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.
| Gio Ruggiero | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ruggiero at Sonoma Raceway in 2024 | |||||||
| Born | Giovanni Ruggiero August 29, 2006 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 | |||||||
| 10 races run over 1 year | |||||||
| ARCA no., team | No. 20 (Venturini Motorsports) | ||||||
| First race | 2024 General Tire 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
| Last race | 2024 Owens Corning 200 (Toledo) | ||||||
| |||||||
| ARCA Menards Series East career | |||||||
| 9 races run over 2 years | |||||||
| ARCA East no., team | No. 20 (Venturini Motorsports) | ||||||
| Best finish | 3rd (2024) | ||||||
| First race | 2023 Music City 200 (Nashville Fairgrounds) | ||||||
| Last race | 2024 Bush's Beans 200 (Bristol) | ||||||
| First win | 2024 Pensacola 150 (Pensacola) | ||||||
| |||||||
| ARCA Menards Series West career | |||||||
| 3 races run over 1 year | |||||||
| ARCA West no., team | No. 20 (Venturini Motorsports) | ||||||
| First race | 2024 General Tire 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
| Last race | 2024 General Tire 200 (Sonoma) | ||||||
| |||||||
| Statistics current as of October 7, 2024. | |||||||
Racing career
editEarly career
editRuggiero 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
editIn 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
edit
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
editDespite sharing the same last name, he is not related to former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Reggie Ruggiero.
Motorsports career results
editARCA Menards Series
edit(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 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 3 |
MOH 3 |
BLN | IRP 5 |
SLM | ELK | MCH | ISF | MLW 9 |
DSF | GLN 6 |
BRI 15 |
KAN 5 |
TOL 2 |
13th | 393 | [12] |
ARCA Menards Series East
edit| ARCA Menards Series East results | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 3 |
IRP 5 |
MLW 9 |
BRI 15 |
3rd | 352 | [14] | |||
ARCA Menards Series West
edit| ARCA Menards Series West results | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 5 |
SON 25 |
IRW | IRW | SHA | TRI | MAD | AAS | KER | PHO 4 |
19th | 141 | [15] |
References
edit- ^ 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
editGiovanni Ruggiero driver statistics at Racing-Reference