Giovanni Ruggiero (born August 29, 2006) is an American professionalstock car racing driver. He competes full-time in theNASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 17Toyota Tundra TRD Pro forTricon Garage and part-time in theARCA Menards Series andARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 18Toyota Camry forJoe Gibbs Racing. He is a member ofToyota Racing Development.
Ruggiero began racing Legend cars at a young age, convincing his father to be involved in racing after watching races atSeekonk Speedway inMassachusetts, his home track.[1]
In 2021, he began racing at local short tracks inNew Hampshire and Massachusetts, winning a race at Hudson Speedway in the process.[2]
In 2022, Ruggiero increased his racing schedule and began driving late models across the United States. He ran a full season in theShow Me The Money Pro Late Model Series atMontgomery Motor Speedway, winning two races and eventually the championship.[3] He also ran in theSolid Rock Carriers CARS Pro Late Model Tour, winning in his first career start atGreenville-Pickens Speedway.[4]
In 2023, he expanded his schedule further and ran full-time in three different series. He won the championship in both theCRA 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 atHickory Motor Speedway after making an aggressive last-lap pass onWilliam Byron for the win.[7] He also won the prestigiousWinchester 400 atWinchester Speedway.[8] After the race, Ruggiero was involved in a post-race altercation withStephen 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]
On May 11, 2023, it was announced that Ruggiero would make his unexpected debut in theARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 20 car forVenturini Motorsports at theNashville 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 theARCA Menards Series in 2024, running a 16-race schedule forVenturini 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 atFive Flags Speedway, passingWilliam 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.
On December 2, 2024, it was announced that Ruggiero will move up to theNASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in the2025 season, driving the No. 17 Toyota forTricon Garage, replacingTaylor Gray, who is moving up to theXfinity Series full-time.[13]
Despite sharing the same last name, he is not related to formerNASCAR Whelen Modified Tour driverReggie Ruggiero.
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time.Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
| 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 15 | HOM 29 | MAR 12 | 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
(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 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 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] |
Headquarters:Huntersville,North Carolina | |||||||
| Ownership |
| ||||||
| Personnel | |||||||
| Cup Series |
| ||||||
| Xfinity Series |
| ||||||
| ARCA Menards Series |
| ||||||
| ARCA Menards Series East |
| ||||||
| ARCA Menards Series West |
| ||||||
| eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series |
| ||||||
| Reserve drivers | |||||||
| Former personnel | |||||||
| NASCAR Hall of Fame | |||||||
| Former drivers |
| ||||||
| NASCAR Cup Series Championships |
| ||||||
| NASCAR Xfinity Series Championships |
| ||||||
| ARCA Menards Series Championships | |||||||
| ARCA Menards Series East Championships | |||||||
| Daytona 500 wins | |||||||
| Brickyard 400 wins | |||||||
| Coca-Cola 600 wins | |||||||
| Southern 500 wins | |||||||
| All-Star Race wins | |||||||
| Busch Light Clash wins | |||||||
| Partnerships and affiliations | |||||||
.jpg)
