Mason Mingus; Win-Tron Racing Wrestle To Top-15 At Toledo Speedway

Topics:  Mason Mingus, Win-Tron Racing, Menards 200

Chris Knight
Knight Motorsports Management
May 22, 2012

TOLEDO, Ohio (May 22, 2012) - - Brentwood, Tennessee native Mason Mingus undoubtedly gave a worthy performance in his Toledo Speedway debut Sunday afternoon during the running of the Menards 200 presented by Federated Car Care.

Saturday morning started incredibly early for the rising ARCA star. After competing in a track meet for his High School team on Friday night, the 17-year old was able to get well rested after winning their relay and earning them a spot to state finals this Friday. Now, focused on racing, after practice on Saturday, the team led by NASCAR crew chief Mark Rette adjusted their No. 32 Call 811 Before You Dig Toyota Camry accordingly for Menards pole qualifying presented by Ansell. During time trials, the aggressive set-up paid off for Mingus after he laid down the eighth quickest lap.

The green flag waived shortly after 2:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon with the teenager having to fiercely battle for respect and room on the racetrack. Able to stay in the top-10 during the event’s first 10 laps, the next 50 laps saw Mingus fight for a spot safely in the top-15. With every driver unwilling to give an inch and Mingus digging deep from behind the wheel, the Tennessean was hovering in 19th when the caution flag waived on lap 63.

Under the yellow, Rette brought his driver to pit lane for a routine-two tire pit stop and a chassis adjustment hoping to give Mingus a little better car control as the fifth race of the season pressed on. Steadily and cautiously moving forward, Mingus was able to work his way back into the top-15 by the half-way point.

Encouragement from his team was uplifting for the driver behind the wheel which resulted in better lap times on the racetrack. When the yellow flag waived shortly after the hallway-way mark for chaos on the backstretch, Rette offered yet again to bring his driver to pit lane for routine service. Restarting the race in 19th, Mingus once again would have to carve his way back towards the lead pack for the lap 117 restart.

Holding his own safely in the top-17 and on the lead lap, the caution flag waived with just 50 laps, remaining which gave Rette an opportunity to pit four new tires on the No. 32 Call 811 Before You Dig Toyota Camry giving his driver the much needed grip to make it to the end of the race.

Restarting 18th, Mingus had moved into 15th by lap 167 and climbed to 13th by lap 172, but the young-gun would find himself in a wad of racecars where gracious respect would not be shown to the rookie and beating and banging would ensue for position knocking Mingus back two positions to 15th by the time the checkered flag flew.

“Other than just some cosmetic damage, it’s a 15th place finish, but we deserve more, so much more,” offered Mingus following the race. “You know, we worked hard on making our Call 811 Before You Dig Toyota Camry stronger throughout the weekend and even during the race. We made some strides – but it was just hard to race out there. I was overdriving the car at the start of the race, but I felt by the end of the race, I was really on the right path.”

He added,”We’re past the point of finishing in the top-15 and top-10; we need to be racing closer to the front. Elko’s next and the team tells me it’s a lot like Illiana Motor Speedway, so I’m looking forward to that and hopefully putting ourselves back near the front where I feel like we belong.”

Nate Thiesse, co-car owner of the No. 32 entry offered his thoughts on Sunday’s results. “We know that Mason isn’t satisfied with 15th, but he learned a heck of a lot out there and truly did a great job. It was a rough race for a lot of people from start to finish and track position proved to be pivotal to success. In the end, the car is intact and Mason gained valuable seat time and that is what’s most important. Sometimes in this business, you don’t always get the finish you want or deserve, but you just pick up the pieces and move on and that’s exactly what we’re going to do for Elko, which is our turf!”

Next up on the tour is the sixth stop of the season at Elko (Minn.) Speedway, a new track for the series’ 60th anniversary tour. The Akona 200 presented by Federated Car Care is set for Saturday, June 2. The green flag is set to fly shortly after 8:00 p.m. in the one-day show with live timing and scoring plus radio coverage available through the ARCA Racing Network online at ARCARacing.com.

Further information including driver opportunities with Win-Tron Racing is available by visiting win-tronracing.com or contacting Nate Thiesse at 612.306.1641

Learn about Call 811 Before You Dig and what it can do for you by connecting to call811.com.

For more on Mason Mingus, please visit MasonMingusRacing.com.

About Win-Tron Racing:

Located in Lakeville, Minnesota, Win-Tron Racing is the home of one the most potent ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards single-car operations. Owned by former racers Kevin Cywinski and Nate Thiesse, the team since has acquired the assets of County Joe Racing has become a favorable fixture on the circuit. Since Win-Tron Racing’s inception in 2007, the team has hosted a variety of drivers including leading drivers James Buescher, Blake Bjorklund, Justin Marks and Matt Merrell to their first career ARCA victories. In 2012, the team will begin its sixth year of competition with current drivers Chris Windom and Mason Mingus.

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TEAM COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT:
NAME: Chris Knight, Knight Motorsports Management
PHONE: 239.834.9797
EMAIL: chris@chrisknightpr.com