BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Derek Thorn has added the 43rd Slinger Nationals at Slinger Super Speedway on July 12 to his schedule of marquee super late model races across the country.
Thorn will be making his fourth career start in Wisconsin and first since 2008 when he raced in the former ASA Late Model Challenge.
Thorn will drive an Apel Racing Inc.-prepared No. 43 PepperJack Kennels/Tool Shack Toyota Camry with his normal Campbell Motorsport team and crew chief Mike Keen at the helm. The high-banked quarter-mile has seen the biggest names in the sport take the checkered flag such as NASCAR Cup Series champions Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch, and the legendary Rich Bickle. Thorn looks to add his name to the prestigious list of champions of the Slinger Nationals.
“All of us at Apel Racing are extremely excited to work with one of the best in the business. We look forward to building a great relationship with Derek, Campbell Motorsports, and PepperJack Kennels,” Apel Racing owner Steve Apel said.
PepperJack Kennels’ summer location in Woodville, Wisc., is just a few hours northwest of Slinger Speedway, making the event a home race for Thorn’s primary sponsor. Other major partners include The Tool Shack, Power Grade Inc., Double Eagle Transportation, and Reeves Complete Auto Center.
“We had the Slinger Nationals on our radar for 2022 from the beginning planning discussions of the season. The team just needed the right situation and funding to get put in place to make it work,” said PepperJack Kennels owner Misty Melo. “My husband and I are very excited to be racing in our backyard and can’t thank Steve Apel of ARI and all of Derek’s partners for helping make this happen.”
The event joins a busy season for Derek Thorn that opens on Feb. 5 at the $25,000-to-win All-Star Showdown at California’s Irwindale Speedway. Thorn will race at Florida’s Five Flags Speedway in two events: the double-header Southern Super Series weekend on April 8-9 and in December’s Snowflake 100 and 55th Snowball Derby. April’s PepperJack Kennels Twin 100s will pay $10,000-to-win each night along with a bonus to win both nights with details to be announced.
A trip to Marne, Mich., for Berlin Raceway’s Battle at Berlin is on tap for Aug. 10 as well. The All-American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds is scheduled for Oct. 29.