Billy Venturini

Last updated
Billy Venturini
Billy Venturini 2018 (cropped).jpg
Venturini at Madison International Speedway in 2018
BornWilliam Venturini
(1976-04-07) April 7, 1976 (age 47)
Chicago, Illinois
ARCA Menards Series career
161 races run over 14 years
Best finish3rd (2006)
First race 1994 Louisville 250 (Louisville)
Last race 2007 ARCA Re/Max 250 (Talladega)
First win 2006 Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200 (Salem)
WinsTop tens Poles
1751
ARCA Menards Series East career
1 race run over 1 year
ARCA East no., teamNo. 25 (Venturini Motorsports)
First race 2023 Dutch Boy 150 (Flat Rock)
WinsTop tens Poles
010
Statistics current as of May 20, 2023.

William "Billy" Venturini (born April 7, 1976) is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He currently co-owns Venturini Motorsports, a racing team that competes in the ARCA Menards Series, along with his father, Bill. As a driver, he competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 25 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports. He previously competed in the series either full-time or part-time from 1994 through 2007, mainly driving for the same team.

Contents

Racing career

ARCA

Venturini made his ARCA Series debut at Louisville Motor Speedway in 1994, when he was only 18-years old. His race would end early after oil pressure issues on lap 41. He ran four more races that year, earning his first top five at Toledo Speedway in September. He drove a race for Bill Egbert in the season finale at Atlanta Motor Speedway, finishing 32nd due to a driveshaft issue. In 1997, he joined Ed Rensi Racing to run a nine-race schedule, earning his best finish of 5th at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He returned next season, earning a top ten at Daytona. He returned to his family team, and continued running part-time in the series from 1999 through 2001. In 2002, he ran for the full season, earning one top five and nine top tens, finishing 6th in the final standings. He would respectively finish inside the top five in point standings for the next two years, along with earning a pole at Lake Erie Speedway in 2003. He went back to a part-time schedule in 2005, before returning full-time in 2006. He would capture his only win that year at Salem Speedway, after dominating the race by leading 95 laps. He would finish a career best 3rd in points. 2007 would end up being his final year as a driver. He ran eight races that year, earning a top five at Talladega Superspeedway, which would also be his final race. After the 2007 season, Venturini decided to retire as a driver, and focus on operating his racing team with his father. On May 6, 2023, during an interview with motorsport news website, Frontstretch, Venturini revealed that he would return to the driver's seat for the first time in 16 years, running the ARCA Menards Series East race at Flat Rock Speedway, he would team with fellow driver and former driver for Venturini Brennan Poole as a spotter, and the pairing wound up earning a 4th place finish. [1] It will also be his first start in the East Series.

NASCAR Truck Series

Venturini attempted to make his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in 1999, racing at Martinsville Speedway for his family team, but would fail to qualify for the event. He would attempt to run the next race, but would once again fail to qualify. [2] He attempted a race at Martinsville a year later, but also failed to qualify. He has not made a start in the series since then. [3]

Post-racing career

After retiring from driving in 2007, Venturini decided to turn his family team into a driver development program. Venturini would later be known for helping his team become one of the most premier driver development programs in the ARCA circuit, collecting over 50 wins in the series, including a championship in 2019. [4] [5] [6] That same year, Venturini won the Cometic Crew Chief of the Year award. [7] In 2012, Venturini, along with his family, were inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (NIASHF). In 2022, Venturini received media attention during the ARCA race at Kansas in May. Venturini was serving as the crew chief for Corey Heim in the race, since the original crew chief, Shannon Rursch, was attending his daughter's college graduation that weekend. On lap 57 of the race, Drew Dollar made contact with Heim exiting turn 4, causing both of them to hit the outside wall, and spin through the infield grass. During an interview with FS1 reporter Kate Osborne, Venturini showed his displeasure with Dollar, stating that "Drew wrecks all your shit when he's driving for you, and then he wrecks it all when he's racing against you." He would also state that Dollar was a "pure lack of talent." [8] Dollar reacted to the interview a day later, by tweeting out Venturini's racing stats on Racing-Reference, with the caption saying "Guess it took this guy about 14 years to figure out he didn't need to be a race car driver." [9]

Personal life

Venturini is married to Emily, and they have twin sons, Luke and Max. [10] His younger sister, Wendy Venturini, is currently a pit reporter for Performance Racing Network (PRN).

