Herbst also confirmed that he would be returning with Joe Gibbs Racing full-time, ready to make a run at the 2018 ARCA title.

“Next year, we’re definitely coming back,” Herbst stressed. “We’re gonna run the full season, because I’ll be of age to run Daytona, and we’re gonna run for a championship. My hope is that this time next year, it’s our team that’s right over there where the (No.) 52 (Austin Theriault) is right now hoisting that big trophy. That’s the plan, at least.”

“I just can’t thank everyone enough from NOS Energy Drink, Terrible Herbst, UFC Gym and everyone that’s made this year possible for me. We’re hungry. 2018 starts right now and we’ll be ready when the season starts in February.”

On the flip-side of the rookie puzzle was Dean, who fell to second in the final standings despite a solid season that included seven top-five and 14 top-10 finishes in 20 races.

The 23-year-old South Carolinian was the leading rookie for much of the ARCA season, but adversity struck him at the worst possible time on the final night of competition.

“We were struggling pretty hard, for a lot of the night,” admitted Dean. ” It was a good qualifying effort for us, but I don’t know if it was the track temperature or what got us, but the car changed pretty drastically from qualifying to the race. We really struggled with getting it to turn. I had to come out of the throttle pretty hard through the corners, and that let a lot of cars get by us.”

Then came the brush with the wall in the final third of the race, taking him out of contention to maintain his points lead.

“I came down pit road a couple of times, and I think the last run, we finally got it corrected to where it was going to go,” Dean said. “But I don’t know if I got into some oil or some trash or (a tire) just let go, but it felt like I blew a right front (tire) until I got onto the backstretch and could feel that all four of them were still up.”

“It is what it is. We still had a good day and still had a good year. It wasn’t the weekend we wanted to finish the year with, but I’m so proud of everyone on the team for everything they’ve done all year. It’s been a blast, it’s been an adventure and I can’t wait to come back next year.”

Herbst will officially receive the SCOTT Rookie title at ARCA’s championship awards banquet in Indianapolis on Dec. 9.

About the Writer

Jacob Seelman is the Managing Editor of Race Chaser Online and creator of the Motorsports Madness radio show, airing at 7 p.m. Eastern every Monday on the Performance Motorsports Network.

Seelman grew up in the sport, watching his grandparents co-own the RaDiUs Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series team in the 1990s.

The 23-year-old is currently studying Broadcast Journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., and is also serving as the full-time tour announcer for the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series.

Email Jacob at: editor@racechaseronline.com

Follow on Twitter: @Speed77Radio or @JacobSeelman77

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