Isabella Robusto | |||||||
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Born | Fort Mill, South Carolina, U.S. | November 4, 2004||||||
Achievements | First female to win a Legend Car National Qualifier event (Texas, 2018) | ||||||
ARCA Menards Series career | |||||||
4 races run over 1 year | |||||||
ARCA no., team | No. 55 (Venturini Motorsports) | ||||||
Best finish | 35th (2024) | ||||||
First race | 2024 General Tire 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
Last race | 2024 Reese's 150 (Kansas) | ||||||
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ARCA Menards Series East career | |||||||
1 race run over 1 year | |||||||
ARCA East no., team | No. 55 (Venturini Motorsports) | ||||||
Best finish | 36th (2024) | ||||||
First race | 2024 Music City 150 (Nashville Fairgrounds) | ||||||
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ARCA Menards Series West career | |||||||
6 races run over 1 year | |||||||
ARCA West no., team | No. 55 (Venturini Motorsports) | ||||||
First race | 2024 General Tire 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
Last race | 2024 NAPA Auto Parts 150 (Kern County) | ||||||
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Statistics current as of October 17, 2024. |
Isabella Robusto (born November 4, 2004) is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 55 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports. She has been in the TD2 driver development program system since 2021 and was a part of the Drive for Diversity program with Rev Racing from 2016 to 2021 which made her the longest lasting member of the program to date.
She started off her career in 2010 when she was 5 racing Go-Karts with her brother Will. At the age of 8 in 2013, she began racing Bandolero's at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, then in 2016 she would move up to Legend Cars and scored the Young Lions division title for the state of South Carolina. In 2018 she would become the first female to ever win a national qualifier race in Legend Car competition. [1]
In 2020, she would start running in Late Model Stock Cars for Rev Racing with the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series on part-time basis where she would score 6 top-5's and 14 top-10's. For 2021 she would return and score 5 top-5's and 8 top-10's as well as a pole. [2]
At the very end of 2021 and heading into 2022, Robusto joined the TD2 driver development program in the No. 55 for Lee Faulk Racing. She took part in 37 events, where she would score 2 wins, 3 poles, 10 top 5's, and over 30 top 10's. She also raced all the way from 30th to 3rd in the South Carolina 400, having to hold off drivers such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Bryant Barnhill. [3]
On January 18, 2023, it was announced Robusto would run part-time in the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series East in 2023. [4] Her first scheduled race was Nashville in May, however she was injured and sustained a concussion in a last lap crash at Hickory Motor Speedway just a week prior and replaced by fellow TD2 driver Giovanni Ruggiero. [5]
In 2024, Robusto would make her official ARCA Menards Series debut in the General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway, driving the No. 55 for Venturini Motorsports. [6] She started and finished the race in sixth, and ran as high as third throughout parts of the race. [7]
In 2023, Robusto has competed in Pirelli GT4 America and TGR GR Cup North America series competition picking up 2 top 5's, 3 top 10's, and one podium in 4 starts with the GT4's all coming for TGR-Smooge Racing.
She graduated from Fort Mill High School in August 2022 a year ahead of when she was originally scheduled to. She also has a twin brother Will who races in Pirelli GT4 America competition. [8]
Robusto is very active in the fitness community and is a part of the Virginia's Blue Ridge–TWENTY24 cycling team. [9]
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.)
ARCA Menards Series results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | AMSC | Pts | Ref |
2024 | Venturini Motorsports | 55 | Toyota | DAY | PHO 6 | TAL | DOV | KAN | CLT | IOW | MOH | BLN | IRP | SLM | ELK 4 | MCH | KAN 28 | TOL | 35th | 137 | [10] | |||||
20 | ISF 2 | MLW | DSF | GLN | BRI |
ARCA Menards Series East results | ||||||||||||||
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Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | AMSEC | Pts | Ref |
2024 | Venturini Motorsports | 55 | Toyota | FIF | DOV | NSV 2 | FRS | IOW | IRP | MLW | BRI | 36th | 43 | [11] |
ARCA Menards Series West results | ||||||||||||||||||
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Year | Team | No. | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | AMSWC | Pts | Ref |
2024 | Venturini Motorsports | 55 | Toyota | PHO 6 | KER | PIR 3 | SON 6 | IRW 2 | IRW 17 | SHA | TRI | MAD | AAS | KER 18 | PHO | 13th | 213 | [12] |
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.