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Craftsman Truck Series

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results
YearTeamNo.Make12345678910111213141516171819202122232425NCTCPtsRef
1999 Venturini Motorsports 35 Chevy HOM PHO EVG MMR MAR
DNQ		 MEM
DNQ		 PPR I70 BRI TEX PIR GLN MLW NSV NZH MCH NHA IRP GTY HPT RCH LVS LVL TEX CAL 98th– [2]
2000 83 DAY HOM PHO MMR MAR
DNQ		 PIR GTY MEM PPR EVG TEX KEN GLN MLW NHA NZH MCH IRP NSV CIC RCH DOV TEX CAL 118th– [3]

ARCA Re/Max Series

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

ARCA Re/Max Series results
YearTeamNo.Make12345678910111213141516171819202122232425ARSCPtsRef
1994 Venturini Motorsports 35 Chevy DAY TAL FIF LVL
26		 KIL TOL
14		 FRS MCH DMS POC POC KIL FRS INF I70
14		 ISF DSF TOL
4		 SLM WIN NA0 [11]
Bill Egbert62 Chevy ATL
32
1995 Venturini Motorsports 25 Chevy DAY ATL TAL FIF
5		 KIL
26		 FRS MCH I80 MCS FRS POC
31		 POC KIL FRS SBS LVL
18		 ISF DSF SLM WIN ATL
DNQ		NA0 [12]
1996 DAY ATL SLM TAL FIF LVL CLT
28		 CLT KIL FRS POC MCH FRS TOL POC MCH IND SBS ISF DQN KIL SLM WIN CLT
31		 ATL NA0 [13]
1997 DAY ATL SLM CLT
38		20th1640 [14]
Ed Rensi Racing 83 Chevy CLT POC MCH SBS
6		 TOL
13		 KIL
22		 FRS WVS POC MCH
15		 DQN GTW
29		 SLM
20		 WIN CLT
5
 TAL ISF
10		 ATL
29
1998 DAY
9		 ATL
26		 SLM
25		 CLT
16		 MEM MCH POC SBS TOL PIK POC KIL FRS ISF ATL DQN SLM TEX WIN NA0 [15]
Venturini Motorsports 25 Chevy CLT
DNQ		 TAL ATL
1999 DAY ATL
21		 SLM AND CLT
10		 MCH
36		 POC
35		 TOL SBS BER POC
34		 KIL FRS FLM ISF WIN DQN SLM CLT
37		 TAL ATL
6		43rd715 [16]
2000 DAY SLM AND CLT
11		 KIL FRS MCH
10		 POC
16		 TOL KEN
11		 BER POC
7		 WIN ISF KEN
4		 DQN SLM CLT
36		 TAL ATL
9		28th1320 [17]
2001 DAY
23		 NSH
26		 WIN
4		 SLM
23		 GTW
8		 KEN
13		 CLT
23		 KAN MCH POC MEM
30		 GLN KEN
3		 MCH POC
20		 NSH
7		 ISF CHI
4		 DQN SLM TOL BER CLT
4		 TAL
33		 ATL
36		18th2445 [18]
2002 Pontiac DAY
29		 TAL
10		6th4685 [19]
Chevy ATL
7		 NSH
26		 SLM
20		 KEN
10		 CLT
31		 KAN
11		 POC
6		 MCH
19		 TOL
7		 SBO
3		 KEN
12		 BER
11		 POC
25		 NSH
8		 ISF
9		 WIN
24		 DQN
13		 CHI
8		 SLM
26		 CLT
22
2003 Pontiac DAY
3		 SLM
3		 BER
4*		 LER
2*		 WIN
9		 SLM
20		 TAL
2		 SBO
29		5th4945 [20]
Chevy ATL
9		 NSH
16		 TOL
5		 KEN
10		 CLT
17		 KAN
23		 MCH
38		 POC
10		 POC
8		 NSH
27		 ISF
8		 DQN
16		 TOL
26		 CLT
9
2004 Pontiac DAY
3		 TAL
24		4th5015 [21]
Chevy NSH
12		 SLM
3		 KEN
2		 TOL
12		 CLT
20		 KAN
6		 POC
4		 MCH
30		 SBO
3		 BER
7		 KEN
23		 GTW
6		 POC
8		 LER
4		 NSH
29		 ISF
8		 TOL
28		 DQN
13		 CHI
6		 SLM
20
2005 DAY
14		 NSH SLM KEN TOL LNS MLW POC MCH KAN NSH MCH ISF TOL
3		 DQN
8		 CHI
8		 SLM
4		 TAL
28		28th1700 [22]
15 KEN
32		 BER
27		 POC GTW LER
2
2006 25 DAY
7		 NSH
12		 SLM
1*		 WIN
28		 KEN
9		 TOL
11		 POC
34		 MCH
12		 KAN
35		 KEN
25		 BER
30		 POC
7		 GTW
17		 NSH
4		 MCH
7		 ISF
9		 MLW
9		 TOL
9		 DQN
9		 CHI
6		 SLM
5		 TAL
30		 IOW
9		3rd4950 [23]
2007 DAY
28		 USA
14		 NSH
19		 SLM
9		 KAN WIN KEN TOL
10		 IOW POC MCH BER KEN POC NSH ISF MLW GTW DQN
8		 CHI
10		 SLM 31st1355 [24]
15 TAL
5		 TOL

