Venturini Motorsports
 | |
| Owner(s) |
Bill Venturini Billy Venturini |
|---|---|
| Base | Concord, North Carolina |
| Series | ARCA Racing Series |
| Car numbers | 15, 25, 35, 55, 65, 66 |
| Race drivers |
15. Christopher Bell 25. Tom Hessert 55. Dalton Sargeant 66. |
| Sponsors |
15. ARRIS 25. Menards/Ansell 35. N/A 55. JEGS 66. Energy Freedom |
| Manufacturer | Toyota |
| Career | |
| Debut | 1982 |
Venturini Motorsports is an American professional stock car racing team that currently competes in the ARCA Racing Series. Founded in 1982 by Bill Venturini Sr., Venturini Motorsports is the longest continually operated ARCA racing team in the United States. The team is based in Concord, North Carolina.
History
Venturini Motorsports was formed by Bill Venturini, Sr., a former NASCAR driver, 2-time ARCA Racing Series Champion (1987 and 1991), and 1983 ARCA Rookie of the Year. Largely influenced by his father Tony Venturini, Bill founded the racing team in 1982. The team is family owned and operated, with various members of the Venturini family holding positions on the team, including CEO, CFO, General Manager, and Director of Marketing and Public Relations. In 2007, Bill's son Billy helped found the Venturini Driver Development Program, one of the largest such programs for ARCA drivers in the United States.[1]
NASCAR
Bill Venturini drove the No. 35 Chevrolet with Rain-X as a sponsor to make its Cup debut at Michigan in 1989, where he started 38th and finished 37th. Between 1982 and 1995, the team had made select starts in the Winston Cup Series (now Sprint Cup), Busch Series (now Xfinity) and Craftsman Truck Series (now Camping World Truck Series) of NASCAR with owner Bill Venturini behind the wheel.
In 2013, the team made its return to the second-tier Nationwide Series with driver John Wes Townley and sponsor Zaxby's on the 25 Toyota Camry. The team planned to run at Bristol, Charlotte, and Talladega with the possibility of up to eight more races.[2] Townley finished 17th in his debut at Bristol, crashed at Charlotte, and failed to qualify at Talladega.
It was announced in August 2014 that Venturini would return to the Camping World Truck Series on a part-time basis starting at Bristol Motor Speedway, with ARCA driver Justin Boston and his sponsor Zloop. Team owner Billy Venturini himself would serve as Boston's crew chief.[3][4] Boston qualified 27th and finished 30th after a crash.[5] The team planned to run the final three races of the season in preparation for a full-time effort in 2015,[3] but those plans were scrapped when sponsor Zloop shifted their focus to the next season.[5]
Boston and Zloop would move to Kyle Busch Motorsports for 2015. In addition, Venturini would field the No. 25 truck in select races for KBM driver Matt Tifft,[6][7] Joe Gibbs Racing driver Cody Coughlin, and Venturini road course specialist Brian Wong. The team has not made any scheduled races in 2016.
ARCA Racing Series
Venturini Motorsports currently has ten active drivers, nine of which compete in the ARCA Racing Series, and one, John Wes Townley, who competes in the Camping World Truck Series as well as in ARCA. Various Sprint Cup Series drivers, including Joey Logano, are former drivers for Venturini Motorsports.[8]
Recent wins
Venturini Motorsports drivers won 20 races between 2007 and September 2013.[9]
- 1. Carolina 500 won by Joey Logano on May 4, 2008.
- 2. Chicagoland ARCA 150 won by Scott Lagasse, Jr. on September 6, 2008.
- 3. Pocono ARCA 200 won by Joey Logano on June 6, 2009.
- 4. Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 won by Steve Arpin on April 11, 2010.
- 5. Rattlesnake 150 won by Steve Arpin on April 16, 2010.
- 6. ARCA Re/Max Carolina 200 won by Sean Caisse on April 19, 2010.
- 7. Racing For Wildlife 200 won by Mikey Kile on June 11, 2010.
- 8. Southern Illinois 100 won by Steve Arpin on September 6, 2010.
- 9. Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 won by Brennan Poole on May 1, 2011.
- 10. Herr's Live Life With Flavor! 200 won by Alex Bowman on August 26, 2011.
- 11. Kansas Lottery 98.9 won by Alex Bowman on October 7, 2011.
- 12. Akona 200 Presented By Federated Car Care won by Brennan Poole on June 2, 2012.
- 13. Pocono ARCA 200 won by Brennan Poole on June 9, 2012.
- 14. Ansell Activarmr® 150 won by Kevin Swindell on July 21, 2012.
- 15. Lucas Oil 200 Presented By Mavtv American Real won by John Wes Townley on February 16, 2013.
- 16. Michigan ARCA 200 won by Brennan Poole on June 14, 2013.
- 17. Berlin ARCA 200 won by Erik Jones on August 10, 2013.
- 18. Allen Crowe 100 won by Brennan Poole on August 18, 2013.
- 19. Madison ARCA 200 won by Kyle Benjamin on August 25, 2013.
- 20. Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic won by Kyle Benjamin on September 14, 2013.
- 21. Michigan ARCA 200 won by Austin Theriault on June 13, 2014.
References
- ↑ "History". Venturini Motorsports. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
- ↑ Wolkin, Joseph (February 12, 2013). "Venturini Motorsports Hires Milka Duno and John Wes Townley as They Continue to Expand". Rant Sports. Rant Sports. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- 1 2 Knight, Chris (August 2, 2014). "Venturini Motorsports Promotes Justin Boston To Limited Truck Schedule". catchfence.com. Catchfence. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- ↑ Official Release (August 14, 2014). "Boston, Venturini Motorsports To Make NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Debut At Bristol Motor Speedway". SpeedwayMedia.com. Concord, North Carolina: SpeedwayMedia.com. Retrieved 18 September 2014.
- 1 2 Knight, Chris (October 31, 2014). "Justin Boston's Concentration Shifts Towards 2015". Catchfence.com. Catchfence.com. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- ↑ "KBM sets crew chiefs, truck numbers for 2015 lineup". nascar.com. NASCAR. December 11, 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- ↑ "Kyle Busch Motorsports Driver Matt Tifft Opens NCWTS Season at Daytona with Venturini Motorsports". Venturini Motorsports. February 11, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
- ↑ "drivers". Venturini Motorsports. 2010-12-14. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
- ↑ "events". Venturini Motorsports. Retrieved 2013-09-07.