DAYTONA BEACH, Fl (January 14,2022): Two-time ARCA Menards Series winner Gus Dean (@gusdean) is returning to the ARCA Menards Series in 2022 and will join the potent Venturini Motorsports in a minimum three-race deal beginning with the season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Feb. 19, 2022.

A competitor in the ARCA Menards Series since 2016, the Bluffton, S.C.-native returns to the “World Center of Racing” for a sixth time focused on delivering Venturini Motorsports their fifth consecutive ARCA triumph at the 2.5-mile superspeedway aboard the No. 55 Toyota Camry.

Dean scored his first career ARCA Menards Series victory in just his second start at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in 2016 but has been cursed at Daytona over a period of five previous races and is hopeful that the opportunity to “Fly the V” will prove to be the cure and deliver his third career ARCA victory.

“I am very excited about this opportunity to join Venturini Motorsports at Daytona,” said Dean. “Ever since I’ve been competing at ARCA, Venturini Motorsports has proven to be a dominant fixture in the series, especially on the superspeedways.

“To have the chance to pilot one of their Toyota Camrys, work closely with their dedicated and experienced crew and be surrounded by great teammates is sure to bring all the emotions of when I first joined the ARCA Menards Series. I’m just thankful to be a part of the team’s superspeedway lineup this season and look forward to putting myself in contention for the victory.”

Venturini Motorsports’ Billy Venturini has been wanting to add Dean to his driver roster for years and is thankful that the opportunity presented itself for the 2022 season.

“It’s great to have Gus with us,” said Venturini. “We’ve been racing with him as a competitor for years and it’s great to finally have him under our banner this year. With his experience and Venturini Motorsports success at superspeedways, we believe we have a wonderful chance at getting to Victory Lane!”

Added Dean, “While we have been fierce competitors on the track, I have always had the utmost respect for Billy, Mr. Bill Venturini and the entire Venturini Motorsports team. Not having the chance right now to race in a premier series on a weekly basis, I have to make the most of any opportunity and being a part of Venturini Motorsports provides me a shot to not only have fun, but hopefully that opportunity to experience the bliss and emotions of celebrating in Victory Lane again.”

In addition to Daytona, Dean will return to ARCA competition with Venturini Motorsports at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April and at Michigan International Speedway in August.
The 27-year-old South Carolinian is poised to have a busy 2022 season between ARCA, Late Models, Mud Truck Racing and a hopeful sporadic appearance or two in one of NASCAR’s National Series.

“With no championship on the line for me this season, it’s about having fun,” sounded Dean. “Whether that’s competing with Venturini Motorsports in ARCA, DLP Motorsports in Late Model competition or the other racing endeavors we have planned for this season. Of course, the urge to still compete full-time is there, but it takes marketing partners and a lot of financial commitment to make it happen.

“Until we can hopefully put ourselves back into that position again, we’ll take the path that has been laid out before me and make the most of it. Venturini Motorsports is going for an unprecedented fifth straight ARCA victory at Daytona and I want to be that driver that gets it done for them!”

Before Dean buckles in at Daytona, he will have a busy week leading up to the 2022 ARCA season opener, as he’ll also be competing at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway in the highly contested World Series of Asphalt driving for DLP Motorsports.

Dean will kick off his new tenure with Venturini Motorsports by competing in the open ARCA Menards Series test at Daytona on January 14 – 15, 2022.

A sponsorship lineup for the Feb. 19 Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire for Dean will be announced later.

For more on Gus Dean, please visit GusDean.com, like him on Facebook (Gus Dean Racing) and follow him on Twitter (@GusDean).

January 13, 2022 (Concord, NC) – Toyota Racing Development’s Venturini Motorsports (VMS) announced today the selection of 22-year-old female athlete, Toni Breidinger, as the full-time driver for the No.25 Toyota Camry for NASCAR’s upcoming 2022 ARCA Menards Series season.

Possessing the talent and dynamic personality needed on and off the racetrack, Breidinger’s racing career has been trending upward leading to her first full-season opportunity in the ARCA Menards Series. Setting her sights on reaching the highest ranks of NASCAR, Breidinger’s tireless efforts are sharply focused on honing her skills both behind the wheel and mentally for this next stage in her career.

“This is a proud moment not only for me but also my family. I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to run my first full season in NASCAR’s ARCA with Venturini Motorsports and Toyota,” said the first Arab American female driver to compete in NASCAR.

“I’ve worked a lifetime to get to this point in my career. It’s taken a lot of hard work and support from countless people. Racing is a business. It takes more than just desire. I truly cannot thank my supporters and business partners enough for believing and providing the support to get me to this stage. There’s still a lot of work ahead but I’m ready to get this season started at Daytona.”

Ready to embark on her highly anticipated 2022 racing campaign next month on racing’s brightest stage, Daytona International Speedway, Breidinger carries support from Hairclub, and Pit Viper Sunglasses.

Breidinger became the first Arab American female driver in NASCAR in 2021 with her Daytona debut. With 12-career starts in ARCA’s premier touring series, Breidinger has earned three top-10 finishes in limited action. Breidinger also carries the notable label as the first minority driver to achieve this level without going through NASCAR’s diversity program.

Moving up through the ranks in motorsports, she grabbed attention early on competing in the United States Automobile Club (USAC), with 19 victories. Transitioning in her late teens from open wheel midgets to stock cars, Breidinger’s relentless efforts are paying dividends.

Serving as Toyota Racing Development’s (TRD) official driver development program, VMS possesses a rich tradition of winning in the ARCA Menards Series with over 75 wins and two national championships. Also best known for their success preparing tomorrow’s future NASCAR stars for the spotlight at the highest level of the sport.

