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Derek Thorn Set to Carry the Torch for the West Coast Again at the Snowball Derby

The reach of the Snowball Derby stretches far and wide. Every season, drivers from coast to coast and Canada hope to run for the glory in the most prestigious asphalt short track event in the United States. Each of them not only have ambitions of accomplishing the tough task of qualifying for the 300-lap Super Late Model event, but also have the even higher goal of joining the names of Darrell Waltrip, Bobby Allison, Rich Bickle and Kyle Busch as Snowball Derby winners.

Lakeport, California's Derek Thorn realized the dream of qualifying for the Snowball Derby in 2011. The rest of the Snowball Derby weekend that time was a disaster with a multitude of engine issues and an in-race flip that cut his Snowball run short.

Now that he has filed an entry for the 46th Annual Snowball Derby presented by JEGS at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida on December 8, Thorn wants more from his Snowball Derby experience.

"The last time we went there we blew two motors and we ended up upside down in the race and destroyed everything we owned," said Thorn. "I looked at it as one of the coolest things I have even done."

Thorn is not crazy. He's a racer. He understood that running the Snowball Derby made him a part of a brotherhood of a historic line of Super Late Model drivers.

"The whole operation is unlike anything we see out west," said Thorn. "We have big shows, but the Derby is so big for so many days. It's a completely a different experience. What I like about the Derby is racing against great cars and equipment. For most it's the camaraderie of the drivers and the teams. It's hard to put into words until you experience it for yourself."

Thorn is the current point leader in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West with three wins in 13 starts as well as the winner of more than half of the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour events he entered this season. He will be working with crew chief Scott Franchimone and will be driving a Jim Putnam-owned car for this year's Snowball Derby effort.

"It's fun to come back from the west to a track that we don't normally run, on a engine package that we are not that familiar with, on a tire we don't run with," said Thorn. "With that being said we have tried to keep everything as west coast as we can. Victory Circle Chassis have been big supporters of us over the years. We'll have a VC straight-rail car for the trip. We also went with a Hamner engine after they were a big help for us years ago."

"Even if all our ducks are in a row it's still going to be an uphill challenge," admitted Thorn., "We are going to have to run against Grill, Hemric, Pollard and about 15 other guys who have raced there three or more times this season. Also since we have been there they have reground the track. So there is no upper hand that we have there. I'm still looking forward to the challenge."

For more ticket information and details on the 46th Annual Snowball Derby week at Pensacola, Florida’s Five Flags Speedway, visit www.snowballderby.com.

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