MECHANICSVILLE, MD (May 30-June 1st, 2019) – The Thorne Racing team, consisting of Kris Thorne, PLR-Tuner Mikey Rees, Kyle Pettis, and the Thorne family, has been on a roll as of late. They scored a win earlier this year at the World Outlaw Nationals in Orlando, and they qualified #1 in Pro Boost at PDRA Virginia a few weeks ago. They came into the PDRA North vs South Shootout at Maryland International Raceway with great momentum and it showed in their performance.
Thorne’s PLR Hemi-powered C7 Corvette got the party started by qualifying #1 with a 3.68 at 216mph. Three other PLR-powered teams followed close behind, Daniel Pharris held the #4 spot with a 3.70, Roderjan Busato #5 with a 3.71, and Kevin Rivenbark #12 with a 3.77.
Unfortunately, Busato and Pharris both suffered uncharacteristic first round losses. Thorne and Rivenbark eventually met in the semifinals where Thorne got the win in a close race 3.68 at 216mph to Rivenbark’s 3.71 at 201mph.
Thorne and team faced PDRA Virginia winner Tommy D’Aprille in the final. Thorne had been deadly on the tree throughout the event and he saved the best for last. He went 3.703 at 216mph to D’Aprille’s 3.683 at 202 and took the win on a holeshot with a .007 light to Tommy’s .043.
Photo Credit: Gary Rowe - Raceworks.com
This win will go down as Thorne’s first PDRA Pro Boost victory and it puts him at #3 in the Championship points standings behind #1 Tommy D’Aprille and #2 Kevin Rivenbark. The next stop on the PDRA tour is at South Georgia Motorsports Park on June 27th-29th.