ARCA Menards Series East

ARCA Menards Series East results
YearTeamNo.Make12345678AMSECPtsRef
2023 Venturini Motorsports 25 Toyota FIF DOV NSV FRS
4		 IOW IRP MLW BRI -*-* [25]

* Season still in progress

Related Research Articles

Francis James Kimmel is an American former stock car racing driver. He competed primarily in the ARCA Racing Series, from 1990 through 2016. Kimmel is the most successful driver in ARCA history. He has won the ARCA championship ten times, including eight consecutive. He won the championship in 1998 and also won the 2000 through 2007 championships, and again in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Gerhart</span> American stock car racing driver

Robert Gerhart Jr. is an American retired professional stock car racing driver and businessman. He last competed in the ARCA Menards Series, driving Chevrolet SS for Gerhart Racing and the No. 63 Chevy Silverado for his own team in a joint effort with the MB Motorsports team in the Camping World Truck Series. He has won nine times on the ARCA circuit, eight of those victories coming in the season-opening ARCA Daytona 200 at Daytona International Speedway.

Andrew Miles Hillenburg is an American former professional stock car racing driver and current team owner and track owner. His race team, Fast Track Racing, fields multiple cars in the ARCA Menards Series and formerly fielded entries in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He is credited with reviving the North Carolina Speedway, now known as Rockingham Speedway, after the track lost its NASCAR dates starting in 2005.

Jeffrey McClure is an American former stock car racing driver who raced for multiple years in all three major NASCAR series as well as what is now the ARCA Menards Series. McClure has been involved in the ARCA after his driving days are over, working as a team owner and most recently as a crew chief.

Timothy Bainey Jr. is an American stock car racing driver. He is a veteran of the Hooters Pro Cup Series and also made starts in what is now the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series, and the East Series. He was born in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venturini Motorsports</span> American stock car racing team

Venturini Motorsports is an American professional stock car racing team that currently competes in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, and ARCA Menards Series West. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Praytor</span> American racecar driver

Thomas "Moose" Praytor IV is an American professional stock car racing driver who currently competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet for his family team, Max Force Racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Smith (racing driver)</span> American racing driver

Bradley Smith is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 48 Chevrolet SS for his team, Brad Smith Motorsports. Smith is a veteran of the series, having made over 400 starts in it since 1988. He made his debut in the ARCA Menards Series East in 2020 and ARCA Menards Series West in 2021, and he and his team have also competed part-time in those series since then. He is the younger brother of fellow driver Jeff Smith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zane Smith (racing driver)</span> American racing driver

Zane Michael Smith is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 38 Ford F-150 for Front Row Motorsports, part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 28 Ford Mustang for RSS Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the Nos. 36 and 38 Ford Mustangs for FRM and the No. 51 Mustang for Rick Ware Racing. He is the 2022 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion.

