Mason Mingus to make first ARCA start

Mason Mingus will take another step up the racing ladder when he climbs into Win-Tron Racing’s #32 ARCA Series Toyota Camry on Saturday
The young Brentwood, TN resident is scheduled to race in the ARCA Series Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic presented by Federated Car Care at historic Salem Speedway for Win-Tron.
Mingus, who competes in the CRA Super Series, understands the significance of having the opportunity to race with a top-level team in an ARCA event.
“I’m excited to have an opportunity to race in the ARCA Series,” Mingus said. “And to race for a great team like Win-Tron, that is fourth in owner points, makes it even better because I know we will be competitive. I also fully understand that this is my first start in the ARCA Series so finishing the race will be our number one goal. Anything after that is a bonus.”
Mingus has excelled in every series in which he has competed and that is one thing that caught the attention of Nate Thiesse. Thiesse, along with business partner Kevin Cywinski, owns Win-Tron Racing.
“Mason is exactly the type of driver we like at Win-Tron,” Thiesse said. “He has excelled in all aspects of his racing career and I believe he is ready to move up. He reminds me of James Bueshcher, who currently leads the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points. At 16-years-old, racing a Win-Tron car, James became the youngest driver to win an ARCA event. We think Mason has that level of talent and we are looking forward to working with him.”
While there will be pressure on Mingus, Thiesse commented that there shouldn’t be too much because the main focus for Mingus at Salem will be getting seat time and trying to finish the race.
“What we have to do is put a good piece under Mason,” Thiesse stated, “We don’t want to put any undue pressure on him. A top ten would be great, but first we have to finish all of the laps. Seat time is the most important thing for Mason right now. At Salem one mistake can end your day. He has had success at the track before, so that will help. There is so much he can learn in this race and he will. Mason has the capability, he just needs time.”
Mingus, an all around athlete, plays football and wrestles for his high school. His racing career began in Quarter Midgets in 2002. From there he moved to MMRA Mini Cups. Then he moved on to MMRA Baby Grands where, like NASCAR superstar Carl Edwards, he won a National Championship in the series.
Late Model team owner Kevin Gardner saw Mingus’ potential and took him to the Pro Late Model Ken-Ten Series where he won another championship.
Other highlights in Mason’s career include a fourth place finish in the Winchester 400, and a seventh place finish in his first ever Snowball Derby as well as a win at Salem.
Mingus said he wasn’t sure how many ARCA events he would compete in this year but confirmed he will concentrate on the CRA Series where he is currently second in rookie-of-the-year points and fourth in overall championship points.