‘This Is Everything’ Gus Dean Takes Home A Wild ARCA Season Opener At Daytona

Gus Dean triumphantly clinched the checkered flag in a thrilling rollercoaster of a season opener at the Daytona International Speedway for the ARCA Menards Series.

Navigating through the chaos of the superspeedway, Dean’s victory held special significance as he dedicated it to his grandfather, a tribute that added layers of emotion to his triumph.

“I started racing when I was four years old at a tiny little dirt track in south Georgia. It’s been a whole lot of miles, a whole lot of work, and a whole lot of people behind me…For a small-town kid from Bluffton, SC this is everything,” the driver said post-race.

The win for the No. 55 car came dramatically, with a last-lap crash affecting not only Dean’s teammate Jake Finch but also involving other drivers like Andy Jankowiak, and Andres Perez, among others.

Here is the last lap of the ARCA race that collected drivers like Jake Finch, Andres Perez, Andy Jankowiak, and others.#ARCAMenards https://t.co/PYrW9LkY3Z

— Ben Branscum (The New/Real One) (@benbranscum) February 17, 2024

Notably, this victory marked the 100th win for Venturini Motorsports in the ARCA Menards Series, underscoring the team’s enduring legacy in the sport.

However, amidst the celebrations, tensions simmered within the Venturini camp, as fellow teammate Toni Breidinger criticized Dean following a major pileup on lap three that also impacted her and teammate Amber Balcaen, resulting in Breidinger finishing in 37th place.

Toni Breidinger was NOT happy with Gus Dean after that lap 4 crash. She says that move is probably why Dean wasn’t in a truck earlier tonight. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/7hhwIavWYA

— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) February 17, 2024

In a standout performance, Thomas Annunziata secured an impressive second-place finish in his debut ARCA Menards Series race, expressing satisfaction with his achievement while also harboring aspirations for a higher position.

“I’ve never done this before. So I’m happy to get the result that we got,” he said post-race.

Greg Van Alst, last year’s winner, showcased immense resilience but fell just short of victory, settling for third place after a hard-fought battle. Christian Rose and Tim Richmond rounded out the top five, each delivering solid performances.

Gil Linster’s remarkable recovery from an earlier slide in turn three into a seventh-place finish, marking an impressive debut in the ARCA series, while Alex Clubb secured eighth place, bringing home his fourth career top 10.

Despite an early setback in the form of a major crash, Amber Balcaen displayed sheer determination, staging a remarkable comeback to claim ninth place, underscoring her tenacity and skill on the track.

While some felt excitement and joy, others were mired in disappointment and defeat. The most notable going to Willie Mullins and the Mullins Racing team.

After a tough offseason, they were able to come out and sit the No. 3 machine on the pole, only to get caught up in a late-race incident. Destroying their car and coming home 28th.

Another big crash brings out the red flag on Lap 64.@DAYTONA | @FS1 pic.twitter.com/jyQHQUBNrw

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) February 17, 2024

The ARCA Menards Series heads west next to Phoenix Raceway on March 8th. You can catch the race live on FS1.