Gus Dean, Bluffton’s Future NASCAR Champion?

Photography by Speedgraphics

t’s 3:30 PM Friday at Okatie Elementary School, and unlike most 5th graders with weekend plans consisting of soccer games and playstation 2, Gus Dean anxiously awaits the ringing of the final bell, knowing that his Freightliner hauler and 48’ racing trailer is waiting for him in the school parking lot. For Gus, weekends, school breaks and summer vacations are meant for one thing.... KART RACING.

Gus started racing karts locally at Pineora Kartway at age 7. He currently participates in the World Karting Association, Briggs and Stratton Dirt Series, which draws competitors from across the nation This National Series visits tracks from Ohio to Florida. In addition, he competes in the Florida and Georgia State Divisional Series. On off weekends the gaps are filled with purse races anywhere from North Carolina to Florida. He’s pretty busy.

The Purple Plate class, in which he races, refers to the color of restrictor plate that each motor is required to have. This is a device that equates all competitors to the same horsepower output; it also limits top end speed. As racers get older, they “graduate” to larger plates that allow more oxygen to the motor therefore allowing faster speeds. Race speeds vary from track to track but on average, Purple Plate racers reach speeds of 55mph to 70mph. Next year he will upgrade to a Blue Plate. Typically, races are 20 laps long. Several practice and qualifying rounds precede feature races.

Weekends at the track are second nature for Gus and the entire Dean family. As a toddler, Gus spent his time digging in the dirt and pushing his Tonka Trucks around while his dad, Charlie Dean, made his mark on the track. These days, however, dad focuses more on Gus’ racing career than his own. At his peak, Charlie reigned as the Georgia State Champion and was ranked 8th in the nation.

The week between Christmas and New Year’s is spent in Daytona Beach qualifying for the Dirt World Champions. Gus will practice and qualify each day with the hopes of qualifying in each of the four classes that he enters. Most classes have approximately 150-200 karts qualifying for a 30 kart field. At Daytona, making the race is a feat in and of itself. Gus has high hopes of qualifying for each of these races. Considering he has the top motor builder in the industry, Donnie Lewis of Moon Power South and A.T. Stillwagon of Millennium Racing Chassis consulting and working with his crew, confirms these hopes. The Dirt World Championships is a grueling, week long event, which leaves many a broken heart in its wake.

In July of 2004, Gus caught the eye of the promoter of the Moore Money Series and was invited to participate in the country’s largest Purple Plate race, The Junior Kahuna. After qualifying 6th, Gus made his way to the front and led during the first half of this 50 lap race. After pitting to re-fuel, Gus started the second half of the race in 2nd place. All involved were excited beyond words but that quickly changed when mechanical problems forced him out of the race. Gus gets over disappointments involved in racing quickly and is usually seen tossing a football around with other competitors shortly after the race. The phrase, “that’s racing”, is frequently used around the Dean household. A phrase used to accept unfortunate events and move on to the next race!

Gus’ success on the track is a team effort. From grandmothers cheering him on at the fence, to employees of Dean Custom Air devoting their weekends crewing for the team, Gus is extremely lucky to have the support base that he does. Granddaddy, Charles Dean, Sr., rarely misses a race and comes with his motor home providing accommodations when those in the race hauler living quarters have been exceeded. Without the support of sponsors such as Tappan Heating and Cooling Products and Dean Custom Air, Gus’ dream of racing would not be a reality. Their support is greatly appreciated.

The “karting world” is foreign to many in Bluffton, but Blufftonians should know how well they are represented in the karting community by the names of Charlie Dean, past Georgia State Champion, Chad Haithcock, past National Champion, Dustin McGraw, past Georgia State Champion and Gus Dean, future NASCAR Champion!