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Thorn wins Snowflake 100 as prelude to Snowball Derby

By Chuck Corder (Pensacola, FL) -- Derek Thorn is not of this world.

He certainly has been on another planet than everyone else at the 54th Annual Snowball Derby presented by Hooters. Thorn has the Midas touch. As the kids say: “He don’t miss.” He’s Scrooge McDuck swimming through gold coins. He’s a chef’s kiss.

Thorn, 35, is hitting every line and rewriting Derby record books with each lap he puts down at Five Flags Speedway. The California driver in the No. 43 led flag-to-flag Saturday night and topped the 35 best Pro Late Model drivers in America in capturing the Allen Turner Snowflake 100. It’s his second ’Flake in three years. It also marked his second consecutive pole, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished. Thorn achieved the same history in Derby qualifying Friday night by winning the pole in back-to-back years. Today, he looks to become the first driver to sweep the weekend in winning both the ’Flake and Derby.

“Fifteen years ago, this was a figment of my imagination,” Thorn said. “The car was phenomenal. Every time we come here, we try to get a little better. To have this car tonight, it’s unbelievable.”

He had competition for most of the race from teenager Jake Garcia, but the Deep South Cranes Blizzard Series track champion and Southern Super Series champion for Super Late Models settled for second. Colin Allman was steady all night, staying in the top-five, and finishing third.

Thorn earned quite the payday. An anonymous donor earlier Saturday threw in $3,000 to move the winner’s purse from $7,000 to $10,000. Thorn earned an additional $5,000 because he registered for his Snowball Derby pit pass on Pit Pay app.

“We were doing everything we could to stay out front,” Thorn said. “(Garcia) was keeping us honest. Track positioning is big here. And I was doing my best to save tires and keep them in one piece.”

He was brilliant. There were six cautions and Thorn was perfect on each one. Each time he approached lapped traffic, Thorn showed no fear and deftly maneuvered through the cars in the back.

Johanna Robbins was enjoying a top-five performance at her home track before Noah Gragson started a chain reaction on Lap 82 that deposited Robbins into the wall on no fault of her own.

Fans were treated to a welcomed surprise before the opening green flag dropped Saturday night. Hunter Johnson, who crashed viciously into the Turn No. 1 catch fence at the Proxy Equipment Pro Trucks Snowball Derby on Thursday, spoke with track announcer Bill Roth in Victory Lane about the incident and the recovery road ahead of him. The capacity crowd roared with appreciation when Johnson was introduced.

“I didn’t think I’d get airborne like that,” joked Johnson, who broke two vertebrae but was in high spirits Saturday.

OKRZESIK STEAMROLS WAY TO FAITH CHAPEL OUTLAWS SNOWBALL DERBY TITLE

Connor Okrzesik’s future is bright and full of options.

Nineteen years old. An engineering scholarship awaiting him soon at the University of Colorado. And a knack for wheeling any kind of racecar he hopes into.

Okrzesik, who already has four Snowball Derby starts in his young career, had prior school commitments that prevented him from dutifully preparing and, thus, appearing in today’s 54th Annual Snowball Derby presented by Hooters. The 32-car field in the Faith Chapel Outlaws Snowball Derby wishes Okrzesik stuck with the books Saturday instead of showing up at Five Flags Speedway.

Okrzesik led 47 of the 50 laps and was dominant en route to his first career Derby title. He barely broke a sweat in capturing his second Outlaws checkered flag of the season at Five Flags. This one, obviously, taking on much greater importance.

“We just won the Derby, boys!” Okrzesik wailed. “It kills me we couldn’t run (the Derby), but I wasn’t gonna miss this race.”

Piloting the red George Bragg No. 22 out of Mississippi, the Grand Bay, Ala., native started second. Okrzesik got to the inside of polesitter Bubba Winslow on Lap 3 and quickly shot off like a cannon. Panama City teenager Timothy Watson challenged Okrzesik on late restarts, but he was up to the task each time and maintained his lead. Watson, another young man with a high ceiling, finished as runner-up, and Outlaws season track champion Jake Finch rounded out the podium.

“Timothy had a really fast car there at the end,” Okrzesik said. “He put a lotta pressure on us.”

Not enough to stop Okrzesik from capturing the checkered flag and celebrating by doing donuts in Turn No. 1. Or, at least, trying to do donuts.

