MotorSports
Jun 22, 2025
  • Motorsports News
  • Formula 1
  • IndyCar
  • NASCAR
  • Rally
  • SportsCars
  • Touring
  • WEC
Font ResizerAa
MotorSportsMotorSports
Search
  • Categories
  • Forums
  • More Foxiz
    • Blog Index
    • Sitemap
Sign In Sign In
Follow US
Made by ThemeRuby using the Foxiz theme. Powered by WordPress
Gio Ruggiero troopers to runner-up end for Tricon in Truck Sequence debut
Motorsports News

Gio Ruggiero troopers to runner-up end for Tricon in Truck Sequence debut

By Miles Cooper February 15, 2025
SHARE
- Advertisement -

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Gio Ruggiero was sitting tenth in the midst of the pack three-wide halfway down the Daytona backstretch on the ultimate lap. Half a lap later, Ruggiero completed second in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Sequence debut.

Driving the No. 17 Toyota for Tricon Storage, the 18-year-old recovered from shedding the lead late and averted the carnage round him within the last mile of Friday’s Recent from Florida 250 at Daytona Worldwide Speedway for a top-five end in his inaugural truck begin. Ruggiero was third on monitor when the yellow flag waved with the checkered, however Parker Kligerman’s No. 75 truck failed post-race inspection after measuring too low on either side of the rear of the car, bumping Corey Heim from runner-up to winner and Ruggiero into second place — a sudden 1-2 end for Tricon Storage.

RELATED: |

Ruggiero, the Seekonk, Mass., native, led 11 laps Friday however was shuffled from the highest spot with 5 laps remaining. Bayley Currey surged the within lane ahead previous Ruggiero earlier than Ruggiero’s Tricon teammates Tanner Grey and Heim determined they wanted to work previous Ruggiero too. However by means of steerage from spotter Frankie Kimmel II, Ruggiero stayed within the sport, missed a number of wrecks by means of the ultimate set of corners and persevered.

“Stuff occurs fast right here, and I used to be main that pack for a few laps,” Ruggiero stated. “And I feel 5 to go is once I misplaced the lead there. However I knew it was coming. I knew they had been going to have strains forming up and it was going to get loopy. So I’m simply glad we may cling on and have a powerful end and a clear truck there for the tip.

“My spotter, Frankie Kimmel, this was my actual first race with him aside from our race final yr, and I assumed he did an ideal job serving to me and training me tonight. I simply dragged brake and tried to maintain the blokes behind me tucked up and pushing me.”

Tricon Storage proprietor David Gilliland was thrilled seeing the rapid outcomes from considered one of his two full-time rookie drivers in Friday’s season opener — however he wasn’t shocked. Ruggiero’s background stems primarily from Late Mannequin racing on his manner by means of the racing ladder however moved to the inventory automotive ranks in 2024 with 10 ARCA Menards Sequence begins.

“From the Rockingham check to him being across the store, I’ve been tremendous, tremendous impressed along with his demeanor and his angle,” Gilliland informed NASCAR.com. “Right now, he impressed me, however actually, 0% shocked at what he completed right now. Actually proud. He had a whole lot of adversity thrown at him right now.”

Gio Ruggiero troopers to runner-up end for Tricon in Truck Sequence debut

Certainly, Ruggiero had a flat tire throughout his qualifying run Friday and subsequently had one other flat early in Friday’s 100-lap contest.

“Lots of these younger youngsters can come out right here and go quick,” Gilliland stated. “However to execute and put an entire race collectively … he by no means received panicked, by no means nothing. Simply very, very pleased with him. Very pleased with our group. Tricon Storage executed very, very nicely as a group right now. I used to be simply speaking to our guys — from our crew chiefs speaking to our drivers to spotters, everyone working collectively is hard. I used to be very pleased with everyone at our group.”

Heim, a championship risk in every of the previous two Truck Sequence campaigns, locked into the playoffs as soon as once more, this time through a win within the opening race. However on Friday, he couldn’t assist however discover how nicely Ruggiero tailored to the distinctive problem of superspeedway racing.