Breidinger and VMS will begin their quest at Daytona International Speedway in the series’ season opener Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire on Saturday, February 19. The race will air live on FS1 and Fox Sports App beginning at 1:30pm EST.

Follow Toni Breidinger on all her social media channels on Instagram @tonibreidinger, on Twitter @ToniBreidinger, on TikTok @tonibreidinger, and Facebook @ToniBreidingerRacing.

January 12, 2022 (Concord, NC) – Long-time ARCA Menards Series veteran driver, Tom Hessert, will make his long-anticipated return to the seat with Venturini Motorsports for three short track events in 2022. Earning the reputation as a tenacious short track competitor, Hessert returns with a tailor made schedule at Berlin Raceway, Elko Speedway and Lucas Oil Raceway.

A mainstay fixture and respected personality on tour with the ARCA Menards Series from 2007 to 2018, Hessert has compiled 186 career series starts. Finishing a career best, runner-up, in ARCA’s 2016 National Championship points standings, the second-generation driver from Cherry Hill, NJ has turned nearly 25,000 laps and accomplished 6 series wins, 55 top-5 finishes and 111 top-10 finishes.

With a lifetime of racing seemingly in his rear-view mirror, Hessert left the track in 2018 to resume his day-to-day life raising his four young children with his wife while running day-to-day operations for his family’s north Philadelphia auto dealership.

“So yeah, It’s been a minute since I was in the seat,” said Hessert laughingly when asked about coming back to the track after four years. “Our last full season was 2016 and after that we ran a couple of partial seasons. Since then, my focus has been on being a dad and growing my family with my amazing wife Meghan.”

“This whole idea kinda just came together back in September when I was talking with Billy (Venturini) about Lucas Oil being back on the ARCA schedule and how I’d love to go back one more time. Indianapolis is one of my favorite places. And after we made the decision to run, we started looking further up the schedule and found a few more races we thought would help knock off the rust,” added Hessert.

“I definitely miss the racing and being competitive, but getting back to the track and seeing everyone in the garage is going to be special. As far as the racing, there are some unknowns after being away for so long, I just know were gonna make the most of it and have some fun.”

Hessert has made 18 starts combined throughout his career at Berlin, Elko and Lucas Oil tallying 9 top-5’s and 17 top-10 finishes. By the numbers, Hessert padded his career stats racing short tracks which account for 64% of both his career top-5 (35) and top-10 (71) totals. All but one of his victories came via the bullring, with his only non-short track event win at Talladega Superspeedway in 2014.

Tom Hessert will make his return to the track in the ARCA Menards Series at Berlin Raceway on June 18. The race will air LIVE on MAVTV beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Follow Hessert on social media on Twitter @TomHessert, and Facebook @tom.hessert.3.

Concord, NC (January 10, 2022) – Venturini Motorsports (VMS) announced today the resigning of 20-year American sports car driver, Parker Chase, to a ten-race deal for the upcoming ARCA race season. Chase, the 2018 Pirelli World Challenge Champion will continue his stock car development after a successful debut with Toyota Racing Development’s (TRD) VMS in the ARCA Menards Series in 2021.

Coming out of the Lone Star state, Chase will pilot the No.15 Toyota Camry for nine events in the series’ premier division; the ARCA Menards Series along with a sole effort in the ARCA West Series. Beginning with the ARCA Menards Series season opener at the famed Daytona International Speedway on February 19, Chase will test his skills on a mix of short tracks, road courses and superspeedways including Phoenix, Talladega, Charlotte, Mid-Ohio, Pocono, Watkins-Glen, Kansas and Bristol.

“I’m excited more and more as the season approaches. I grew up watching NASCAR races at places like Daytona, Talladega and Pocono, and now I’ve got my chance to compete on those same tracks,” said Chase. “I can honestly say throughout all my years of racing this season is going to be one of the most exciting years yet. There’s still a lot for me to learn as I continue to work in the TRD driver development program and I feel we made a lot of progress last year running a handful of ARCA races and they really prepared us for this year’s schedule.”

After back-to-back years finishing in the top-10 at the World Center of Racing in the Rolex 24 and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, Chase was asked about his upcoming stock car debut at Daytona.

“Daytona is a special place, it’s legendary, it’s every race car driver’s dream track. There are so many drivers who’ll never have the chance to experience the beauty of the track and running the high-banks at top speed. I’m thankful for the support and opportunity TRD and VMS have given me to compete in 2022 at Daytona. The ARCA race at Daytona is going to be special beyond words and I know Kevin Reed will have us a great car for the race. Competing in the 24 hours of Daytona and now with the chance to run the oval, it’s honestly a bucket list dream I’ll soon check off.”

Making his ARCA Menards Series debut with VMS in 2021, Chase impressed behind the wheel of his stock car scoring a fourth-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway before grabbing three consecutive top-10 finishes at Winchester, Bristol and Kansas.

Setting his sights on being the next successful sports car driver to transition to stock cars in NASCAR’s top series, Chase is dedicated to honing his all-around craft. Beginning in stock cars with a limited schedule in late models at the famed Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, NC he then joined Toyota Racing’s Kyle Busch Motorsports in the #51 Vertical Bridge Toyota Tundra in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the Daytona Road Course and Circuit of the Americas events in 2021.

Parker Chase will make his ARCA Menards Series season debut in the Lucas Oil 200 driven by General Tire at Daytona International Speedway on February 19. The premier series event will air live on FS1 beginning at 1:30 p.m. ET. Follow Chase on social media on Instagram @ParkerChase, Twitter @parker_chase19 and Facebook @parkerchase19.