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Gus Dean Racing: The Importance of the Livi Center

On August 11 the Championship Auto Racing Series will be underway at the Myrtle Beach Speedway.

At only 17-years old, Gus Dean of Bluffton, SC, #56, will be racing at the speedway with a cause. His car will feature the Livi Center logo to bring awareness to the efforts being made to build the Livi Center at the Medical University of South Carolina to help treat those with mitochondrial diseases.

Vacation Myrtle Beach sat down with Dean to talk more about his involvement with the sport and the importance of the Livi Center.

Vacation Myrtle Beach: You began racing karts at age 6 and competed in your first kart national championship at age 12. How did you get interested in racing at such a young age?
Gus Dean: We actually WON our first national championship at age 12.  I was interested in racing at such a young age because I wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps, as he was a nationally ranked kart driver as well.

VMB: You are only 17 years old and are already competing against some drivers that are more than twice your age. Do you think your age gives you an advantage?
GD: In some aspects I do, in others I don’t.  Obviously with age comes experience.  However, I do have 12 years of racing experience under my belt which helps level the playing field.  I do feel I have a physical advantage over my older competitors.  Youth is a great thing!

VMB: What is your favorite part about racing?
GD: The thrill of winning and the adrenaline rush of 700 horses under my foot.

VMB: How involved is your family in your racing?
GD: My entire family stands behind me in my racing career, which I feel is imperative to my success.  Three generations of Deans are at the track each week – grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins - all cheering me on!!

VMB: What inspired you to include the Livi Center Logo on your car for this year’s Cars Pro Cup Championship Auto Racing Series?
GD: I was actually privileged enough to have met Livi and am good friends with her father, Sean Custer.  I felt the need to honor the memory of Livi the best way I could, and that is on the hood of the # 56 Chevy Impala.  If, in any small way, we can increase the awareness of this disease, we are honored to do so.

VMB: Why do you feel that raising money for the Livi Center is so important?
GD: Without funding, doctors and researchers will not have the resources they need to stop this horrible disease and save the lives of precious children.

VMB: Have you ever competed at the Myrtle Beach Speedway before? What are some things about this track and Myrtle Beach that you are looking forward to?
GD: I have competed at Myrtle Beach Speedway as a driver in the Allison Legacy Series before moving up to the CARS Pro Cup Series and really enjoyed the experience.  The track itself is very slick and renders the cars difficult to handle, which fits my personal driving style.  Broadway at The Beach and its attractions are always fun. I am also a big fan of all the water parks, and, of course, the NASCAR theme park!

VMB: You are currently ranked 10th in the Pro Cup Series. What place do you hope to finish in?
GD: Due to prior obligations in our #56 Super Late Model car, we were unable to compete in all of the previous CARS Pro Cup events. However, with the good finishes we have had to date, we are climbing the points chart swiftly and I feel very confident about our chances of achieving Rookie of the Year and a top 5 finish in overall points.

VMB: You have to travel as far away as Virginia and Tennessee for some races. Is it hard to be away from home at such a young age?
GD: Constant traveling does have its challenges but the commitment I have to reach the highest ranks of stockcar racing, far outweighs any feeling of home sickness I experience. Besides, even when I’m not at home, I always have family with me.

VMB: You are planning to attend college in the fall. It must be hard to balance school and racing. How do you plan to be successful at both?
GD: Having to balance school and racing since I was 6 years old, it has become a way of life for me.  My desire to race has always driven me in my academic career.

VMB: What are your plans for your future in racing?
GD: Racing is much like any other sport in that you have to achieve in order to be able to move up and continue your development.  We’ve done just that, all along the way.  It’s easy as a driver to become too eager to make the next level before it’s time.  The key is knowing “when and where” and I’m fortunate to have very knowledgeable experienced folks around me insuring that we will make the correct decisions.  There are multiple opportunities available to us next season and we have been working real hard to not only find the right fit for my continued development but to also raise the necessary sponsorship to compete at the next level.  Long term, it's Sprint Cup.  I don't have any plans that are short of reaching the top.

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