Jimmie Best wins Richie Thorbin Memorial, Grandson Richie Shepard Runs Strong for "Pops"
By Rick Anges
Bradenton, Fl. When Richie “Pops” Thorbin passed away the previous week track owner John Sarppriacone decided to rename the upcoming Pure Stock 50 lap shoot out “the Richie Thorbin Memorial 50 Lap Shoot Out”. Sarppriacone had reminisced about watching Thorbin run figure 8 races at Islip Speedway as a teen.
Thorbin had a long racing background but was mostly remembered as a Figure 8 racer. Thorbin had come within feet of winning the “World Championship” Figure 8 race but was struck in X. He is also still in the list of Top 25 all time winners at Islip.
The evening started out on a rough note as severe thunderstorms whipped through the area. The night’s events were on the verge of being called off when suddenly the rain began to move away and the skies cleared as if they were moved from above.
Richie Thorbin Memorial 50 lap Pure Stock Shoot-Out Jimmie Best roared out to the front and was running strong through out the race but the real story was behind the point leader. Richie Shepard the grandson of “Pops” was driving his grandfathers familiar purple number 30 machine. Shepard started in the middle of the pack but had the crowd cheering with each pass he made. Shepard drove like a man on a mission putting the car wherever needed to make the passes for positions all over the racetrack.
The grandstands exploded when young Shepard made the pass into the second spot and set his sites on the leader Best. He made several attempts for the top spot but each time Best was able to hold him off. A late race caution bunched the field but when the green came out smoke began to come out of the 30 car. Even though the car was losing power Shepard was able to hold on to take the second spot. On lap 49 the field pulled into the infield giving the honorary win to Richie Thorbin.
Jimmie Best was the winner and track owner Sarppriacone delared that the race would become a yearly event at the speedway. After the race an emotional Best choked back tears and said “This ones for “Pops”, God Bless Him”!
The winners circle was awash with family and friends of Richie Thorbin, Keith Thorbin said , “My car wasn’t handling very well but I finished sixth, that’s where my Dad finished last week” as the emotions flowed.
Shepard took the second spot, “I was proud to drive my Grandfathers car tonite, he was right there with me for all fifty laps” he said.
Third across the stripe was Duane “the Scott” Campbell, fourth went to Tyler Lau, and rounding out the top five coming from the rear of the field was Darrin “Icewater” Ellis.
Turner Tree and Landscape Limited Late Models 1 STEVE DORER 2 TATE PIERCE 3 STEVE GILL 4 DOUG MOFF 5 JUSTIN LARSON
International Contractors Street Stocks 1 JAMIE CASSIDY 2 WILLIAM SLACK 3 JEFF PADILLA 4 CLAY JOSEPH 5 ALEX ABBOTT
TBARA 1) 91 Dude Teate; 2) 3X Bo Hartley; 3) 00M Danny Martin Jr.; 4) 19 David Slawiak; 5) 39 Charles Ladner
Golden Corral Mod-Minis 1 RONNIE LARSON 2 CHRIS THORNTON 3 STEVE BOOTH 4 BRYAN WAGNER 5 SCOTT RANNEY
Trailer Super Center Mini-Stocks 1 DEAN BUTRUM 2 MIKE KERRIVAN 3 JON BAILEY 4 ROB STODGELL 5 ROBERT CARTER
Cowboy Caddys 1 DUANE CAMPBELL 2 JOE GAGEN 3 ANTHONY EASTON 4 LARRY BALLARD 5 CHRIS BETZ
Pyramid Employers Bombers 1 JAMES CRAWFORD JR 2 LARRY BRANNON 3 PETE BARR 4 RICK GERMONY 5 DAVID DAVIS
