Gus Dean celebrates after scoring his first ARCA Racing Series victory Friday at Talladega Superspeedway. Photo: ARCA Media
Bluffton, South Carolina rookie Gus Dean had just enough momentum to inch ahead of Josh Williams when it counted most to win the action packed ARCA General Tire 200 Friday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway.
Dean, in the No. 98 GREE-Cab Installers Chevrolet, powered ahead of Williams down the backstretch just as the final caution came out for a multi-car crash behind the leaders. With weather approaching, accompanied by lightning, series officials put a period on the race two laps shy of the intended finish. The margin of victory – about two feet.
It was quite a turn around for Dean, who was part of a multi-car wreck in the opening laps at Daytona, his only other ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards start.
“For such a build up to that race at Daytona…it was such a heartbreak to go out that way,” Dean said.
“I’m just so grateful for my sponsors GREE and Cab Installers. They took a chance on me and allowed me to come back and take another shot at this. I can’t thank Mason Mitchell Motorsports enough. No one is more meticulous when it comes to building race cars…piece by piece…he’s such a pro. It’s such a privilege to have a past ARCA champion as my driver coach. He’s really helped me through the learning process.”
When the race was over, both Dean and Williams circled the speedway side by side while series officials determined who was ahead at the exact moment the caution lights came on.
“Initially, I heard on the radio that Josh Williams had won the race. But we felt very strongly that we were ahead at that moment. We asked for a review. Those moments felt like hours to me.”
Williams was credited with the second finishing position after leading six laps.
“We had a really fast race car today,” Williams said. “We thought we were ahead at that moment, but that’s not the way the officials saw it. Toledo’s next up…we’ll just go win there. This is still really big for us. This is a little family-owned team…low budget deal. When you look at what we have compared to most everyone else, it’s very humbling. Thanks to Musselman’s for their help. We’re going to win some more this year…I guarantee it.”
Chase Briscoe finished third and unofficially took over the points lead after previous points leader John Wes Townley cut a right-front tire after making contact early on with Bobby Gerhart. Townley finished 29th.
“It was definitely intense out there,” Briscoe said. “There was a lot of four-wide racing. We got out of line early in the race and fell back but Will (Kimmel) got behind us and got us back up there…got us back in contention. It was a really good points day for us. Last year I was here volunteering for Cunningham Motorsports. Briggs Cunningham and Kerry Scherer (team owners) took a chance on me and here I am. I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity.”
Tom Hessert led the most laps (23), but got shuffled back late in the race. The Cherry Hill, New Jersey driver battled back to finish fourth.
Will Kimmel was also a factor all day, leading 16 laps before settling into the fifth finishing position.
Dalton Sargeant, Sean Corr, Matt Kurzejewski, Shane Lee and Bret Holmes rounded out the top ten.
Dean led 21 laps to Hessert’s 23, making just one pit stop for fuel only.
“That’s all we needed was gas because these General Tires are just as good on the last lap as they are on the first. These are, bar none, the very best tires I’ve ever raced on. With the General Tires, you can race from start to finish and go as hard as you want to.”
Bo LeMastus led eight laps but was part of a multi-car wreck, also on the backstretch that also involved George Cushman and Terry Jones. The multi-car wreck that prompted the finish included the cars of Dustin Knowles, Bobby Gerhart, Mark Thompson and Korbin Forrister. There were no injuries.
The next event for the ARCA Racing Series is the Menards 200 at Toledo Speedway May 22.
ARCA Racing Series
Talladega Superspeedway – Talladega, AL
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1. Gus Dean
2. Josh Williams
3. Chase Briscoe
4. Will Kimmel
5. Sean Corr
6. Tom Hessert
7. Dalton Sargeant
8. Matt Kurzejewski
9. Bret Holmes
10. Brady Boswell
11. Shane Lee
12. Kyle Weatherman
13. Brett Hudson
14. Sheldon Creed
15. Bryan Dauzat
16. Thomas Praytor
17. Willie Mullins
18. Ed Pompa
19. Mark Thompson
20. Bobby Gerhart
21. Dustin Knowles
22. Korbin Forrister
23. Gene Paul
24. Brad Smith
25. Bobby Hamilton, Jr.
26. Bo LeMastus
27. George Cushman
28. Terry Jones
29. John Wes Townley
30. Tyler Audie
31. Andy Seuss
32. Brandon Lynn
33. Joey Gattina
34. Richard Doheny
35. Tim Viens
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