ARCA driver wipes out teammate in final laps of race, receives backlash
There were some fireworks on the final lap of Friday’s ARCA Menards Series race. It occurred between two teammates, and one got knocked out of second place as a result.
Dean Thompson was in second place at Mid-Ohio, but teammate Sean Hingorani knocked him into the sand trap and took him out of contention. They both race for Venturini Motorsports, which made it such a stunning turn of events.
Ultimately, Tyler Ankrum came away with the win. But the story of the race was Hingorani — who was a lap down at the time — keeping Thompson from finishing as the runner-up. Thompson ended up finishing 10th and Hingorani came in 13th.
It continued post-race as team owner Billy Venturini unleashed on Thompson inside the team hauler.
“Get the f— away from me,” Venturini said, via ARCA’s Mark Kristl.
The backlash didn’t stop there. On the broadcast, announcer Ryan Preece weighed in on the situation and encouraged any future drivers watching to take note because it’s not how you should race.
“All you kids watching right now wanting to get to this level, don’t do that,” Preece said. “Race with respect. Don’t wreck the guy in the outside trying if you’re win your first race. It doesn’t get you anywhere. Don’t be like that.”
That wasn’t the first time the two went at it during the race. They did so a few laps earlier when they were vying for the lead. Thompson was in front and Hingorani was right behind him. Hingorani then ended up going off track as Thompson kept going.
This is Thompson’s second season racing in the ARCA Menards Series after previously doing so in 2021. He joined Venturini for five races this year, and Mid-Ohio was his third of the season. He finished in the top five in his other two runs. Last time out at Charlotte, he finished second as Jesse Love got the win in the General Tire 150.
As for Hingorani, he’s in his first season racing in the ARCA Menards Series. He also has two top-five finishes to his name, including a third-place finish on June 24 at the Menards 250 at Elko Speedway in Minnesota. He also finished in third place in his previous race at the Herr’s Snacks 200 in Berlin on June 17.
The next stop in the ARCA Menards Series is at Iowa Speedway July 15 at 8 p.m. ET on FS2.