“I’m not good at donuts. I guess I don’t win that much,” the humble Okrzesik said.

Don’t let him fool you. Okrzesik is winning at life right now.

Snowflake Finish

1 43 Derek Thorn Bakersfield, CA 16.752
2 35 Jake Garcia Monroe, GA 16.792
3 67 Colin Alman Plant City, FL 16.752
4 7 John DeAngelis Hubertus, WI 17.067
5 2 John Bolen Jasper, AL 17.065
6 51 Stephen Nasse Pinellas Park, FL 16.966
7 15 Mike Hopkins Herman, NC 16.953
8 54 Jarrett Butcher Porters Lake, NS 16.965
9 81 Jett Noland Sarasota, FL 16.915
10 69 Michael Hinde Hernando, FL 16.869
11 30 Noah Gragson Las Vegas, NV 17.052
12 91 Jim Wall Huntville, AL 16.965
13 89 Chase Spradlin Oak Grove, AL 16.883
14 32 Treyten Lapcevich Grimsby, ONT. Canada 16.93
15 25 Blaine Rocha Oakdale, CA 16.865
16 33 Wes Griffith Jr Crown Point, iN 16.968
17 26 Cole Williams Borden, IN 16.818
18 9 Ryan Luza Cypress, TX 16.811
19 18 Johanna Long Robbins Pensacola, FL 16.883
20 12 Derek Griffith Hudson, NH 16.901
21 29 Mason Keller Plainfield, IN 16.959
22 13 Austin MacDonald Picton, NS Canada 16.948
23 90 Trevor Christiani Boise, ID 17.104
24 24 William Sawalich Eden Prarie, MN 16.826
25 112 Augie Grill Hayden, AL 16.871
26 12 Justin Bonnet Hayden, AL 17.016
27 47 Dakota Stroupe Maceo, KY 16.946
28 89 Dylan Fetcho Lebanon, TN 16.946
29 48 Preton Peltier Johnstown, CO 16.964
30 9 Hudson Halder Cumming, GA 16.905
31 33 Dustin Smith Mobile, AL
32 95 Derrick Griffin Pensacola 16.918
33 22 Mike Garvey Pensacola 16.97
34 5 Casey Johnson Edgerton, WI 16.863
35 22 Brandon Oakley Beavercreek, OH 16.899
36 10 Steve Dorer Lakeland, FL 16.947

Outlaws Finish

1 22 Connor Okrzesik Grand Bay, AL 17.789
2 28 Tim Watson Panama City, FL 18.167
3 51 Jake Finch Panama City, FL 17.885
4 92 Bubba Winslow Cantonment, FL 17.749
5 54 Conner Sutton Pensacola, FL 18.084
6 407 Jason Vail Clairmont, FL 17.867
7 92 Cameron Henderson Dothan, Al 17.939
8 98 Kraig Hall Pace, FL 18.152
9 4 Todd Jones Pace, FL 18.388
10 17 Robert Barker Bourne, TX 17.943
11 10 Steve Campbell Pensacola, FL 18.287
12 3 Adam Salter Andalusia, AL 18.425
13 64 Jonatham Langham Theadore, AL 18.442
14 93 Paul Jean 18.539
15 51 Jason Loveday Huntsville, AL 18.502
16 69 Mike Pollaro Floresville, TX 18.501
17 1 Logan Boyett Cantonment, FL 17.834
18 31 Jr. Niedecken Milton, FL 18.231
19 33 Jason Welch Mobile, AL 18.157
20 409 Allen Carter 18.331
21 6 Robbie Elledge Joppa, AL 18.035
22 21 Nathan Ingersoll Bay Minette, AL 18.576
23 17 Chris Cotto Milton, FL 18.927
24 21 Brandon Gaither San Antonio, TX 18.392
25 3 Chad Chaffin Murfreesboro, TN 17.979
26 42 Jay Jay Day Theadore, AL 18.254
27 1 Daniel Webster Brooksville, FL 18.188
28 32 Stuart Dutton Tallahassee, FL 18.134
29 5 Bill Tutchtone Pensacola, FL 18.388
30 23 Gary Goodwin Pensacola, FL 18.491
31 43 Jerry Bohlman Milton, FL 18.466
32 28 Jody Henderson Dothan, AL 18.595

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