BREAKING NEWS: Derek Ramstrom could run remainder of Camping World slate

THOMPSON, Conn. -- Derek Ramstrom's race schedule may have just gotten a whole lot busier.

Ramstrom, who finished 18th in his Camping World East Series debut on Saturday, confirmed that he has the opportunity to run the remainder of the series schedule this season as a teammate to former Sprint Cup Series driver Steve Park.

"Yeah," Ramstrom said when asked if he's had discussions with car owner Bob Torriere. "We have."

The 17-year-old from West Boylston, Mass., currently competes full-time on the PASS North Series and in the Thompson International Speedway weekly Super Late Model ranks. Prior to making is Camping World East debut on Saturday, he won the 75-lap PASS North event.

He encountered trouble in the Camping World East race, though, when he spun in someone else's oil and later was caught in a domino-effect crash on lap 66 that ended his night.

That accident could have hurt his chances to get back in the No. 53 again this season.

"(Torriere) said if I wreck it, I'm done," Ramstrom said. "So, I don't know. I've got to talk to him."

Ramstrom is expected to run all four remaining Camping World East events this season, including Adirondack Speedway, Lime Rock Park, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Dover International Speedway.

Ramstrom qualified 9th in the 22-car field at Thompson. Park, who finished second after leading a race-high 76 laps, won the pole for the main event. He has two career wins in the series, but none since 1996. He entered the night sixth in the standings this year with no top-5 finishes in six previous starts.

"It's tough competing with the best of the best," Ramstrom said of the debut. "They have the best equipment. To come in the first time with this car, it's tough, but I tried my best."

-- TRAVIS BARRETT, GWC Editor

 

Comments

[Mike Allen]

Don't know who was coaching Ramstrom over the radio, but I doubt they did the kid's self-esteem much good. Telling him he drives like a girl? Real constructive stuff.

And you're being generous, Travis, when you say he "was caught in a domino-effect crash." Not that I blame you -- he seems like a good kid. But he hit a stopped car remarkably late. What I didn't hear, though, was any good direction from his spotter regarding the situation on the track.

I hope Derek gets another shot -- and some better help on the radio.

From TB:

Maybe I was being "generous." I simply wanted to point out that it wasn't as though he wrecked, nor was he wrecked by someone else.

He just hit into a wreck that had happened in front of him.

[sonny]

you got to remember that the camping world cars are alot heavier and narrower then what derek is accostumed to with his pass cars. The camping world cars brakes don't respond nearly what the pass ones do, that may attribute to his hitting the car later.

[PhilB]

This kids father is over the top. He constantly berates the kid and uses language that would embarrass a Marine. I've heard the racial slurs repeatedly ,too.... He belittles everyone ,including his own son. Listen to him on the scanner sometime, you'll see what I mean. It's no wonder that Mike Rowe punched him in the mouth ,at Wiscasset last year.

[JustAProStockFan]

Listening to some of these spotters over the radio is always a joy.

[Mike Allen]

I don't know who was doing the talking on Ramstrom's radio, but I did think they were being incredibly demeaning to the kid. Very little constructive instruction -- just tearing him down.

I kept thinking, Man, I hope the kid tells whoever is saying all this stuff that they need to get their OWN @ss in a car and try it for themselves.

Didn't hear any racial slurs, and I'm grateful. Oddly enough, the one time I heard the "f word," the speaker apologized right away.

PhilB, if the dad is as bad as you say, it's a shame. Derek's a good racer... I'd hate to see his career held back because of the people around him.

[GWC]

One note of clarification here:

Rick Ramstrom is not his son's spotter.

[Crash]

Maybe Ranstrom's mother is his spotter...