Gus Dean Returns to Twitty’s Mud Bog as Most Recent Mud Truck Winner
ULMER, S.C.: Sweltering temperatures may be in the forecast for Ulmer, South Carolina, this weekend, but Mud Truck veteran Gus Dean expects the competition to be even hotter as Twitty’s Mud Bog launches its 2026 season with another action-packed day of mud-slinging excitement sanctioned by the Southern Mud Outlaw Series.
Dean and his team will make the trek to the iconic South Carolina venue eager to kick off Twitty’s Mud Bog’s 2026 season on a high note after an offseason spent fine-tuning Vengeance and preparing for another year of fierce Mud Truck competition.
Known for its challenging mud pits and passionate fanbase, Twitty’s Mud Bog traditionally attracts some of the sport’s toughest competitors, setting the stage for an intense opening weekend where consistency, reliability and horsepower will all be put to the test.
For Dean, however, the focus remains simple: execute a clean weekend, put together competitive passes and give his team an opportunity to contend for a victory.
“There’s always a lot of excitement heading into the first race of the season because you really don’t know where everybody stacks up until the trucks hit the pit,” said Dean. “We’ve put in a lot of work in the truck since the most recent race and I’m proud of what our team has accomplished. The goal is to be consistent, make smart decisions and put ourselves in position to be there when it counts.
“Twitty’s always puts on a great show, and we can’t wait to get back in front of the fans and kick off another season for them.”
Late last month, Dean made the trip to Historic 441 Speedway in Dublin, Georgia, where he once again showcased the speed and potential of his fan-favorite Mega Truck, Vengeance.
Unfortunately, just as the team appeared poised to contend for a strong finish, a mechanical issue brought their day to a premature end.
While the team was unable to bring home the hardware, the disappointment did little to dampen the spirits of Dean and his crew. Instead, it only fueled their determination as they return to Twitty’s Mud Bog with redemption on their minds and a little extra “Vengeance” ready to take on the competition in the track’s season-opening event on Saturday.
Twitty’s Mud Bog has been kind to Dean in recent years, and he’ll look to draw on that success again this weekend. Last November, the Bluffton, S.C., native completed a Mega Truck season sweep at the popular South Carolina venue, punctuating the accomplishment with a dramatic final-round victory after improving his second run by seven-tenths of a second and edging close friend Tristan Adams by a mere 0.097 seconds.
Now, with another opportunity to return to victory lane, Dean and the Vengeance team are eager to put recent mechanical frustrations behind them and add another memorable chapter to their impressive history at Twitty’s Mud Bog.
“Twitty’s has been a really good place for us over the last couple of years, and we’d love nothing more than to keep that going this weekend,” added Dean. “Winning there last year was special, but once you unload, none of that matters. Everybody starts from scratch, and the competition just keeps getting tougher.
“We had a tough break at Historic 441 with the mechanical issue, but that’s part of racing. It didn’t shake our confidence one bit. If anything, it made us even more motivated to get back out there and show what this team is capable of. I know what Vengeance can do, I know the people we have behind us, and if we execute the way we’re capable of, I like our chances of being right there when it matters most.”
Saturday’s action at Twitty’s Mud Bog is expected to once again deliver an unforgettable show, with Mega Trucks and multiple classes of competition set to entertain fans from across the region in one of South Carolina’s premier mud racing destinations.
For Dean and the Vengeance team, another encouraging development comes under the hood. Continuing its partnership with Wicked Racing Engines, the respected engine-building operation led by fellow competitor Duke Bohanon, Dean will once again rely on a combination known throughout the Mud Truck community for its reliability, attention to detail and championship-caliber performance.
With renewed confidence in the package and redemption squarely in their sights, Dean hopes the horsepower provided by Wicked Racing Engines will propel Vengeance back into contention and add another chapter to his impressive legacy at Twitty’s Mud Bog.
Whether competing on asphalt or slinging mud, Dean continues to demonstrate the versatility and competitive drive that have made him a fan favorite throughout his racing career.
As the 2026 campaign rolls on, his focus remains unchanged: adding another victory to an already impressive résumé while continuing to build momentum and adding another chapter behind the wheel of Vengeance.
“Duke has been in my corner for a long time, and the relationship we’ve built means a lot to me,” said Dean. “It’s more than just horsepower — it’s trust, hard work and knowing you’ve got people who care as much about your success as you do.
“The guys at Wicked Racing Engines give us everything we need to be competitive, and that’s all you can ask for as a driver. We’ve got a lot of confidence heading into this weekend, and hopefully we can reward everyone who’s put so much into this program by putting Vengeance back in contention.”
While Dean’s primary focus this weekend is chasing another trip to the victory podium at Twitty’s Mud Bog, he also remains committed to helping the sport continue evolving in a positive direction.
A longtime advocate for improved driver safety, Dean has used his experience competing at some of motorsports’ highest levels to encourage greater awareness of cockpit protection, quality safety equipment and ongoing education throughout the Mud Truck community.
As the sport continues to grow and attract larger fields and bigger crowds, he believes safety should evolve right alongside it.
“I love seeing the sport grow because the fans and competitors are what make Mud Truck racing so special,” said Dean. “At the same time, I’d love to see us continue raising the bar when it comes to safety. You never want to take away from what makes this sport exciting, but there’s always room to make things safer without changing what people love about it.
“I’ve been fortunate to race in a lot of different disciplines, and I’ve seen firsthand how investing in better equipment and preparation can make a difference. If sharing some of those experiences helps even one driver or one family, then it’s absolutely worth having those conversations.”
As the engines roar to life and the mud begins to fly at Twitty’s Mud Bog on Saturday, Dean will once again climb behind the wheel of Vengeance, looking to add another chapter to his already impressive legacy at one of the Palmetto State’s most iconic mud racing destinations.
Bolstered by past success at Twitty’s Mud Bog, strong performances in ARCA Menards Series competition and an unwavering determination to turn recent frustrations into redemption, Dean enters Saturday with one goal in mind: putting Vengeance back where it belongs — atop the victory podium.
Following his Twitty’s Mud Bog run, Dean will continue chasing wins throughout the summer stretch of Mud Truck competition while also looking to expand his 2026 schedule with opportunities across other motorsports platforms along the way.
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).