For the first time since 2018, Gus Dean found victory lane, as the Venturini Motorsports driver won the ARCA Menards Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
Dean avoided a last-lap wreck and crossed the finish line, as one of the few cars not involved, to claim the checkered flag.
“It might not be the [Daytona] 500, it might not be the biggest race,” Dean said to Fox Sports 1. “But, it is the biggest coliseum, and for a small town kid from Bluffton, South Carolina, this is everything,”
Behind Dean, Thomas Annunziata finished runner up in his series debut with 2023 winner Greg Van Alst coming across the line third. Christian Rose finished fourth and outside polesitter Tim Richmond in fifth.
Jason Kitzmiller, Gil Listner, Alex Clubb, Amber Balcaen and Andy Jankowiak rounded out the top 10, in order.
After a day full of forecasted rain on Saturday moved the race to Friday (Feb. 17) evening, the green flag finally waved just before 11:30 p.m. ET after a lengthy NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race.
As the green flag waved, Willie Mullins jumped out to an early lead, as the bottom line got the better jump on the initial start. Mullins held that lead for the first four laps, but as the field worked lap 5, the big one struck in the trioval. Toni Breidinger spun after contact with VMS teammate Dean. The wreck involved a plethora of cars, including Shane Van Gisbergen, Tanner Gray and Kris Wright.
“I’m trying to be nice, and the No. 55 is my teammate, but it’s unnecessary so early to make a move like that,” Breidinger told Fox Sports 1. “He just has a lack of respect.”
On the lap 10 restart, Jake Finch rode a push from Richmond down the backstretch to take the lead away from Mullins, clearing him as the field got back to the start/finish line. The green flag run wouldn’t last long, however, as a debris caution flew shortly after. Finch retained the lead on the subsequent restart as the field quickly strung out single file behind him. Mandy Chick brought the caution out again soon after, as her No. 74 came to rest on the backstretch after contact with the outside wall. The field took the green again on lap 22, but it was short lived, as Rose spun in the trioval on lap 24, bringing out another yellow.
After the leaders pitted under the yellow flag, Ryan Huff assumed the lead for the lap 29 restart. Huff and Sean Corr ran…
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