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 Craftsman Truck Series, ARCA Menards Series East and the ARCA Menards Series West.
Antoinette Marie Breidinger is an American stock car racing driver and model. She competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series, and part-time in the East and West Series, driving the No. 25 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 1 Toyota Tundra for Tricon Garage.
Jesshill Michael Gregory Love is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing.
Gracie Elizabeth Trotter is an American stock car racing driver. She last competed part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the Nos. 15 and 25 Toyota Camrys for Venturini Motorsports. Trotter also competes for Rev Racing in the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series as part of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program. She is best known for becoming the first female driver to win an ARCA-sanctioned race, doing so in the ARCA Menards Series West for Bill McAnally Racing in 2020.
Kristofer Cole Wright is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series, part-time in the ARCA Menards Series East and ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 15 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports, and part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 1 Toyota Tundra for TRICON Garage. He has also previously competed in sports car racing, open-wheel racing, the Euroformula Open Championship, and the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Wright is also the 2018 IMSA Prototype Challenge LMP3 class champion.
Amber Balcaen is a Canadian professional stock car racing driver. She competes full-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 22 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports. She is most known for being the first Canadian woman to win in a NASCAR-sanctioned race in the United States.
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 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 part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 20 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 55 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports.
Giovanni Ruggiero 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 and ARCA Menards Series West, driving the No. 20 Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports. He is a member of Toyota Racing Development.
The 2024 General Tire 150 was the second stock car race of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series season, the first race of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series West season, and the 5th running of the event. The race was held on Friday, March 8, 2024, at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent asphalt tri-oval shaped speedway. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 150 laps, but was decreased to 115 laps due to lightning and rain in the area. William Sawalich, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would dominate the majority of the race, winning the pole and leading a race-high 66 laps to earn his fifth career ARCA Menards Series win, his second career ARCA Menards Series West win, and his first of the season. Sawalich's closest competition was Gio Ruggiero, who led 49 laps in the race before finishing in 2nd. To fill out the podium, Ruggiero, driving for Venturini Motorsports, and Grant Enfinger, driving for Sigma Performance Services, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2024 Pensacola 150 was the first stock car race of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series East season, and the 5th running of the event. The race was held on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, a 0.5 mile (0.80 km) permanent asphalt oval shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 150 laps to complete. In a thrilling race that featured an intense battle between Gio Ruggiero and William Sawalich, Ruggiero, driving for Venturini Motorsports, would take the lead from Sawalich on the final restart following the race break, and held him off for the final 70 laps to earn his first career ARCA Menards Series East win. Sawalich, who started on the pole, dominated the first half of the race, leading a race-high 80 laps before losing the lead on the final restart and ultimately finished 2nd. To fill out the podium, Bubba Pollard, driving for Phoenix Racing, would finish 3rd, respectively.
The 2024 Music City 150 was the 3rd stock car race of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series East season, and the 4th iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in Nashville, Tennessee, a 0.596 mile (0.959 km) permanent asphalt oval shaped short track. The race took the scheduled 150 laps to complete. William Sawalich, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would put on a blistering performance, leading all but five laps in the race to earn his fifth career ARCA Menards Series East win, and his first of the season. Pole-sitter Gio Ruggiero led the first four laps of the race, before he spun and hit the wall on lap 6. He continued to race until lap 49, where he pulled into the pits and retired from the race, officially credited with a 14th place finish. To fill out the podium, Isabella Robusto, driving for Venturini Motorsports, and Connor Zilisch, driving for Pinnacle Racing Group, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
The 2024 Portland 112 was the 3rd stock car race of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series West season, and the 4th running of the event. The race was on Friday, May 31, 2024, at Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon, a 1.967 mile (3.166 km) permanent asphalt road course. The race took the scheduled 57 laps to complete. William Sawalich, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would successfully take the lead from Brandon Jones in the middle stages of the race, and led the final 31 laps to earn his third career ARCA Menards Series West win, and his second of the season. This was also his first road course win in his ARCA career. Jones won the pole and led the first 26 laps, before being passed by Sawalich and finishing 2nd. To fill out the podium, Isabella Robusto, driving for Venturini Motorsports, would finish 3rd, respectively.
