Gio Ruggiero

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 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.

Gio Ruggiero
Ruggiero at Sonoma Raceway in 2024
Born	Giovanni Ruggiero (2006-08-29) August 29, 2006 (age 18) 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
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career
1 race run over 1 year
Truck no., team	No. 17 (Tricon Garage)
First race	2025 Fresh From Florida 250 (Daytona)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 1 0
ARCA Menards Series career
10 races run over 1 year
ARCA no., team	No. 18 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
Best finish	13th (2024)
First race	2024 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
Last race	2024 Owens Corning 200 (Toledo)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 9 1
ARCA Menards Series East career
9 races run over 2 years
ARCA East no., team	No. 18 (Joe Gibbs Racing)
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)
Wins Top tens Poles 1 7 2
ARCA Menards Series West career
4 races run over 1 year
Best finish	19th (2024)
First race	2024 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
Last race	2024 Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 (Phoenix)
Wins Top tens Poles 0 3 0
Statistics current as of November 8, 2024.

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 home track.^[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

Ruggiero's No. 20 car at Sonoma Raceway in 2024

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 Truck Series

On December 2, 2024, it was announced that Ruggiero will move up to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the 2025 season, driving the No. 17 Toyota for Tricon Garage, replacing Taylor Gray, who is moving up to the Xfinity Series full-time.^[13]

Personal life

Despite sharing the same last name, he is not related to former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driver Reggie Ruggiero.

Motorsports career results

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

NASCAR Craftsman Truck 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	21	22	23	24	25	NCTC	Pts	Ref
2025	Tricon Garage	17	Toyota	DAY 2	ATL 11	LVS	HOM	MAR	BRI	CAR	TEX	KAN	NWS	CLT	NSH	MCH	POC	LRP	IRP	GLN	RCH	DAR	BRI	NHA	ROV	TAL	MAR	PHO	-*	-*	[14]

^* 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 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	[15]
2025	Joe Gibbs Racing	18	Toyota	DAY	PHO	TAL	KAN	CLT	MCH	BLN	ELK	LRP	DOV	IRP	IOW	GLN	ISF	MAD	DSF	BRI	SLM	KAN	TOL	-*	-*

ARCA Menards Series East

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	[16]
2024				FIF 1	DOV 2	NSV 14	FRS 3	IOW 3	IRP 5	MLW 9	BRI 15	3rd	352	[17]
2025	Joe Gibbs Racing	18	Toyota	FIF	CAR	NSH	FRS	DOV	IRP	IOW	BRI	-*	-*

ARCA Menards Series West

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	[18]

References

1. 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.
2. "Gio Ruggiero – Toyota Racing". Toyota Racing. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
3. Adams, Landon (November 14, 2022). "Alabama State CHAMPIONSHIP!". Montgomery Motor Speedway. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
4. "Giovanni Ruggiero Leads Wire-to-Wire in CARS Tour Debut". Racing America. April 10, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
5. Corder, Chuck (September 26, 2023). "Nasse, Pollard win Five Flags, Ruggiero takes SSS title". AccessWDUN. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
6. "Gio Ruggiero Posts Strong Rookie Super Late Model Season". Racing America. November 28, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
7. 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.
8. "Ruggiero Wins Winchester 400, ASA/CRA Super Series Title". SpeedSport.com. October 15, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
9. Evans, Zach (October 15, 2023). "Ruggiero, Nasse Clash in Battle for 52nd Winchester 400 Win". Racing America. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
10. "Winchester 400 Penalty Statement Released". Racing America. October 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
11. Christie, Toby (December 18, 2023). "Gio Ruggiero Lands 16-Race ARCA Deal With Venturini Motorsports". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
12. Branscum, Benjamine (March 23, 2024). "Gio Ruggiero Gets It Done In Five Flags, Wins The Pensacola 150". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
13. "Gio Ruggiero to drive for TRICON Garage". Jayski.com. Jayski's Silly Season Site. December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
14. "Giovanni Ruggiero – 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
15. "Giovanni Ruggiero – 2024 ARCA Menards Series Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
16. "Giovanni Ruggiero – 2023 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
17. "Giovanni Ruggiero – 2024 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
18. "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