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Gio Ruggiero
American racing driver (born 2006) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Giovanni Ruggiero (born August 29, 2006) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 17 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for Tricon Garage and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. He is a member of Toyota Racing Development.
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Racing career
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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 home track.[1]
In 2021, Ruggiero 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, Ruggiero 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 would 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] Ruggiero ran ten races in the main ARCA Series, earning three runner-up finishes along with seven top fives and nine top tens. In the East Series, he scored his first career win in the season-opener at Five Flags Speedway, passing William Sawalich late in the event and leading the final 71 laps.[12] At Nashville, he scored his first career pole, but blew a tire after six laps and spun, hitting the outside wall. He continued to run until lap 49, before pulling into the garage and retiring from the race, finishing 14th. Ruggiero finished the season with one win, five top fives and six top tens, finishing third in the driver standings.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
On December 2, 2024, it was announced that Ruggiero would move up to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the 2025 season, driving the No. 17 Toyota for Tricon Garage, replacing Taylor Gray, who moved up to the Xfinity Series full-time.[13] Ruggiero started the season with a 2nd-place finish at Daytona. He earned his first career pole at Charlotte.
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Personal life
Despite sharing the same last name, he is not related to former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Reggie Ruggiero.
Motorsports career results
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NASCAR
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Craftsman Truck Series
* Season still in progress
1 Ineligible for series points
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 East
ARCA Menards Series West
CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)
CARS Pro Late Model Tour
(key)
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References
External links
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