The 2024 NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame was the 5th stock car race of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series West season, and the 23rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Thursday, July 4, 2024, at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, California, a 0.50 mile permanent asphalt oval shaped short track. The race contested the over 150 laps to complete. Sean Hingorani, driving for Venturini Motorsports, would dominate the race, leading all 150 laps. To fill out the podium, Isabella Robusto, driving for Venturini Motorsports, and Jake Finch, driving for Venturini Motorsports, would finish 2nd and 3rd, place respectively.
The 2024 West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame 150 presented by NAPA Auto Parts was the 6th stock car race of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series West season, and the 23rd iteration of the event. The race was held on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, California, a 0.50 mile (0.80 km) permanent asphalt oval shaped short track. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 150 laps, but was extended to 152 laps due to an overtime finish. In an action-packed race with post-race controversy, Sean Hingorani, driving for Venturini Motorsports, would take advantage of late teammate troubles from Isabella Robusto, and take the lead with 29 laps to go. After surviving numerous restarts, Hingorani held off Jack Wood in a one-lap shootout to earn his sixth career ARCA Menards Series West win, his second of the season, and his second consecutive win, sweeping both doubleheader races. Robusto and Trevor Huddleston were the most dominant drivers of the race, Robusto led 58 laps while Huddleston led a race-high 62 laps. After hitting the wall with 29 laps to go, Robusto lost the lead and retired from the race with a flat tire, credited with a 17th place finish. To fill out the podium, Tyler Reif, driving for Central Coast Racing, would finish in 3rd, respectively.
The 2024 Springfield ARCA 100 was the 14th stock car race of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series season, and the 42nd iteration of the event. The race was held on Sunday, August 18, 2024, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack in Springfield, Illinois, a 1-mile (1.6 km) permanent oval-shaped dirt track. The race was originally scheduled to be contested over 100 laps, but was increased to 105 laps due to a late-race caution. William Sawalich, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would continue his consistent domination in the ARCA Menards Series, winning the pole and leading every lap of the race to earn his 10th career ARCA Menards Series win, and his sixth of the season. Isabella Robusto finished in 2nd, becoming the fourth female driver to finish runner-up in an ARCA race, alongside Hailie Deegan, Erin Crocker, and Shawna Robinson. Taylor Reimer finished in 3rd, marking the first time in series history where two female drivers finished inside the top three in the same ARCA race. Along with this, Venturini Motorsports fielded four entries for four females in the race, the first time in team history to field four females in the same event.
Taylor Reimer is an American racing driver. A member of the Toyota Racing Development program, she competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 55 BuzzBallz Toyota Camry for Venturini Motorsports. She also competes part-time in the NASCAR Regional Series Limited Late Models, driving the No. 25K BuzzBallz Toyota Camry for Lee Faulk Racing & Development.
The 2024 Reese's 150 was the 19th stock car race of the 2024 ARCA Menards Series season, and the 24th iteration of the event. The race was held on Friday, September 27, 2024, at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) permanent tri-oval shaped racetrack. The race took the scheduled 100 laps to complete. In a wild and wreck-filled race, Tanner Gray, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, would survive a chaotic restart with three laps to go, and held on to the lead with a near flat tire to earn his second career ARCA Menards Series win, and his second of the season. Gray had also dominated the race, leading a race-high 88 laps. To fill out the podium, Connor Zilisch, driving for Pinnacle Racing Group, and Lavar Scott, driving for Rev Racing, would finish 2nd and 3rd, respectively.