Chicago, Il -Isabella Robusto over the summer has proven to be among the most consistent drivers in the ARCA Menards Series.
Since the Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway on June 6, all of Robusto’s finishes have been inside the top 10. This stretch features three top-five showings, including fourth last week at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
Establishing consistency was Robusto’s goal with Venturini when she embarked on her first full-time ARCA Menards Series campaign. The team needed time to find their comfort zone, but Robusto has never felt more confident about her ability to be competitive as she prepares for Friday’s Atlas 150 at Iowa Speedway.
“We’ve worked hard the last couple of weeks to build momentum and keep it going,” Robusto said. “We’ve made a couple changes with the team and with myself on how to approach the weekend. They’ve all been positive changes, and we’ve been consistently in the top five.
“There’s still a little bit we need to do to compete for wins week in and week out, but I’m super happy with how things are going.”
For Robusto, being at the front of the field on a regular basis has been a refreshing change of pace compared to how her season began.
A mid-race crash in the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway set an unfortunate tone that followed Robusto over the next four races. Talladega Superspeedway was the only place where Robusto finished a race before June, but it did result in her career-best ARCA Menards Series performance of third.
A strong, clean day at Talladega only reinforced the belief Robusto possessed. She nearly obtained that breakthrough checkered flag behind the wheel of a Venturini car at California’s Irwindale Speedway last year with the ARCA Menards Series West, only to cut a tire while leading inside of 30 laps remaining.
Despite this, four DNFs in five races to start the year highlighted the need for Robusto and Venturini to refine their mindset going into the summer. Robusto has been fulfilling her role in that process by relying on the fundamentals acquired from her 2024 rookie season as she ventures to different types of tracks on the schedule.
“The biggest thing was learning the big, heavy car and how to drive it compared to everything I’ve run on the late model side,” Robusto said. “I’ve also learned how race craft works in these cars. It’s a whole lot different trying to race with aero, and that’s something I’ve learned on intermediate tracks.
“There’s a lot I can take from last year, but I’m also learning a lot more this year, and that helps, as well.”
Absorbing and studying information is a cornerstone of Robusto’s philosophy as a driver. This was especially needed after Robusto missed most of the 2023 season due to a concussion she sustained in a Pro Late Model race at North Carolina’s Hickory Motor Speedway, which robbed her of track time crucial to her development.
The setback has not deterred Robusto, who believes she is now meeting most of her established goals with Venturini after the tumultuous start. Many of Robusto’s strongest performances this year have been on short tracks, but she is gradually acclimating herself to the intermediates and is optimistic about posting better results at those facilities.
Iowa’s layout offers both intermediate and short-track characteristics, as the facility is shorter than a mile in length but provides multiple racing grooves in the turns. Robusto has yet to turn a competitive lap at Iowa, but she sees Friday’s Atlas 150 as an opportunity to showcase her short-track experience and burgeoning knowledge on how to race at intermediates.
“I think [Iowa will] be like a fast short track,” Robusto said. “I think I’ll be able to take the approach like I have been the last couple of weeks, especially for firing off. I feel pretty confident on the [simulator] right now with where we are speed-wise and handling-wise with the car. We should be able to fire off where we need to be come practice.”
Fresh off consecutive top fives at Dover Motor Speedway and IRP, Robusto knows she can at least put together a similar performance Friday. A victory is the primary goal, but that will involve usurping Pinnacle Racing Group and Joe Gibbs Racing, who have combined to win eight of 11 national events this season.
Robusto knows what the historical significance of her first win will be. Plenty of talented female drivers have come through the ARCA Menards Series, but while names like Hailie Deegan and Gracie Trotter have won in the West Series, no woman has visited Victory Lane with the national series or one of NASCAR’s top three divisions.
Everything is falling into place for Robusto to potentially make history. Maintaining the consistency from the summer while continuing to make improvements are key steps.
“One of the goals we have this year is to get that first win for a female in NASCAR,” Robusto said. “We’re getting closer week in and week out, but we need to put a full weekend together. I think Iowa will fit my driving style. We just need to go with the same approach. Speed-wise, we’re where we need to be for the last half of the race.
“If we can get a lot more comfortable sooner in practice, I think we’ll be right there.”
No matter the obstacle in front of her, Robusto has proven she can overcome adversity and emerge as a more refined driver on the other side. Nine events remain on the 2025 national ARCA Menards Series calendar for Robusto to showcase that resolve and further solidify herself as a modern trailblazer in NASCAR.
BY BRANDON WHITE WWW.ARCARACING.COM
