ARCA Statement.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 19, 2016) – ARCA’s most recent first-time winner Gus Dean will be back behind the wheel of the No. 98 Mason Mitchell Motorsports Chevrolet this weekend at Toledo Speedway in the Menards 200.
Dean won the General Tire 200 at Talladega last time out. While both of Dean’s ARCA starts have come on superspeedways in 2016, the Bluffton, South Carolina native is no stranger to racing on short tracks.
He has one win in the former X-1R Pro Cup Series at the Memphis International Raceway in 2014. The 21-year-old has most recently raced in the CARS Tour making nine starts in the last two seasons.
“I love short track racing; it’s my roots,” said Dean. “We’ve been talking about running a short track ARCA race this season, but Toledo wasn’t on the radar. Things happen for a reason. I’m so comfortable at Mason Mitchell Motorsports and I’ve really embraced the team.
“They treat me like family and it means the world to me. Of course, we’re going for another win on Sunday, but we’re trying to keep our goals realistic of contending for a top-five finish. We would be satisfied with that.”
Mason Mitchell Motorsports has enjoyed success at Toledo. Car owner Mason Mitchell holds the track record and finished runner-up in the 2014 edition of the Menards 200.
“Gus and I have become close friends,” Mitchell said. “We see eye-to-eye on a lot and he’s proven that he’s a very capable and talented driver. I’m looking forward to having him back in our No. 98 MMM Chevrolet this weekend and who knows maybe we’ll make it two-in-a-row on Sunday.”
Dean will be racing Sunday in the same car that Mitchell drove to victory lane at the Iowa Speedway last July. MMM also won last year at Winchester Speedway with Austin Wayne Self.
Dean and Mitchell will stop by WTOL 11 on Sunday before the race and be on the “This Morning Sunday Edition” show at 7:45 a.m. to discuss the Menards 200 and the win at Talladega.
This weekend marks the first of five live television broadcasts for the American Sports Network. Fans seeking to find local ASN affiliates can do so by visiting AmericanSportsNet.com and clicking on the schedule button at the top of the home page. Click on the ARCA Racing Series Menards 200 in the schedule, insert your zip code under “Find your station,” and submit. If the station is not in your viewing area, you can go to their website and stream the Menards 200 beginning at 2:00 p.m. EST Sunday.
Chassis: Dean will pilot chassis No. 589 out of the MMM stable. This will mark the car’s first on-track appearance of 2016. The chassis raced most recently at the Salem Fall Classic last fall. The chassis has 10 starts, earning one win, eight top-fives and eight top-10s. The chassis also has seven top-three finishes.
Autographs Anyone? Fans will have the opportunity to meet and greet Gus Dean Sunday during the drivers on-track autograph session, which will run from 12:00-1:00 p.m.
ARCA Racing Series on-track activities begin Saturday, May 21 with two practice sessions from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m. Menards Pole Qualifying presented by Ansell follows at 3:30. Saturday’s action will conclude with feature race events for the ARCA Truck Series and the ARCA-sanctioned Sportsman division. Raceday Sunday gets underway with an on-track driver autograph session from 12 noon to 1:00. Pre-race ceremonies and driver introductions follow. The Menards 200 is scheduled to start at 2:00.
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