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THORN TRAVELS FROM CALIFORNIA TO TAKE ON THE FIELD (AND CHANDLER SMITH)

THORN TRAVELS FROM CALIFORNIA TO TAKE ON THE FIELD (AND CHANDLER SMITH)
Man on a Mission
Thorn Looks to Exact Derby Revenge During Pepperjack Kennels Twin Blizzard Weekend at 5 Flags

By Chuck Corder

Four months have passed since the 54th running of the Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway.
Conceivably, that’s not nearly enough time for Derek Thorn’s wounds to heal. Dominating short-track racing’s Hope Diamond only to be denied by a controversial bump from eventual winner Chandler Smith.

The 35-year-old Californian, who has been an elite Super Late Model driver in recent years, has finished runner-up at two straight Snowballs. However, it is last year’s loss to Smith, 19, that still leaves a bitter taste in Thorn’s mouth. Smith, who drives full-time for Kyle Busch Motorsports in NASCAR’s Truck Series, made a still-debated pass of Thorn with eight laps left in the 300-lap event and secured the win for Donnie Wilson Motorsports.
“It’s a new year; not much to say about it,” Thorn said. “Every race plays out differently. If you ain’t first, you’re last.”

Ever the consummate professional, Thorn’s short answers and tone shed a light on deeper feelings. Multiple requests to speak with Smith this week went unanswered at press time.
Thorn has two opportunities to exact some revenge on Smith at Pensacola’s high banks both Friday and Saturday nights. The Pepperjack Kennels Twin Blizzard weekend kicks off the Deep South Cranes Blizzard Series season for SLMs at Five Flags. Each 100-lap race pays $10,000 to win.
As a bonus, the driver with the best average finish between the two races earns a slot for the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) season opener in June at the famed half-mile asphalt oval. Drivers already confirmed for the SRX opener include former NASCAR winners Bobby Labonte, Michael Waltrip, Greg Biffle and Ryan Newman, as well as IndyCar Series champions Tony Kanaan, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Ernie Francis, Jr.

The Proxy Equipment Pro Trucks and Lloyd’s Glass Pure Stocks are the appetizer before the Rubber & Specialties 100 on Friday at Five Flags. The Faith Chapel Outlaws and the Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen bookend the Zoom Equipment 100 on Saturday.

Gates open at 3:30 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday. Admission both days is $20 adults; $17 for seniors, military and students; and free for children ages 10-and-under. Two-day packages for adults are $35 and $30 for seniors, military and students. For more information, call the track office at 850.944.8400.

Despite hailing from a state thousands of miles away, Thorn has become a fan favorite at Five Flags where he has enjoyed plenty of success. He has won two of the last three Snowflake 100s, the Pro Late Model precursor Saturday night of Derby week. Thorn rewrote Derby record books last December, becoming the first driver to sit on the pole for both the Derby and ’Flake in consecutive years. In fact, the current active leader in Derby laps (660) has now sat on the pole for the most prestigious race in America three years in a row.
“(Five Flags) has become a home track of sorts,” Thorn said. “Our last Derby adventures have been great. They haven’t ended the way we wanted them to. Hopefully, we can get out early in the race, have some fun while we’re at it and put on good show for the fans.”

Thorn has not been to the famed half-mile asphalt oval this early in a season since 2016. He won a PLM race for the Kurt Jett-owned No. 9 that April. This April appearance in Pensacola signals a strategy switch for Thorn and his team. He sat down with crew chief Mike Keen, in his 12th season as Thorn’s mentor, in the offseason and chose to “broaden our horizons” by pursuing big-purse races.

That meant taking a step back from the SRL Spears Southwest Tour, a series Thorn has had a stranglehold on since 2012. He earned six championships, including repeat performances in 2020 and 2021, before deciding to assist a couple SRL Spears teams instead of beating up on them every week.
“We accomplished everything we wanted to in SRL,” Thorn said. “We wanted to travel to more big races this year, so we sat down and laid out what it would take financially. I’m fortunate to have so many great sponsors to help pull this off.”

Four months really isn’t enough time to get over heartbreak, but Thorn is managing with determination and laser focus.
“It’s just one of those things,” Thorn said of the Derby outcome. “We’re fortunate to have a good notebook at (Five Flags). We’re gonna get there and roll with the punches and, hopefully, have a fighting chance at the end of both races. We’re gonna put our best foot forward and put on a good show.”

Article Credit: Chuck Corder

Submitted By: Dave Pavlock

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