Author: Emily Venturini

Sean Hingorani Dominates with Flag to Flag Win at Kern Raceway

October 28, 2024 – (Bakersfield, CA) – Defending ARCA Menards Series West Champion, Sean Hingorani dominated Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts 150 at Kern Raceway earning his third victory of the season driving for Venturini Motorsports.

Marco Andretti Teams with Venturini Motorsports for ARCA Menards Series West Phoenix Finale

October 28, 2024 (Concord, NC) –Marco Andretti has teamed with Venturini Motorsports to pilot the No. 25 Rich Mar Florist Toyota Camry during the ARCA Menards Series West finale at Phoenix Raceway on November 8.

“Deep down all of us in the sport are fans at heart, so the purist in me just loves the fact that Marco Andretti is driving a car for Venturini Motorsports,” said VMS’s General Manager, Billy Venturini.

Andretti, a native of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is most notably known for his time spent in the NTT IndyCar Series, where he collected two wins, six poles, 20 podiums and 42 top-5 finishes. Andretti, named IndyCar’s rookie of the year in 2006, finished inside the top-10 driver point standings nine times in his career.

“It’s great to be able to add another ARCA race before the end of the year. Thank you to Venturini for the opportunity to add more stock car experience to my 2024 season. I am also grateful for the support from Rich Mar and their idea of a special livery tribute to my newborn daughter Miura. Phoenix is a fun track and this will be my third race in a stock car there so I’m hoping to end the year with a great result,” said Marco Andretti.

Marco Andretti started his transition from open wheel to full bodied cars in 2021 with a victory at Slinger Speedway in Wisconsin. In 2022, Andretti was crowned the champion in the Superstar Racing Experience (SRX). The same year Andretti made his NASCAR national series debut in the Xfinity Series, competing at the ROVAL at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Over the last two years the 37-year old driver continued to expand his stock-car transition making starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the ARCA Menards Series.

“Marco obviously comes from the most famous lineage in North American racing history, but he’s done a ton to forge his own path. With his wins and accolades in open wheel racing he’s still relatively new to stock car racing, so with his talent and familiarity of auto racing, teamed up with our ability to develop the best stock car racers in the industry, has me very enthusiastic to get Marco into our program. We’re using this last ARCA platform race in 2024 as our debut, but hope there’s lots of runway to grow into a successful 2025 season together as well,” added Billy Venturini.

Competing in the ARCA Menards Series since 1982, Venturini Motorsports, paired with Toyota Racing Development, is the premier driver development team with 106 all-time victories across all of ARCA’s race platforms.

Marco will make his Venturini Motorsports driving debut at Phoenix Raceway on Friday, November 8. The race will be aired live on Flowracing.com starting at 12:30 p.m MT / 2:30 p.m. ET.

VMS Delivers Strong Showing in Toledo Finale Behind the Driving Efforts of Gio Ruggiero, Kris Wright and Brent Crews

October 6, 2024 (Toledo, Ohio) – After nine months of racing, the ARCA Menards Series and Venturini Motorsports made one final appearance yesterday for the 2024 season finale at Toledo Speedway.

Determined to finish strong and build momentum going into next season, Venturini Motorsports responded with a trio of drivers taking the checkered flag inside the top-4 final positions.

Gio Ruggiero (No.20 First Auto Group Toyota) led the way-finishing runner-up to race winner William Sawalich, followed by teammates Kris Wright (No.15 WrightTrucks.com Toyota) finishing third and Brent Crews (No.55 JBL Toyota) taking fourth-at Toledo.

Toni Breidinger (No.25 Sunoco Toyota) capped off her season with a seventh-place finish, earning her eleventh top-10 of the season campaign. Amber Balcaen (No.22 ICON Direct Toyota) rounded out the team drivers finishing thirteenth.

Driving full-time for Venturini Motorsports during the course of the 2024 season, Kris Wright takes top team honors finishing third overall in the ARCA Menards Series’ driver point standings. Toni Breidinger put her name in the record books ending the season fourth among all series’ drivers while Amber Balcaen claimed the sixth driver spot after competing in all 20-events during the course of this year’s championship season.

Competing across all three ARCA Menards Series platforms, Venturini Motorsports will finish the year fielding cars at the final two upcoming ARCA Menards Series West events at Kern Raceway on October 26 and Phoenix Raceway on November 8.

Toledo Speedway Sight for ARCA Menards Series Season Finale

October 1, 2024 (Concord, NC) – The 2024 ARCA Menards Series comes to an end this weekend with the running of the Owens Corning 200 Toledo Speedway. The Toledo short track event marks the twentieth and final race of the year for ARCA’s premier series.

