting racing in 1947. In 1964 the flat oval was paved and ushered in one of the more exciting chapters in Southern California racing history. In 2003 the facility was given a facelift and new asphalt and banking was added to the oval. This weekend's event will mark the first time the Southwest Tour has visited the landmark.
"I am looking forward to the challenge of racing Orange Show," Thorn offered. "I know this is going to be one of the more difficult tracks we race and it is going to be critical to qualify really and have patience during the race."
Thorn is the champinship point's leader heading into the 135-lap race looking for his second career series victory. Thorn works full-time at Joiner Motorsports in Bakersfield, CA and attends Bakersfield College studying Business while he pursues his racing dream.
Derek Thorn is sponsored by Le Rivage Hotel, Joiner Motorsports, Approved Memory, Victory Circle, Finishline Signs, JDA, and Peters Racing Engines. The race at Orange Show is the second of 10 races for the SRL which is celebrating ten years of racing action in 2010. For all the latest news and information on about Derek Thorn and Bob Strandwold Racing, log onto www.derekthorn.com.
