Derek Thorn at 9 pm ET on Monday, May 23, 2016 Photo – DT Facebook page
Derek Thorn is our guest on Fan4Racing NASCAR & Race Talk on Monday, May 23, 2016 at 9 pm ET. Call 929-477-1790 or tweet @Fan4RacingSite or @Sal_Sigala with any questions or comments during our LIVE broadcast.
The SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour featured a twin 75-lap format at Kern County Raceway this weekend with David Mayhew winning the first segment by holding off a hard charging Derek Thorn – the 2012 and 2014 champion. In the second segment, it was Ryan Cansdale fending off Christian McGhee for the victory. Overall, Thorn earned the best average finish, earning him the race win and $5,000 in the Bulwark FR – Westex by Millikan 150 presented by 51 Fifty Energy Drink.
Starting his day by setting the fastest time for the 36th time in his career, Thorn set a time of 17.481 at the half-mile tri-oval.
In the first segment, Mayhew made an early jump from the outside groove and led the entire 75-laps. Thorn made his way to second by lap 28, but was never able to make a pass for the lead despite several restarts from the inside groove.
Between segments, teams took 15 minutes to work on the cars and make adjustments, but were not allowed to change tires or parts on the cars without penalty.
In the second segment, again the outside groove paid off with Cansdale jumping to the top-spot over Rocha with McGhee, both closing in on the leader. McGhee grabbed second on lap six with Mayhew and Thorn racing to third and fourth by lap eight where they challenged each other in a race long side by side, back and forth battle for what would turn out as the overall victory for Thorn.
Cansdale led green flag-to-checkered flag, but it was the battle between Mayhew and Thorn that kept fans on their feet. Mayhew lost the battle, with Thorn better on the long runs and taking the spot over Mayhew on lap 70, the same lap that saw first-time rookie, Buddy Shepherd taking over fifth.
With the overall win for the weekend, Thorn is the all-time series win leader with 26, but his thoughts were on Kern County Raceway co-owner Charlie Beard, who lost his battle with an illness shortly before the race.
“I think first and foremost I want to express my condolences to the Beard family,” said Thorn in victory lane. “I want to dedicate this win to him and his family as he was a big, big part of putting this facility together. I have a heavy heart and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”
As for the racing, Thorn admitted he had his work cut out for him to gain the victory in the end.
“The battle with Mayhew, it doesn’t get much closer than that,” said Thorn. “He was really good on restarts, then after five laps I could get to his bumper and by ten laps I could get under him. It seemed like every time I would get by him and the caution would come out and I would have to do it again. There was a fine line for me as I was peddling it a little bit and I could tell he was on edge as well. I don’t think I had anything for the 57 (Ryan Cansdale), but I think the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is the toughest… in the five or six years I’ve been running it, this is the toughest competition I’ve ever raced against and it’s neat to see the strength of the series. To run against these guys is no small task.”
Next up for the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour is Irwindale Speedway on June 18th, also featuring Monster Trucks, Race for Autism Celebrity Race and more.