After winning the Daytona opener with Gus Dean behind the wheel, Venturini Motorsports looks to bookend the season with another victory at Toledo’s half-mile track.

Toledo’s driver lineup for Saturday night’s race includes drivers Kris Wright (No.15 WrightTrucks.com Toyota), Gio Ruggiero (No.20 First Auto Group Toyota), Amber Balcaen (No.22 ICON Direct Toyota), Toni Breidinger (No.25 Sunoco Toyota) and Brent Crews (No.55 JBL Toyota.)

Kris Wright takes the wheel hoping to bounce back after a disappointing ending at Kansas last week. Wright, seemingly set to finish in the top-3 at Kansas cut a tire in the final laps of the race resulting in an eighteenth place finish. Wright is currently third in ARCA’s national driver point standings.

Gio Ruggiero returns to the seat for his tenth and final start of the season. Ruggiero finished fifth in his most recent race at Kansas and has earned a total of six top-5 and eight top-10 finishes on the season in ARCA’s premier series.

Amber Balcaen, tying her best career finish with a sixth place finish at Kansas last weekend hopes to ride her momentum at Toledo and cap off the year with another solid showing. Balcaen with seven top-10 finishes in 2024 holds down the sixth spot in ARCA’s championship point standings.

Toni Breidinger with ten top-10 finishes on the year looks to end her season on a high note when she takes the wheel at Toledo Speedway. Breidinger sits securely in the fourth spot in ARCA’s national driver point standings.

Brent Crews will make his fourth appearance of the season and his first since winning at DuQuoin earlier in the month. Crews a threat every time he slides into the seat is aiming for his fourth career ARCA victory in only eight starts since making his debut with Venturini Motorsports in 2023.

The ARCA Menards Series Owens Corning 200 from Toledo Speedway will air live of Fox Sports 2, Saturday, October 5 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

Isabella Robusto Takes Pole at Kansas; Gio Ruggierro Tops VMS Drivers Finishing Race Fifth

September 28, 2024 (Kansas City, Kansas) – Another race is in the books for Venturini Motorsports (VMS) as the season winds down. After becoming the sixth woman in history to qualify on the pole in the ARCA Menards Series, Isabella Robusto, driver of the No. 55 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry, led the field to green for the Reese’s 150 at Kansas Speedway.

A second lap incident involving Robusto ended her night quickly, resulting in teammate Gio Ruggiero (No. 20 First Auto Group Toyota Camry) leading the field to the green flag. A few laps in, Ruggiero fell back to fifth as Kris Wright (No. 15 Warranty Solutions Toyota Camry) moved up to fourth. Wright showed great strength and speed all day staying within the top-5 the majority of the race.

After the halfway break, Wright restarted second as teammate Ruggiero started fifth. Nine laps into the restart, Amber Balcaen, driver of the No. 22 Icon Toyota Camry, and Wright made contact resulting in Balcaen getting loose, but saving it. Balcaen received the Reese’s Sweet Move of the race.

With a late caution on lap 90 after Wright cut a tire, the top-7 cars on the track pitted, giving Balcaen the lead on the restart with only three laps to go.

The final results for the Reese’s 150 were Gio Ruggiero in fifth, Amber Balcaen in sixth, Toni Briedinger in twelfth, Kris Wright in eighteenth, and Isabella Robusto ending up twenty-eighth after exiting the race early.

For more on Venturini Motorsports, please visit venturinimotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Venturini Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (Venturinimotorsports) X (@VentuirniMotor) and TikTok (VenturiniMotorsports)

Kansas Speedway Up Next as Season Winds Down; Isabella Robusto, Gio Ruggiero Set to Make Speedway Debuts

September 24, 2024 (Concord, NC) – With two races remaining on the 2024 ARCA Menards Series schedule the series visits Kansas Speedway Friday for the running of the Reese’s 150.

The Kansas event marks the individual speedway debuts for Venturini Motorsports driver’s Gio Ruggiero (No.20 First Auto Group Toyota) and Isabella Robusto (No.55 Mobil 1 Toyota). Both drivers have competed limited schedules during the course of the season spread across all three of ARCA’s divisions.

Ruggiero, making his ninth ARCA premier series start with VMS has accumulated five top-5 and seven top-10 finishes. The Massachusetts born driver has two runner-ups and two third place finishes on the year. Robusto, will make her fourth series start and first appearance since finishing second at Springfield last month. The eighteen-year-old driver has two top-5 and three top-10 finishes overall.

