Bakersfield’s Derek Thorn is currently third in the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series point standings, with two wins and four track records in 2010.
1. Many people didn’t know much about you or your career prior to your outstanding start to the 2010 SRL season. Prior to the SRL what other racing experience did you have?
I’ve been around for a while, as this will be my 16th year racing. Just seems no one follows what goes on in northern California. I started in winged dirt outlaw go- carts and moved from 5hp to 125cc to 500cc, winning 2 championships. At 13, I moved to asphalt racing bombers/street stocks. Won the bomber championship at Lakeport Speedway in 2002. Moved to IMCA style modifieds the following year and won rookie of the year. Traveled to Shasta Raceway Park for the season in 2004 and won the NASCAR modified championship. I 2005, I started running the North State Challenge Series and won a few races and a handful of poles. 2006 ran the same series with similar results. At the end of 2006 I ran two ASA Races, one at Oktoberfest in La Crosse, WI and the other in Nashville, TN at the Music City Motorplex. I qualified and finished well inside the top 5 at both races. In 2007 I relocated to Wisconsin and ran the ASA Challenge Series full time, finishing 4th in points. In 2008 I ran a part time schedule in the K & N East series and ASA Challenge Series. With a lack of sponsors and “no ride” in 2009 I moved back to California where I started work for Junior Joiner. 2010 has been awesome in the SRL.
Dirt Stats: 2 Championships, Starts 114, Wins 26, Top 5’s 65, Top 10’s 94, Poles 32
Asphalt Stats: Starts: 2 Championships. Starts 112, Wins 25, Top 5’s 70, Top 10’s 95, Fast Times 46
2. Why did you choose to be part of the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour Series in 2010?
The SRL has proven to be extremely competitive. The driver lineup is top notch and to top it off its affordable compared to the west series. Plus, it’s a lot of fun to race; the people, atmosphere and tracks are all awesome. I owe it to Bob Strandwold, Junior Joiner, Dan Smith and my Dad for pulling everything together to make it even possible to be racing. A year ago I had no ride at all.
3. We’re at the halfway point of the season; give your description of your season to this point?
Having Junior Joiner and Dan Smith on my side, I knew we would be fast this year. And I think we’ve done very well so far this season…I’m pretty excited for the 4 track records, and the 2 feature wins have been huge. We’re not going to settle though, we’re still fighting to make our stuff faster and I’m confident the last half of the season will be just as good, if not better. We had 2 bad races at Madera and Stockton that left us scratching our heads a bit, but we keep looking forward. As you know, racing is a lot of luck, so we’re going to do everything we can to be fast…sometimes a lot of the rest is out of your hands.
4. How did you get started in this sport?
My grandpa and dad use to race, my dad got me into it at an early age and was hooked from there.
5. What other sports are you good at?
Not too many, but I like playing almost any sport. I like competition.
6. How do you relax?
Floating on the Kern River has been awesome
7. Favorite activity away from the racetrack?
Figuring out how to go faster next time we’re at the track
8. One sport you would never try?
Goat Herding, but who knows. Never say never
9. Favorite racing moment?
Winning a Copley guitar at the Music City Motorplex In Nashville and racing at Bristol
10. Worst household chore?
Cleaning bathrooms or dusting, definitely a toss up
11. Who has made the most impact in your life?
My mother and father for sure. I didn’t really appreciate the way I was raised until I moved away and looked around a little bit. I can’t thank them enough for my life so far... I feel I’ve been very lucky.
The most racing impact has been Junior Joiner and Dana Stahl. Outside my dad of course they have been a huge part of my success.
12. If you could chose anyone in the world to be your crew chief, who would it be?
Junior Joiner
13. Most embarrassing moment in racing?
I spun a guy out running modifieds at Lakeport. The guy’s brother in the stands started flipping me off, so under caution being the smart ass that I am, I started waving to him and failed to realize the leader of the race had stopped and I ran right into him.
14. What pays the bills? Job/Occupation?
I’ve been working for Joiner Motorsports for well over a year now. Setups, fabrication, crew cheifing, car cheifing, chassis dyno and recently started doing steel bodies for the K&N East Series stuff. Junior’s got the shock department building all sorts of grip and I try to learn a thing or two when I can.
15. Words to live by?
Don’t forget where you come from and the people that helped get you where you are.
16. Racing goals for 2010 and beyond?
I’d really like to move back into the K&N East or West Series and keep climbing one step at a time, winning races and turning heads along the way.
17. Greatest racing accomplishments to date (please list):
1999-2000 125cc Mini World of Super Outlaw Points Champion (dirt)
2002 Bomber/Street Stock Champion Lakeport Speedway
2003 Redwood Acres Raceway Modified Fall Classic Winner
2004 NASCAR Modified Champion Shasta Raceway Park
2005 North State Challenge Series Rookie of the Year, Most Wins, and Poles
2006 Led 130 Laps in the ASA All American 400 Music City Motorplex, finished
2nd
2007 ASA Spring Clash Winner Music City Motorplex
- 4th in points, 2nd in ROY chase missed by 2 points
- ASA Challenge Series Track Record Hawkeye Downs, IA
2008 K&N East Series qualified in the top 10, 5 out of 6 attempts
-One Top 5 and Two Top 10’s
2009 Deake Lyndall Memorial Super Late Model Winner
2010 2 SRL Feature Wins
-4 track records: Roseville, Orange Show, Vegas, Toyota Speedway at
Irwindale
