So, what would be Thorson‘s story heading into the 2020 season? When it came time for the Chili Bowl, many focused their attention on the renewed rivalry between Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson.
The departure of these two headliners from Keith Kunz Motorsports also raised an eyebrow or two. New teams were forming, most notable among them being Chad Boat‘s decision to step out of the seat and concentrate on building a team with partner Corey Tucker.
Even though he had been a recent national champion, Thorson was not considered a pre-race favorite. He came into the event paired with veteran owner Brodie Hayward with a car that, in his words, “I built from the ground up.”
Assigned to the final preliminary night, Thorson used a massive slide job to get in front of leader Ryan Bernal, and once he got in front he stayed there.
It was difficult to understate the magnitude of the win. Once in front of the assembled press, Tanner made the simple but powerful proclamation: “I‘m back.”
With that, the 2020 USAC national midget season was highly anticipated. With new teams and a few fresh faces, it was now the subject of a great deal of interest.
The tour again opened in early February in Ocala, Fla. In the opening round, Thorson simply ran roughshod over the field. The second night it appeared to be more of the same, but with six laps to go smoke poured out of his ride and he was on the sidelines.
A month passed before all assembled indoors at DuQuoin, Ill., for the Shamrock Classic. Once again, fans were treated to a little Thorson magic.
Starting 15th on the grid, somehow, someway, he did it again. By this time, no one should have been surprised.
The same ferocity Thorson showed in his second-ever 410 sprint car start, his return to victory lane at Lincoln Park and – even more dramatic, by surmounting devastating injuries – all provided a glimpse of his underlying character.
In many ways, Lee Lindgren sums it up.
“He is a good kid who wants to win. I also think he is misunderstood,” Lindgren shared. “He is passionate about what he does and he speaks out. I think a lot of people just think he is cocky, but he is driven, and there is no shame in that. He is the hardest working driver I have ever worked with.”
With his early season success, Thorson hopes to bag another USAC midget championship, but is still working on opportunities to go winged sprint car racing this year.
Sometimes you have to look reality straight in the eye. He is the one who pays the bills, and it is difficult to make a living driving midgets alone.
Thorson has benefited from good mentors and has used that knowledge to take charge of his own operation. Once you have had the chance to call your shots, it becomes more difficult to take a back seat.
“One of the things that was hard going back to Keith,” he said, “is that I was so used to setting up my race car. Obviously, Keith has been doing it a long time and he is going to set the car up. He is going to do what he wants to do, and that‘s not a bad thing. But sometimes it has to fit me and my own driving style. My ego might have gotten in the way a little bit, but it is just about being comfortable.
“That was a big thing for me.”
In the end, Thorson felt that when it came to partnering with Kunz, they may have come to that point when it was best to go different ways, but with the objective of always keeping the friendship intact.
Thorson’s long-term goal is to own a winged sprint car team, and perhaps start a midget development program of his own.
“I think a midget development team is going to be a good thing for a while,” he said. “Chad Boat is doing it, and Keith is at the top of that and will be for a long time. But not everyone can go to Keith, and not everyone can go the Toyota route.
“I think it depends on what I can line up.”
There is good reason to believe this might work out for Thorson. Toward the end of last season, allowing his body more time to heal, he turned wrenches for Spencer Bayston, who had accepted a ride with Hayward Motorsports. He found out it was something he enjoyed.
“I love setting up cars and watching cars race,” he said. “It was fun making adjustments, see what they do, and getting feedback. I enjoy that side of racing.”
No one knows if a return to NASCAR will remain an option. Thorson demonstrated that he has the ability and intellect to perform at that level.
Could he, in the right situation, win with the World of Outlaws? There is no reason to suggest otherwise.
Can he emerge the best man in a stacked field of aggressive young drivers in the USAC midget ranks? The early returns make a pretty strong statement.
When you boil it all down, the record shows a consistent pattern of success, and the reason for that is pretty simple.
As we have seen over and over and over, Tanner Thorson never gives up.