A Decade Later, Gus Dean Hungry for Another Talladega Superspeedway Win
TALLADEGA, Ala. When Gus Dean learned that Saturday’s Alabama Manufactured Housing 200 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway marked the 10-year anniversary of his first ARCA Menards Series win, it brought an immediate smile to the three-time winner.
“Man, time flies,” said Dean.
In 2016, Talladega Superspeedway initially wasn’t on the map for the Bluffton, S.C. native, but when his ARCA Menards Series debut at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway earlier that year didn’t go as planned, but his family and marketing partners were determined to give it one more shot.
The roll of the dice paid off, with Dean scoring his first career ARCA victory in just his second start, outdueling Josh Williams, who was also seeking his first win at the daunting 2.66-mile superspeedway.
As a rookie, Dean leaned on his team’s experience and guidance from Cup Series winning spotter Tyler Green to learn the ins and outs of superspeedway racing. The coaching from pit road and atop the track helped Dean look like a seasoned veteran rather than a 21-year-old rookie, qualifying on the outside pole and leading 21 laps en route to the life-changing triumph.
Dean’s victory — and the exposure it generated for his marketing partner at the time — led to five additional races during the 2016 season. He went on to compete full-time in 2017 and 2018, then graduated to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series full-time in 2019.
Since then, Dean has made select starts in the ARCA Menards Series nearly every year, with 2025 being the lone exception. Returning to the famed Alabama superspeedway, Dean would love to rekindle the magic of April 29, 2016, and deliver Nitro Motorsports its first superspeedway victory.
“Man, it’s crazy to think it’s been 10 years since that first win,” said Dean. “Talladega has always meant a lot to me because it’s where everything really started and really changed my career. Coming back here now, you definitely think about those moments, but at the same time, you’re focused on making new ones.
“I know what it takes to win at Talladega, and this place is all about putting yourself in the right spot at the right time. Superspeedway racing is unpredictable, but I feel like we’ve got the right group with Nitro Motorsports and the right mindset to go out there and contend.
“If we execute and stay out of trouble, there’s no reason we can’t be in the mix at the end — and Talladega changed my life once, so there’s no reason it can’t do it again.”
Dean put himself in position to score his fourth ARCA Menards Series win in the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in February after starting from the pole.
He found himself battling Nitro Motorsports teammate Jake Finch on the front row in the closing laps when an overaggressive push from another competitor turned Finch directly into the path of Dean’s No. 25 Toyota, eliminating both contenders in the final laps of the race.
Knowing his Nitro Motorsports team — led by veteran crew chief Shane Wilson — is bringing another fast No. 25 CAB Installers — Wicked Racing Engines Toyota to the track, Dean is eager to finish what he started at Daytona.
With the starting format differing from Daytona, Dean will line up for Saturday’s race based on his 2026 ARCA Menards Series owner points standings.
Starting mid-pack in 15th, Dean will lean on his veteran experience and the guidance of Cup Series spotter Chris Lambert — who works with future NASCAR Hall of Famer Denny Hamlin — to navigate traffic efficiently and position himself for another Talladega Superspeedway victory.
“Chris is one of the best in the business,” offered Dean. “I trust him completely. He knows what I need from a driver’s standpoint and our communication is strong.
“This isn’t our first rodeo in this starting format, but it can be a little tricky working through the traffic. I’m going to take my time and make the right decisions to put us near the front as quickly as possible.”
Over the past decade, Dean has quietly established himself as one of the premier superspeedway racers in the ARCA Menards Series, building a reputation as one of the discipline’s most respected competitors at tracks like Daytona and Talladega.
His ability to read the draft, navigate the rhythm of pack racing and make calculated decisions in high-pressure moments has made him a perennial contender, while his knack for staying out of trouble and positioning himself when it matters most has become a calling card. It’s a craft he has continued to refine throughout his 10 years of competition, keeping him in the mix year after year.
The results back it up. In eight previous ARCA Menards Series starts at Talladega, Dean has finished no worse than 16th and carries an average finish of 6.5, highlighted by four top-five and six top-10 efforts.
“I’ve always felt comfortable at Talladega,” explained Dean. “It’s a place where experience really matters, knowing when to be aggressive and when to be patient. Over the years, I’ve learned how to read the runs and keep ourselves out of trouble while putting ourselves in position at the end.
“You can’t control everything here, but if you make smart decisions and keep yourself in the right spot, you give yourself a shot. With the experience I’ve built, I feel like I know what it takes to be in the mix, and if we execute like we’re capable of, we should be right there.”
Ahead of his 72nd career start in the ARCA Menards Series, Dean’s No. 25 Nitro Motorsports Toyota will carry support from CAB Installers, Wicked Racing Engines, Impact Racing and Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen and disabled service members.
The partnership adds additional meaning to Dean’s return to Talladega, as the team looks to honor those who have sacrificed while competing on one of the sport’s grandest stages.
In 71 career ARCA Menards Series starts, Dean has earned three poles, three victories, 22 top-five and 41 top-10 finishes entering his ninth series start at Talladega Superspeedway.
For more on Gus Dean, please visit GusDean.com, like him on Facebook (Gus Dean Racing) and follow him on Instagram (@GusDean) and X | Twitter (@GusDean).
For more information on Nitro Motorsports, please contact Nick Tucker via email HERE or visit them online at RaceNitro.com.
The Alabama Manufactured Housing 200 (80 laps | 200 miles) is the fourth of 20 races on the 2026 ARCA Menards Series schedule. Practice begins Friday, April 24, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT. The race is scheduled to take the green flag the following morning, April 25, shortly after 11:30 a.m. CT. (12:30 p.m. ET). The continuation of the 74th season of ARCA competition will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), with the Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90 handling the radio waves. ARCARacing.com will also stream live timing and scoring throughout the entire weekend festivities. All times are local (CT).
About Nitro Motorsports:
Nitro Motorsports is a multi-platform professional racing organization competing in Club and National-level karting, the ARCA Menards Series, the Trans Am Series Presented by Pirelli and Toyota GR Cup North America.
With a proven foundation in driver development and technical excellence, Nitro Motorsports provides one of the most complete talent pipelines in North American motorsports.
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