Rounding out VMS’s driver lineup at Kansas are series regulars Kris Wright (No.15 Warranty Solutions Toyota), Amber Balcaen (No.22 ICON Direct Toyota) and Toni Breidinger (No.25 Boozy Jerky Toyota).

Kris Wright currently occupies the third spot in ARCA’s driver championship standings with seven top-five and eleven top-10 finishes on the season including a runner up finish at Talladega. The 29-year old driver is in search of his first career series victory.

Amber Balcaen continues her full season efforts looking for her seventh top-ten finish of the year. The Winnepeg, Canadian born driver has a pair of eighth place finishes (Kansas/Springfield) marking season highs. Balcaen is sixth overall in ARCA’s driver point standings.

Toni Breidinger slowly recovering from a foot burn sustained at Michigan back in August has ten top-10 finishes on the season. One of NASCAR’s most popular drivers, Breidinger returns to Kansas where she earned a career best finish of third last season. The 24-year old out of San Francisco is currently fourth in ARCA’s championship driver point standings with two races remaining.

The ARCA Menards Series Reese’s 150 from Kansas Speedway will air live of Fox Sports 1, Friday, September 27 starting at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Brent Crews Dominates DuQuoin Dirt for Second Career Win

September 2, 2024 (Concord, NC) – Brent Crews was on cruise control leading all 102-laps during Sunday night’s ARCA Menards Series Southern 100 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. Powered by his strong JBL Toyota Crews started the night from the second spot and took the lead from pole sitter Sawalich on the opening lap and never looked back.

“A good spotter is crucial [when it comes] to telling me where everyone is at and coaching me through lap times,” Crews said. “Growing up on the dirt path was a big part [of this win] as well, being able to race midgets and stuff like that. It helped a lot, and I’m just grateful to be here.”

Despite dominating the overtime event the sixteen-year old driver had to overcome some personal adversity to claim his second career victory in just his seventh overall series start.

“I knew we were going to be alright,” Crews said. “The Lord was guiding and directing me there. I’ve been sick all week and had to race Friday night, too. It’s been a struggle, but I have to thank everyone at Venturini Motorsports for bringing me this hot rod. [Everyone] got to see how fast it was, and I’m blessed to drive it.”

Crew’s VMS teammate, Kris Wright finished fourth while Taylor Reimer and Toni Breidinger crossed the stripe seventh and ninth respectfully, while Amber Balcaen finished one spot outside the top-10 in the eleventh position.

Next up for the ARCA Menards Series will be the second and final road course event on the calendar, Watkins Glen International on Sept. 13. The General Tire 100 at the Glen will commence at 5 p.m. ET with FS1 providing live coverage.

DuQuoin’s Magic Mile Headlines Labor Day Weekend; VMS Aiming for Lucky 13 on DuQuoin’s Dirt

August 28, 2024 (Concord, NC) – Arguably the most diverse national touring series on the planet, the ARCA Menards Series takes the show on the road Labor Day Weekend for the running of the Southern Illinois 100 at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.

Featuring several types of racing disciplines the ARCA Menards Series stands out when it comes to racetrack diversity. The second of two dirt races on ARCA’s annual schedule, DuQuoin’s dirt mile, along with road course racing, superspeedway racing and short track racing easily makes the point.

Returning to defend their 2023 victory at DuQuoin with driver Jesse Love, Venturini Motorsports brings a new lineup in hopes of capturing the team’s thirteenth overall win on dirt since 2013.

Venturini Motorsports’ Sunday lineup will include drivers Kris Wright, Toni Breidinger, Amber Balcaen, Brent Crews and Taylor Reimer.

Kris Wright (No.15 F.N.B. Corporation Toyota) with six top-fives on the season including a runner up finish at Talladega will take the wheel in search of his first victory of the season. Running the full ARCA schedule the 29-year old driver is third overall in ARCA’s championship driver point standings.

Brent Crews (No.20 JBL Toyota) returns to the lineup making his seventh overall start of his career. Considered one of the race favorites, the sixteen-year old driver from Oklahoma has four top-5 finishes including a win on the Springfield dirt and a runner up finish at DuQuoin last season.

Amber Balecan (No.22 ICON Direct Toyota) continues her full season efforts looking for her seventh top-ten finish of the year. The Winnepeg, Canadian born driver finished tenth two weeks ago on the Springfield dirt and is seventh overall in ARCA’s driver point standings.

