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BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA (February 14, 2012) – After picking up two top-fives in three starts in Bob Bruncati’s
Sunrise Ford #9, Derek Thorn will run for the 2012 NASCAR K&N
Pro Series, West championship aboard the #6 Sunrise Ford
machine.
Sunrise Ford entries in the series have finished in the
top-five in the points in four of the five full-time seasons
in which they have competed, racking up 11 wins in the
process.
“Just to have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a car
in today’s racing scene is a very humbling experience. But to
be able to drive for a team with such a recognizable history
is an honor,” Thorn said. “With the addition of myself the
chemistry, communication, and drive to be successful is a
great match. I feel I’ve obtained and learned an unfathomable
amount as a driver working with Junior and JRC over the past 3
years and feel very grateful to have had and continue to have
such great people helping create so much success in my racing
career.”
Thorn’s 2012 championship campaign comes on the heels of a
2011 season that saw Thorn put together seven consecutive
fast-times and three wins in the SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour
along with capturing the pole in the TOYOTA All-Star Showdown
with Byron Campbell Racing and winning the Las Vegas Open
show.
When Thorn climbed aboard Sunrise Ford’s #9 at Portland
International Raceway, it was his first road course start.
Teammate Luis Martinez, Jr. won the race while Thorn finished
third. Thorn followed that up with a strong run at Roseville
in October where he was in position to win before getting
spun, and he wrapped up his 2011 stint with the team with a
fifth place finish against an all-star field at Phoenix.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to get a head start running a few
races and testing with Sunrise Ford in 2011 and I think the
success and momentum we had will carry into this season,”
Thorn said. “Working with Bob Bruncati and Bill Sedgwick will
be a huge stepping-stone for me.”
The success that Sunrise Ford and Derek Thorn enjoyed in 2011
has them eager to get the season started and confident about
the possibilities for the 2012 season. The team has been
working very hard preparing for this years campaign. They are
extremely focused and will have their eyes firmly planted at
the 2012 K&N West Series Championship.
This season’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series West schedule will include
15 races with a pair of NASCAR K&N Pro Series, East
combination races at Iowa Speedway and four road course events
including a new race at Brainerd International Raceway in
Minnesota. All told, 10 different states are represented on
the tour.
Racing action kicks off in early March with the opener at
Phoenix International Raceway on March 3rd during
the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend there.
Derek Thorn would like to thank the following sponsors:
Sunrise Ford, Lucas Oil, Eibach Springs, Oakley, and Pepper
Jack Kennels.
Race fans can learn more about Derek Thorn at
www.derekthorn.com
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