Gio Ruggiero
Gio Ruggiero | |||||||
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Ruggiero at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in 2024 | |||||||
Born | Giovanni Ruggiero (2006-08-29) August 29, 2006 (age 17) Seekonk, Massachusetts, U.S. | ||||||
Achievements | 2022 Show Me The Money Pro Late Model Series Champion 2023 Southern Super Series Champion 2023 CRA Super Series Champion 2023 Winchester 400 Winner | ||||||
ARCA Menards Series career | |||||||
2 races run over 1 year | |||||||
ARCA no., team | No. 20 (Venturini Motorsports) | ||||||
First race | 2024 General Tire 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
Last race | 2024 General Tire 150 (Dover) | ||||||
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ARCA Menards Series East career | |||||||
5 races run over 2 years | |||||||
ARCA East no., team | No. 20 (Venturini Motorsports) | ||||||
First race | 2023 Music City 200 (Nashville Fairgrounds) | ||||||
Last race | 2024 Dutch Boy 150 (Flat Rock) | ||||||
First win | 2024 Pensacola 150 (Pensacola) | ||||||
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ARCA Menards Series West career | |||||||
1 race run over 1 year | |||||||
ARCA West no., team | No. 20 (Venturini Motorsports) | ||||||
First race | 2024 General Tire 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
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Statistics current as of May 20, 2024. |
Giovanni Ruggiero (born August 29, 2006) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 20 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports. He is a member of Toyota Racing Development.
Racing career
Early career
Ruggiero began racing Legend cars at a young age, convincing his father to be involved in racing after watching races at Seekonk Speedway in Massachusetts, his hometrack.[1]
In 2021, he began racing at local short tracks in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, winning a race at Hudson Speedway in the process.[2]
Late models
In 2022, Ruggiero increased his racing schedule and began driving late models across the United States. He ran a full season in the Show Me The Money Pro Late Model Series at Montgomery Motor Speedway, winning two races and eventually the championship.[3] He also ran in the Solid Rock Carriers CARS Pro Late Model Tour, winning in his first career start at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.[4]
In 2023, he expanded his schedule further and ran full-time in three different series. He won the championship in both the CRA Super Series and the Southern Super Series that year, and finished 3rd in point standings in the ASA STARS National Tour.[5][6] He won the Tar Heel 250 at Hickory Motor Speedway after making an aggressive last-lap pass on William Byron for the win.[7] He also won the prestigious Winchester 400 at Winchester Speedway.[8] After the race, Ruggiero was involved in a post-race altercation with Stephen Nasse.[9] With nine laps to go, Ruggiero and Nasse made contact in turn one, forcing Nasse into the outside wall and losing three positions. During post-race, Stephen's father, Jeff Nasse, was clipped by the side of Ruggiero's car as he attempted to confront him. Three days later, Ruggiero was docked 25 owner and driver points and received a fine of US$3,000, with Nasse being docked 44 owner and driver points, and receiving a fine of US$4,500. Both drivers were placed on probation for the remainder of the season.[10]
ARCA Series
On May 11, 2023, it was announced that Ruggiero would make his unexpected debut in the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 20 car for Venturini Motorsports at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. The original driver of the race, Isabella Robusto, suffered from a concussion following a recent late model wreck and therefore was sidelined from competing. Ruggiero qualified 2nd and ran inside the top five for the entire race, eventually finishing in 4th.[1]
On December 18, 2023, it was announced that Ruggiero will return to the ARCA Menards Series in 2024, running a 16-race schedule for Venturini Motorsports across all three divisions, including a full season in the East Series.[11]
Personal life
Despite sharing the same last name, he is not related to former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Reggie Ruggiero.