Ryan T. Repko is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time at Millbridge Speedway in the Micro Sprint division driving the No. 71 Hyper Racing Chassis for Ryan Repko Racing.

Andrew J. Dollar is an American professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota Supra for Joe Gibbs Racing and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Kyle Busch Motorsports. He has raced in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series East and the ARCA Menards Series West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Heim</span> American racing driver

Corey David Heim is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 11 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage and part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 24 Toyota Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. He has previously competed ARCA Menards Series East and West Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Venturini</span> American racing driver and team owner

William Venturini, nicknamed "Big Bill", is a retired American professional stock car racing driver. He is the founder and co-owner of Venturini Motorsports, a team that competes in the ARCA Menards Series. As a driver, he primarily competed in the same series from 1982 through 1996. Venturini has won two ARCA championships, which came in 1987 and 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Love</span> American racing driver

Jesse Hammer Love Jr. is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 20 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 1 and 11 Toyota Tundras for Tricon Garage.

Jonathan Shafer is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 30 Toyota Tundra for On Point Motorsports. He is the son of former driver Todd Shafer.

Conner Jones is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, the ARCA Menards Series East, and the ARCA Menards Series West, driving the Nos. 15 and 25 Toyota Camrys for Venturini Motorsports and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 66 Ford F-150 for ThorSport Racing.

James "Jake" Finch Jr. is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 1 Toyota Camry for his family-owned team, Phoenix Racing, and the No. 20 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. J. Henriksen</span> American professional stock car driver

A. J. Henriksen is an American professional stock car racing driver. He has previously competed in the ARCA Racing Series from 1995 to 2017.

Tim Mitchell is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He had competed in the ARCA Menards Series from 1997 to 2011, with a majority of his starts being with Wayne Peterson Racing.

Joe Cooksey is an American professional stock car racing driver. He has competed in the ARCA Menards Series from 1996 to 2022, and has 57 top-10 finishes and one pole position. He also has run three races in the NASCAR Busch Series and one race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

References

  1. ↑ Tomlinson, Joy (May 6, 2023). "Billy Venturini Running ARCA East Race at Flat Rock". Frontstretch.com. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Billy Venturini – 1999 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Billy Venturini – 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  4. ↑ "History - Venturini Motorsports". Venturini Motorsports. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Christian Eckes Clinches ARCA Menards Series Championship with Victory in Season Finale at Kansas Speedway". ARCA. October 19, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Dominant Season Leads to Owner's Championship for Billy Venturini". ARCA. October 24, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Cometic Crew Chief of the Year Award Among Billy Venturini's 2019 Accolades". ARCA. November 4, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  8. ↑ Srigley, Joseph (May 14, 2022). "'Great Kid, Does Not Need to Be a Racecar Driver," Billy Venturini Upset After Dollar, Heim Wreck for Lead at Kansas". TobyChristie.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  9. ↑ Dollar, Drew (May 16, 2022). "(Twitter post)". Twitter . Retrieved May 6, 2023. Talk about a "pure lack of talent!" Guess it took this guy about 14 years to figure out he didn't need to be a race car driver.
  10. ↑ Venturini, Billy (February 22, 2022). "(Twitter post)". Twitter . Retrieved May 9, 2023. 2-22-22 my 2 turn 14. Happy birthday boys. I love you every day...... and I like you most days too
  11. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 1994 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 1995 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 1996 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 1997 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 1998 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 1999 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 2000 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 2001 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 2002 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 2003 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 2004 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 2005 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 2006 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 2007 ARCA Re/Max Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Billy Venturini - 2023 ARCA Menards Series East Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.