BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Derek Thorn will compete in at least six marquee events this year, with 10 total starts across Campbell Motorsports’ No. 43 PepperJack Kennels/The Tool Shack Toyota super and pro late models.
Some of Thorn’s races will be broadcasted live on SPEED SPORT TV.
“When we discussed with the team and team owner Byron Campbell what everyone wanted to do in 2022 it became apparent quickly that we wanted to go racing more back east in 2022,” said Misty Melo of PepperJack Kennels. “I think the Campbell group, Derek and his fans deserve the year we are all planning.”
The campaign opens on Feb. 5 with the All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway in California where Thorn will look for the $25,000 triumph in the 200-lap contest.
The 2021 All-Star Showdown was the only SPEARS SRL Southwest Tour event that Thorn did not win last year, leading 33 laps before finishing 26th after a parts failure.
A new event on April 8-9 will bring Thorn back to Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Fla., to race in the growing Southern Super Series, Super Late Model competition which will pay $10,000 to win each night with a bonus if a driver can sweep the weekend being put up by PepperJack Kennels owner Misty Melo.
On July 22-23, Thorn will race in the pro and super late model events at Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, Wash., for the Summer Showdown. Thorn qualified second in both divisions last year and has a career-best super late model Summer Showdown finish of second in 2016.
The travels east continue August 10 with the $30,000-to-win Battle at Berlin at Berlin Raceway in Marne, Mich. It will be Thorn’s first trip to the uniquely shaped oval in over 10 years and is sure to draw most of the top talented drivers in the country.
Thorn has unfinished business when he returns in his pro late and super late model in the All-American 400 at Nashville Fairgrounds in Tennessee on Oct. 29. He led a race-best 202 laps in 2020, with over 350 career laps led, before being involved in a late race incident that took him out of contention.
The exciting schedule of marquee races concludes with the biggest short track race of the year at the famed Five Flags Speedway in the Snowflake 100 and 55th Snowball Derby, Dec. 3-4.
Thorn will defend his Snowflake 100 title and continue his march towards the Snowball Derby victory and the Tom Dawson trophy.
“This will be an exciting year for everyone involved. I can’t thank the Campbell Family enough for all the years they have given me the chance to race in a great program and all my sponsors that support us – and a thank you to all my fans,” Thorn said.