Motorsports career results
ARCA Menards Series
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)
ARCA Menards Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | AMSC | Pts | Ref |
2024 | Venturini Motorsports | 20 | Toyota | DAY | PHO 2 | TAL | DOV 2 | KAN | CLT | IOW | MOH | BLN | IRP | SLM | ELK | MCH | ISF | MLW | DSF | GLN | BRI | KAN | TOL | -* | -* | [12] |
ARCA Menards Series East
ARCA Menards Series East results | ||||||||||||||
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Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | AMSEC | Pts | Ref |
2023 | Venturini Motorsports | 20 | Toyota | FIF | DOV | NSV 4 | FRS | IOW | IRP | MLW | BRI | 29th | 40 | [13] |
2024 | FIF 1 | DOV 2 | NSV 14 | FRS 3 | IOW | IRP | MLW | BRI | -* | -* | [14] |
ARCA Menards Series West
ARCA Menards Series West results | ||||||||||||||||||
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Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | AMSWC | Pts | Ref |
2024 | Venturini Motorsports | 20 | Toyota | PHO 2 | KER | PIR | SON | IRW | IRW | SHA | TRI | MAD | AAS | KER | PHO | -* | -* | [15] |
References
- ^ a b White, Brandon (May 11, 2023). "Gio Ruggiero ready to make the most of his opportunity with Venturini Motorsports at Nashville Fairgrounds". ARCA. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ "Gio Ruggiero – Toyota Racing". Toyota Racing. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ Adams, Landon (November 14, 2022). "Alabama State CHAMPIONSHIP!". Montgomery Motor Speedway. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ "Giovanni Ruggiero Leads Wire-to-Wire in CARS Tour Debut". Racing America. April 10, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ Corder, Chuck (September 26, 2023). "Nasse, Pollard win Five Flags, Ruggiero takes SSS title". AccessWDUN. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ "Gio Ruggiero Posts Strong Rookie Super Late Model Season". Racing America. November 28, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ Branscum, Benjamine (May 25, 2023). "Giovanni Ruggiero wins the Tar Heel 250 After Late Race Dive Bomb on William Byron". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ "Ruggiero Wins Winchester 400, ASA/CRA Super Series Title". SpeedSport.com. October 15, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ Evans, Zach (October 15, 2023). "Ruggiero, Nasse Clash in Battle for 52nd Winchester 400 Win". Racing America. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ "Winchester 400 Penalty Statement Released". Racing America. October 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ Christie, Toby (December 18, 2023). "Gio Ruggiero Lands 16-Race ARCA Deal With Venturini Motorsports". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ "Giovanni Ruggiero – 2024 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ "Giovanni Ruggiero – 2023 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ "Giovanni Ruggiero – 2024 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ^ "Giovanni Ruggiero – 2024 ARCA Menards Series West Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
External links
Official website
Giovanni Ruggiero driver statistics at Racing-Reference
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- Bill Venturini
- Billy Venturini
- Cathy Venturini
Drivers |
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Drivers |
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Crew chiefs |
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Drivers |
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Crew chiefs |
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- Justin Allgaier
- Caleb Armstrong
- Dakoda Armstrong
- Steve Arpin
- Chris Bailey Jr.
- Morgen Baird
- Amber Balcaen
- Phil Barkdoll
- Nicole Behar
- Christopher Bell
- Andrew Belmont
- Kyle Belmont
- Kyle Benjamin
- Rich Bickle
- Ryan Blaney
- John Blankenship
- Chad Boat
- Justin Boston
- Alex Bowman
- Harrison Burton
- William Byron
- Sean Caisse
- Nelson Canache Jr.
- Parker Chase
- Cody Coughlin
- Jake Crum
- Marc Davis
- Spencer Davis
- Natalie Decker
- Hailie Deegan
- Mason Diaz
- Drew Dollar
- Milka Duno
- Christian Eckes
- Bill Eversole
- Eddie Fatscher
- Taylor Ferns
- Ryan Fischer
- Kyle Fowler
- A. J. Frank
- Todd Gilliland
- Noah Gragson
- Clay Greenfield
- Max Gresham
- Jake Griffin
- Derek Griffith
- Darren Hagen
- Justin Haley
- Gavin Harlien
- Paulie Harraka
- Corey Heim
- A. J. Henriksen
- Tom Hessert III
- Sean Hingorani
- Brett Hudson
- Landon Huffman
- Alistair Jackson
- Jason Jarrett
- Brian Johnson Jr.
- Brandon Jones
- Conner Jones
- Erik Jones
- Rob Jones
- Mikey Kile
- Frank Kimmel
- Frankie Kimmel
- Clint King
- Buddy Kofoid
- Dylan Kwasniewski
- Scott Lagasse Jr.
- Bo LeMastus
- Raphaël Lessard
- Donny Lia
- Joey Logano
- Johanna Long
- Jesse Love
- Brandon Lynn
- Jeffery MacZink
- Justin Marks
- Kyle Martel
- Hal Martin
- B. J. McLeod
- George Miedecke
- Mason Mitchell
- Nate Monteith
- Leilani Munter
- John Hunter Nemechek
- Alli Owens
- Miguel Paludo
- Landon Pembelton
- Brennan Poole
- Ryan Reed
- Taylor Reimer
- Ben Rhodes
- Josh Richards
- Cole Rouse
- Kenzie Ruston
- Dalton Sargeant
- Ken Schrader
- Brian Scott
- Logan Seavey
- Michael Self
- Jonathan Shafer
- Peter Shepherd III
- Michael Simko
- Chandler Smith
- C. W. Smith
- Jesse Smith
- Mamba Smith
- Zane Smith
- Myatt Snider
- John Stancill
- Trista Stevenson
- Daniel Suárez
- Kevin Swindell
- Austin Theriault
- Mark Thompson
- Tanner Thorson
- Matt Tifft
- John Wes Townley
- Gracie Trotter
- Ryan Unzicker
- Dominic Ursetta
- Will Vaught
- Bill Venturini
- Billy Venturini
- Bubba Wallace
- Cole Williams
- Brian Wong
- Alex Yontz
- 1987 (B. Venturini Sr.)
- 1991 (B. Venturini Sr.)
- 2019 (Eckes)
- 2023 (Love)
- Joe Gibbs Racing
- Phoenix Racing
- Toyota Racing Development