Two Rick Ware Racing crew members involved in fatal wreck

 1 killed, 1 seriously injured after Friday night crash

(Thomasville, NC) – NASCAR’s Rick Ware Racing (RWR) this morning is mourning devastating news after returning home from their NCWTS event at Darlington this past Saturday March 12, 2011.

Dean Shaut and Stephen Masch, who began assisting RWR this season on the Nationwide and Truck teams as independent contractors, were involved in a fatal crash on Friday night March 11, 2011.

The driver of the Toyota Tundra truck, Dean Shaut, lost control of his vehicle while driving on Ball Park Road in Thomasville, N.C., and was pronounced dead at the scene. The passenger, Stephen Masch, was airlifted to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C., with spinal cord and head injuries.

“All of us at RWR are deeply saddened about the news and are suffering a great loss over this tragic accident,” stated team owner Rick Ware. “We can’t express our condolences enough at a time like this to each of the families and words alone right now just don’t express our thoughts enough.”

Dean was a 20-year veteran of the NSACAR community as a fabricator and mechanic working for such teams over the years such as Hendrick, MB2, Evernham and others.

Stephen Masch was an independent contract mechanic for the RWR Nationwide #15 team driven by rookie Timmy Hill. Rookie Jeffrey Earnhardt drives the RWR NCWTS team the two men assisted.

His wife Sandy, and his two step-children, Chris and Megan, survive Dean. His brother Rick Shaut, who is a long time employee of Richard Childress Racing, also survives Dean along with his sister-in-law Sandy and his two nieces Sara and Dana.

Funeral services for Dean Shaut will be held this Friday, March 18, 2011, at Davidson Funeral Home located at 858 Hickory Tree Road in Winston Salem, NC 27127. Davidson Funeral Home (336) 775-2600. Viewing services will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. and the memorial services will be held immediately following at 7 p.m.

The family of Dean Shaut respectfully asks that any donations on behalf of Dean Shaut be made to the American Heart Association.

- Rick Ware Racing