Lake County Duo
Lake County ranks only 40th in population, when it comes to California counties, but two of the best Super Late Model drivers on the West Coast call the area their home. On Saturday, August 18th, those two drivers will once again face off with each other, when the Spears Srl Southwest Tour Series heads to The New Stockton 99 Speedway for the “SPEARS Southwest Tour 125 presented by 51 FIFTY Energy Drink“. It is the closest destination for the “Tour” to Lake County, on the 2018 schedule, and it will be a great opportunity to see Derek Thorn and Jeremy Doss face off against 20 other SRL competitors in round six of nine.
Both Doss and Thorn lead the championship standings in two of the West Coast’s most competitive series. Doss leads the standings in the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series, while Thorn is currently tied for the championship lead in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Series. Both drivers have two victories in the SRL, with Thorn participating in a partial schedule.
Both drivers are looking forward to participating in front of many of their hometown fans. For Thorn, it will be his first start at Stockton 99 Speedway since 2014, when he finished sixth. Prior to that, Thorn had accounted for three SRL victories as well as a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West win, in his championship season of 2013. This event wasn’t on Thorn’s original schedule, but the Campbell Motorsports Team decided to make the trip to the Central Valley track to compete for another win.
“I haven’t raced in Stockton in what seems like forever”, Thorn told the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series. “The toughest part about Stockton is keeping your fenders on the car, and staying out of trouble. I am hoping to keep the #43 in one piece and be in contention for the win at the end.”
Doss has also had his fair share of success at the historic quarter mile oval. He has two SRL victories as well as three Pacific Challenge Series wins. But for Doss, he hasn’t tasted victory at the well known track since the beginning of 2015. The two-time SRL Championship Runner-up and two-time PCS Champion has placed in the top three, in each event he has finished, but has been unable close the deal as of late.
Doss would love nothing more than to end that streak, and claim the $5,000 winner’s share, thanks to McGunegill Engine Performance. He will have to deal with four-time SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Champion Derek Thorn, as well as four other Super Late Model Touring Series Champions. The field currently consists of 13 drivers with Super Late Model Touring Series victories. The Lake County Duo will have their work cut out for them on August 18.
