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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 TRD Pro for Tricon Garage, part-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 19 Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry for JGR. He is a member of Toyota Racing Development.
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.
In 2021, Ruggiero began racing at local short tracks in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, winning a race at Hudson Speedway in the process.
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. He also ran in the Solid Rock Carriers CARS Pro Late Model Tour, winning in his first career start at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
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 third in point standings in the ASA STARS National Tour. He won the Tar Heel 250 at Hickory Motor Speedway after making an aggressive last-lap pass on William Byron for the win. He also won the prestigious Winchester 400 at Winchester Speedway. After the race, Ruggiero was involved in a post-race altercation with Stephen Nasse. With nine laps to go, Ruggiero and Nasse made contact in turn one, forcing Nasse into the outside wall and losing three positions. During the 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. Nasse was docked 44 owner and driver points and received a fine of US$4,500. Both drivers were placed on probation for the remainder of the season.
On December 18, 2023, it was announced that Ruggiero would run a ten-race schedule in the ARCA Menards Series in 2024, driving for Venturini Motorsports in their No. 20 Toyota. He earned three runner-up finishes along with seven top-fives and nine top-tens, including a pole at Iowa.
On January 8, 2025, Joe Gibbs Racing announced their driver lineup for the upcoming season, with Ruggiero running two races in the team's No. 18 car. He ran at Michigan and the Kansas fall race, earning a second-place finish in the Kansas event.
Ruggiero returned to JGR's ARCA program in 2026, running six races, as anchor driver of the car, Max Reaves, was ineligible to race due to his age. Ruggiero won at Daytona and Kansas.
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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 TRD Pro for Tricon Garage, part-time in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, driving the No. 19 Toyota GR Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry for JGR. He is a member of Toyota Racing Development.
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.
In 2021, Ruggiero began racing at local short tracks in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, winning a race at Hudson Speedway in the process.
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. He also ran in the Solid Rock Carriers CARS Pro Late Model Tour, winning in his first career start at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
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 third in point standings in the ASA STARS National Tour. He won the Tar Heel 250 at Hickory Motor Speedway after making an aggressive last-lap pass on William Byron for the win. He also won the prestigious Winchester 400 at Winchester Speedway. After the race, Ruggiero was involved in a post-race altercation with Stephen Nasse. With nine laps to go, Ruggiero and Nasse made contact in turn one, forcing Nasse into the outside wall and losing three positions. During the 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. Nasse was docked 44 owner and driver points and received a fine of US$4,500. Both drivers were placed on probation for the remainder of the season.
On December 18, 2023, it was announced that Ruggiero would run a ten-race schedule in the ARCA Menards Series in 2024, driving for Venturini Motorsports in their No. 20 Toyota. He earned three runner-up finishes along with seven top-fives and nine top-tens, including a pole at Iowa.
On January 8, 2025, Joe Gibbs Racing announced their driver lineup for the upcoming season, with Ruggiero running two races in the team's No. 18 car. He ran at Michigan and the Kansas fall race, earning a second-place finish in the Kansas event.
Ruggiero returned to JGR's ARCA program in 2026, running six races, as anchor driver of the car, Max Reaves, was ineligible to race due to his age. Ruggiero won at Daytona and Kansas.