IRWINDALE, Calif. – When the lights came on Saturday night at Irwindale Speedway, two-time ARCA Menards Series West champion Derek Thorn shined brighter than anyone else.
Thorn dominated the $25,000 SRL Southwest Tour All-Star Showdown for super late models at the half-mile California oval, leading the final 105 laps en route to victory.
After pacing the first 21 circuits uncontested from the pole, Thorn dropped back slightly, but never found himself outside the top three at any point during the 200-lapper.
Once he retook command with a lap-96 pass of then-leader Linny White, it was game over for the rest of the field after that.
Thorn drove away by 4.463 seconds from runner-up Preston Peltier, with Tayler Riddle just behind in the final podium position. Jack Wood and Dylan Lupton were fourth and fifth, respectively.
White, Logan Bearden, Eric Schmidt, Carlos Viera and Austin Reed completed the top 10.
Travis Thirkettle won the companion 75-lap SPEARS Modified Series main event, beating Dylan Cappello, Jeremy Doss, Eddie Secord and Travis McCullough to the finish line.
Cole Williams was the night’s pro late model victor.
The finish:
Derek Thorn, Preston Peltier, Tayler Riddle, Jack Wood, Dylan Lupton, Linny White, Logan Bearden, Eric Schmidt, Carlos Viera, Austin Reed, Bobby Hodges, Chris Davidson, Cale Kanke, Joe Farre, Keith Spangler, Tyler Fabozzi, John Moore, Jacob Gomes, Cole Moore, Brandon Farrington, Trevor Huddleston, Scott Sanchez, Kyle Neveau, Don Zoll, Eric Holmes, Kole Raz, Joey Iest, Christian McGhee, Greg Voigt, Andy Allen, Dean Thompson.