Venturini Motorsports
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Owner(s) | Bill Venturini Billy Venturini |
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Base | Concord, North Carolina |
Series | ARCA Racing Series |
Race drivers | 15. Christian Eckes 20. Chandler Smith, Harrison Burton 25. Michael Self 55. Leilani Munter |
Sponsors | 15. Sinclair Oil Corporation, JBL Audio 20. VeganStrong.com, Smith General Contracting 25. TBA 55. U.S. Turf Equipment, Sinclair Lubricants |
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 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series), 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 (Now NASCAR Xfinity 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.
Various Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series drivers, including Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, William Byron, Erik Jones Daniel Suárez, Brian Scott, Dakoda Armstrong, Justin Marks, Mark Thompson, Scott Lagasse Jr, Brennan Poole, Ryan Reed, Justin Haley, B. J. McLeod, Austin Theriault, Kyle Benjamin, Brandon Jones, Christopher Bell, Noah Gragson, Matt Tifft, Spencer Davis, Cole Rouse, and Tanner Thorson are former drivers for Venturini Motorsports.[8]
ARCA Racing Series
Venturini Motorsports currently has eight active drivers in the ARCA Racing Series. Various Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers, including Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, William Byron, Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez, are former drivers for Venturini Motorsports.[9]
Recent wins
In 2006, the team ended a 12-year winless streak when Billy Venturini won the Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 by Federated Auto Parts.
Since 2006, Venturini Motorsports drivers have won 40 races:[10][11][12]
- 1. Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 by Federated Auto Parts won by Billy Venturini on April 23, 2006.
- 2. Carolina 500 won by Joey Logano on May 4, 2008.
- 3. Chicagoland ARCA 150 won by Scott Lagasse, Jr. on September 6, 2008.
- 4. ARCA Re/Max Carolina 200 won by Sean Caisse on April 19, 2009.
- 5. Pocono ARCA 200 won by Joey Logano on June 6, 2009.
- 6. Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 won by Steve Arpin on April 11, 2010.
- 7. Rattlesnake 150 won by Steve Arpin on April 16, 2010.
- 8. Racing For Wildlife 200 won by Mikey Kile on June 11, 2010.
- 9. Southern Illinois 100 won by Steve Arpin on September 6, 2010.
- 10. Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 won by Brennan Poole on May 1, 2011.
- 11. Herr's Live Life With Flavor! 200 won by Alex Bowman on August 26, 2011.
- 12. Kansas Lottery 98.9 won by Alex Bowman on October 7, 2011.
- 13. Akona 200 Presented By Federated Car Care won by Brennan Poole on June 2, 2012.
- 14. Pocono ARCA 200 won by Brennan Poole on June 9, 2012.
- 15. Ansell Activarmr® 150 won by Kevin Swindell on July 21, 2012.
- 16. Lucas Oil 200 Presented By Mavtv American Real won by John Wes Townley on February 16, 2013.
- 17. Michigan ARCA 200 won by Brennan Poole on June 14, 2013.
- 18. Berlin ARCA 200 won by Erik Jones on August 10, 2013.
- 19. Allen Crowe 100 won by Brennan Poole on August 18, 2013.
- 20. Madison ARCA 200 won by Kyle Benjamin on August 25, 2013.
- 21. Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic won by Kyle Benjamin on September 14, 2013.
- 22. Menards 200 Presented By Federated Car Care won by Justin Boston on May 18, 2014.
- 23. Michigan ARCA 200 won by Austin Theriault on June 13, 2014.
- 24. SuperChevyStores.com 100 won by Kevin Swindell on August 17, 2014.
- 25. Herr's Live Life With Flavor 200 won by Justin Boston on August 24, 2014.
- 26. ZLOOP 150 won by Brennan Poole on September 19, 2014.
- 27. Menards 200 Presented By Federated Car Care won by Todd Gilliland on May 17, 2015.
- 28. Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 won by Christopher Bell on April 24, 2016.
- 29. Berlin ARCA 200 won by Dalton Sargeant on August 6, 2016.
- 30. General Tire Grabber 100 won by Tom Hessert on September 4, 2016.
- 31. Eddie Gilstrap Motors Fall Classic won by Christopher Bell on September 10, 2016.
- 32. SCOTT 150 won by Christopher Bell on September 14, 2017.
- 33. Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire won by Michael Self on February 10, 2018.
- 34. Kentuckiana Ford Dealers 200 won by Christian Eckes on April 22, 2018.
- 35. Herr's Potato Chips 200 won by Chandler Smith on June 15, 2018.
- 36. Scott 150 won by Michael Self on June 28, 2018.
- 37. Allen Crowe 100 won by Christian Eckes on August 19, 2018.
- 38. General Tire Grabber 100 won by Logan Seavey on September 3, 2018.
- 39. Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA Fall Classic won by Chandler Smith on September 15, 2018.
- 40. Shore Lunch 200 won by Christian Eckes on October 6, 2018.
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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ "Venturini Motorsports :: drivers". venturinimotorsports.com. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
- ^ "Venturini Motorsports :: drivers". venturinimotorsports.com. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
- ^ "events". Venturini Motorsports. Retrieved 2013-09-07.
- ^ "Owner Bill Venturini's ARCA Racing Series wins - Racing-Reference.info". www.racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
- ^ "Owner Billy Venturini's ARCA Racing Series wins - Racing-Reference.info". www.racing-reference.info. Retrieved 2018-10-11.