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California's Derek Thorn Grabs Pole for Sunday's Snowball (again), Times Listed

Thorn Collects 3rd Straight Derby Pole;

Bickle’s Hopes for No. 6 Rests in Last Chance Race Saturday 

 

By Chuck Corder 

My, what a difference a decade can make. 

At the 44th annual Snowball Derby in 2011, Derek Thorn earned the respect of fans and drivers alike when he barrel-rolled his way through Turn No. 2 at Five Flags Speedway and still managed to walk away from the incident virtually unscathed. That same group of rivals and fans respect Thorn for his immense talent. The 35-year-old from Lakeport, Calif., is a force to be reckoned with whenever and wherever he unloads.  

He proved it once again Friday night at the 54th annual Snowball Derby presented by Hooters. Thorn made history by capturing his third consecutive pole for the 300-lap Super Late Model race Sunday. He wheeled a 16.249-second lap, which was a half-tenth better than Chandler Smith.  

“I don’t know what the odds are on that; probably not good,â€? Thorn said of his pole hat trick. “But, I’m happy we are here. It’s a group effort. It was here 10 years ago when I made field by one-thousandth of a second. It’s crazy that 10 years later this our third consecutive pole.â€? 

The qualifying field of 51 cars anticipated possibly breaking Ty Majeski’s track record (16.120 seconds) after the front stretch was repaved earlier this fall after persistent rain and moisture caused a portion of the asphalt to break apart. But Majeski’s mark withstood all challengers to remain untouched. Majeski, the reigning Derby champion, didn’t have the run he wanted. Yet he made the field and will start 19th on Sunday. 

Perennial Derby contenders, such as Bubba Pollard and Casey Roderick, made the show comfortably while fan favorite Rich Bickle will have to earn his way in during the last chance races Saturday. Bickle, who boasts a record five Derby titles, hopes to end his decorated 45-year career with one more victory Sunday. 

Both Jake Finch and Jeff Choquette earned provisional spots for the 54th running thanks to finish in the top-10 in season points for the Southern Super Series and Deep South Cranes Blizzard Series, respectively.

 

1	Derek Thorn	Bakersfield, CA	43		16.27
2	Chandler Smith	Talking Rock, GA	26		16.303
3	Corey Heim	Marietta, GA	78		16.348
4	Casey Roderick	Pulaski, MS	25		16.373
5	Erik Jones	Byron, MI	4		16.374
6	Matt Craig	Kannapolis, NC	54		16.374
7	Hunter Robbins	Pensacola	18		16.377
8	Bubba Pollard	Senoia, GA	26		16.382
9	Casey Johnson	Edgerton, WI-	5		16.397
10	Jake Garcia	Monroe, GA	35		16.399
11	Daniel Dye	Daytona Beach, FL	43		16.409
12	Ryan Preece	Kannapolis, NC	6		16.417
13	Kodie Connor	Kannapolis, NC	45		16.427
14	Jett Noland	Groveland, FL	81		16.433
15	Mike Garvey	Pensacola	22		16.433
16	Mason Diaz	Manasses, VA	24		16.435
17	Cole Butcher	Porters Lake, NS Canada	53		16.443
18	Jeremy Doss	Upper Lake, CA	44		16.459
19	Ty Majeski	Seymour, WI	91		16.461
20	Sammy Smith	Johnston, IA	22		16.476
21	Preston Peltier	Johnstown, CO	48		16.487
22	Kyle Plott	Anderson, SC	4		16.491
23	Jesse Love	Redwood City, CA	21		16.5
24	Derek Griffith	Hudson, NH	12		16.501
25	Kaden Honeycutt	Aledo, TX	96		16.504
26	Luke Fenhaus	Wausau, WI	4		16.51
27	Grant Enfinger	Kannapolis, NC	32		16.516
28	Stephen Nasse	Pinellas  Park, FL	51		16.521
29	Dan Fredrickson	Northfield, MN	36		16.523
30	Jeff Storm	Waterford, WI	25		16.535
31	Jake Finch	Lynn Haven, FL	51		16.536
32	Jase Hansen	Evans, CO	8		16.541
33	Brad May	Ovido, FL	9		16.56
4	Carson Hocevar	Portage, MI	14		16.563
35	Michael House	Columbia, TN	1		16.568
36	Brandon Watson	Barrie Ont. Canada	9		16.604
37	Lee Tissot	Arden, NC	62		16.605
38	Michael Atwell	Naples, FL	51		16.611
39	Derek Krause	Strafford, WI	21		16.621
40	Boris Jurkovic	Ft. Myers Bch, FL	53		16.625
41	John DeAngelis	Cedarsburg, WI	7		16.663
42	Rich Bickle	Sun Prairie, WI	45		16.669
43	Paul Shafer Jr.	Portage, IN	7		16.67
44	Eddie Van Meter	Indianapolis, IN	23		16.692
45	Perry Patino	Montgomery, AL	88		16.703
46	Michael Hinde	Hernando, FL	69		16.705
47	Kyle Bryant	Navarre, FL	79		16.709
48	Cassius Clark	Farmington, ME	13		16.711
49	John Bolen	Jasper, AL	2		16.788
50	Ryan Crane	Panama City, FL	10		16.861
51	Jeff Choquette	West Palm Beach, FL	21		17.332

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