Toni Breidinger (No.25 Sunoco Toyota) is determined to capture her tenth top-10 finish of the season when she makes her sixteenth start of the 2024 ARCA campaign. The 24-year old fan favorite from San Francisco finished sixth two weeks ago on the Springfield dirt and is currently fifth in ARCA’s championship driver point standings.

Taylor Reimer (No.55 BuzzBallz Toyota) returns to the track after finishing third at Springfield and making history with teammate Isabella Robusto, as the two drivers became the first women duo to ever finish top-three in ARCA/NASCAR competition. This will be the 24-year old driver’s third ever ARCA start.

The ARCA Menards Series Southern Illinois 100 from the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds will broadcast live of Fox Sports 1, Sunday, September 1st starting at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Brew City Up Next as VMS Takes on the Milwaukee Mile

August 21, 2024 (Concord, NC) – Looking to cap off a successful month Venturini Motorsports travels to Wisconsin as the ARCA Menards Series invades the Milwaukee Mile for Sunday’s Sprecher 150 ARCA East combination event.

Coming off an exciting weekend at Springfield with Isabella Robusto and Taylor Reimer finishing inside the top-three the team hopes to continue their recent success over the last three weeks. During this time VMS drivers’ have combined for six top-5’s and eleven top-10 finishes.

Setting the driver lineup for Milwaukee the team will unload a formidable group led by Kris Wright, Gio Ruggerio, Amber Balecan, Toni Breidinger and Dean Thompson.

Kris Wright (No.15 F.N.B. Corporation Toyota) with a runner up finish at Elko and fifth-place finish at Michigan takes his momentum to Milwaukee looking for his first win of the season. The Pittsburgh area native has recently moved into the third spot in ARCA’s championship driver point standings.

Gio Ruggerio (No.20 JBL Toyota) currently third in the ARCA East division makes his first ARCA national series start since finishing fifth at Indianapolis back in July. The eighteen-year old driver who won the season opening East event at Pensacola has put together an impressive stat sheet in the national series boasting an average finish of third in five series starts.

Amber Balecan (No.22 ICON Direct Toyota) riding back-to-back top-ten finishes at Springfield and Michigan eyes Milwaukee to continue her recent success. The Winnipeg Canadian born driver with six top-ten finishes on the season is seventh in the overall driver point standings.

Toni Breidinger (No.25 Gener8tor Toyota) coming into her own this season looks to capture her fourth consecutive top-ten finish of the season. The 24-year old fan favorite has averaged an 8.3 finish in the ten races completed on the season. Coming off a strong run at Springfield Breidinger moved up to the fifth spot in the championship driver point standings.

Dean Thompson (No.55 Thompson Pipeline Group Toyota) will make his fourth start of the season for VMS. Thompson who runs full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series finished third at Kansas and has tallied three top-ten finishes in ARCA competition during the 2024 season.

Sunday’s ARCA Menards Series Sprecher 150 from the Milwaukee Mile will broadcast live of Fox Sports 1 starting at 1:00 p.m. ET.

The Women Shine in Springfield; Robusto and Reimer Make History

August 19, 2024 (Concord, NC) – It was a historic day in the ARCA Menards Series when Isabella Robusto and Taylor Reimer finished second and third in Sunday’s event at the Illinois State Fairground’s Springfield dirt mile.

Venturini Motorsports drivers Robusto (JBL Toyota) and Reimer (BuzzBallz Toyota) became the first pair of female drivers to earn a top-three finish in the same race.

Adding to Venturini’s team success at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Toni Briedinger (Sunoco Toyota) finished sixth, Kris Wright (F.N.B. Corporation Toyota) placed seventh and Amber Balcaen (ICON Direct Toyota) claimed her second consecutive top-ten finishing eighth.

Continuing to impress in ARCA competition, Isabella Robusto wowed the packed grandstands as she masterly drove her JBL Toyota up through the field after starting in the rear due to mechanical issues prior to qualifying. This was Robusto’s second runner up finish on the season and her fourth top-five.

Dirt track racer Taylor Reimer made her presence known qualifying and finishing third in just her second career ARCA Menards Series start. Reimer finished in eighth-place in her series’ debut at the Springfield Mile last season. The spirited driver will rejoin the team for the second leg of ARCA’s dirt races at DuQuoin on Labor Day weekend.

VMS and the ARCA Menards Series will resume action on Sunday, August 25 at the Milwaukee Mile. The race will air live on Fox Sports 1 at 1:00 p.m. ET.