“For Gio’s first race, I feel he did an ideal job,” Heim stated. “There’s positively rather a lot to work on normally, however I imply he’s contemporary out of late fashions and a part-time ARCA schedule. I can’t anticipate him to be excellent. To have the ability to put himself in place on the finish of the race is spectacular, together with Tanner and William (Sawalich) as nicely. That is by far the most effective the group has labored collectively which is fairly stunning as a result of there’s a whole lot of rookies. However regardless, pleased with Tricon Storage.”

Subsequent is Atlanta Motor Speedway on Feb. 22 (1:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), the place Ruggiero will try to go for a second straight prime 5 to kick off his Truck Sequence profession.

“It’s actually good momentum headed into the yr, and as nicely to Atlanta being one other superspeedway subsequent weekend,” Ruggiero stated. “However, like my outdated tremendous late mannequin group proprietor Donnie Wilson used to inform me, (if) you end within the prime 5, then the highest threes will come. You end within the prime three, then the wins will come. So if we will hold constructing off this, we’ll get a win quickly.”

- Advertisement --
TAGGED:debutfinishGioRuggierorunnerupSeriessoldiersTriconTruck
Previous Article NASCAR Truck Collection: Why Daytona winner Parker Kligerman was disqualified NASCAR Truck Collection: Why Daytona winner Parker Kligerman was disqualified
Next Article Cody Ware writes Daytona 500 diary: What’s a NASCAR driver to do with no automotive? Cody Ware writes Daytona 500 diary: What’s a NASCAR driver to do with no automotive?
Leave a Comment Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


- Advertisement -
Sukup Manufacturing Co., IndyCar announce race names for Sukup IndyCar Race Weekend
Sukup Manufacturing Co., IndyCar announce race names for Sukup IndyCar Race Weekend
IndyCar
Rev Up for the New Formula 1 Season: Australian Grand Prix Weekend is Here!
Rev Up for the New Formula 1 Season: Australian Grand Prix Weekend is Here!
Formula 1
Ben Kennedy Reflects on His Racing Roots: A NASCAR Executive’s Longing for the Track
Ben Kennedy Reflects on His Racing Roots: A NASCAR Executive’s Longing for the Track
NASCAR
Trailblazer: Argentine Woman Makes History as First to Claim World Rally-Raid Championship Title!
Trailblazer: Argentine Woman Makes History as First to Claim World Rally-Raid Championship Title!
Rally
Celebrating the Legacy of Olivier Gendebien: A Sports Car Legend
Celebrating the Legacy of Olivier Gendebien: A Sports Car Legend
SportsCars
Revving Up Nostalgia: Thrilling Wheel-to-Wheel Action at the 1996 North American Touring Car Championship in Lime Rock!
Revving Up Nostalgia: Thrilling Wheel-to-Wheel Action at the 1996 North American Touring Car Championship in Lime Rock!
Touring

Categories

Archives

February 2025
MTWTFSS
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
2425262728 
« Jan   Mar »

You Might Also Like

Will Buxton set for IndyCar on FOX debut broadcast in St. Pete
Motorsports News

Will Buxton set for IndyCar on FOX debut broadcast in St. Pete

By Miles Cooper February 26, 2025
One race to show himself at Alpine? Warmth is on Jack Doohan as Ocon indicators off
Motorsports News

One race to show himself at Alpine? Warmth is on Jack Doohan as Ocon indicators off

By Miles Cooper December 3, 2024
Ernest, Nate Smith to headline first two Summer season Music Collection live shows of 2025
Motorsports News

Ernest, Nate Smith to headline first two Summer season Music Collection live shows of 2025

By Miles Cooper March 12, 2025
What’s it like being a replacement F1 driver?
Motorsports News

What’s it like being a replacement F1 driver?

By Olivia Williams April 3, 2025
NASCAR takeaways, outcomes from Atlanta and sure some of us are mad as Christopher Bell wins
Motorsports News

NASCAR takeaways, outcomes from Atlanta and sure some of us are mad as Christopher Bell wins

By Miles Cooper February 24, 2025
Shaq earns trip for Daytona 500 (kinda), from free-throw line to beginning grid | NASCAR
Motorsports News

Shaq earns trip for Daytona 500 (kinda), from free-throw line to beginning grid | NASCAR

By Miles Cooper February 9, 2025

MotorSports-News

@2024 – All Right Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?