For Gio Ruggiero, the road to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is never easy, but he’s embracing it wholeheartedly despite public skepticism. As of December 2, TRICON Garage announced that Ruggiero would take over from Taylor Gray, who is joining Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series. As Ruggiero prepares to make his Daytona International Speedway debut this weekend, he’s determined to prove his critics wrong.

It has been debated by NASCAR fans whether Ruggiero should be considered a “pay driver” and whether TRICON’s decision to promote him so soon is the right one. A breakout season is unlikely for the ambitious teenager who wants to be Rookie of the Year (ROTY).

Ruggiero has big ambitions for Truck Series debut

“I am super thankful to have the opportunity to run full-time with TRICON in 2025,” Ruggiero said in a team release. Gilliland echoed the optimism, saying, “Gio has shown a lot of promise in his young career… We do not doubt that he will have a successful rookie season.” It was Ruggiero’s 2024 season in the ARCA Menards Series that showed his potential. Venturini Motorsports drove him to a win, five top fives, and six top 10s in the ARCA Menards Series East. In ARCA, he had 11 top-five finishes and led 255 laps. He doesn’t dominate other rising stars, such as Jesse Love, who won the 2023 ARCA Menards Series title.

In a recent SiriusXM NASCAR interview, Ruggiero acknowledged the pressure but radiated gratitude and determination. “It’s been a dream of mine to race in the Truck Series ever since I started racing at Seekonk Speedway. Now, it’s kind of like a full-circle moment for me.” Even though he’s aiming for the ROTY title in 2025, he’s still just finishing races and running upfront. In his words, “I don’t necessarily have a specific list that I’ve kind of written anything down but I obviously want to go out there and win Rookie of the Year.

TRICON’s strong roster, which includes veteran drivers Corey Heim and Tanner Gray, and fellow rookie Toni Breidinger, could help Ruggiero grow. “I think I’ve got some great teammates who will be able to help me through the learning process,” Ruggiero shared. Although he’s got a high-caliber team behind him, fan skepticism persists.

When a driver’s rise seems faster than expected in NASCAR circles, it’s called a “pay driver.” In Ruggiero’s case, it stems from his ARCA performances. The second-place finish at Phoenix and the win at Five Flags Speedway highlighted his talent, but he didn’t have the championship dominance fans expected. One fan said, “Toyota is taking pay drivers over talent these days with the exception of Corey. See the JGR xfinity line up for proof.” 

Ruggiero’s elevation has also been questioned by some fans, saying, “That seems really early for Ruggiero they haven’t even had a full year in arca yet” wondering if Toyota sees long-term potential in him or if financial backing played a bigger role. Comparisons to William Sawalich, who outperformed Ruggiero en route to the 2024 ARCA Menards Series East championship, have fueled these debates. Some think Sawalich’s skill set eclipses Ruggiero’s at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. “Does Toyota see something in Ruggiero, or is he bringing a check to TRICON?” one fan speculated. 

This critique becomes even sharper when you compare him to Jade Avedisian, another Toyota-backed prospect. As the first woman to win a national dirt midget championship, Avedisian won five races in the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series in 2023. Toyota has committed to her development, including major dirt midget races and a transition to road courses in the Toyota GR Cup Series. There’s so much talent waiting in the wings, that some fans think Ruggiero’s ascent is premature.

‘Pay driver’ or prodigy in the making?

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What makes the assessment odd is the record Ruggiero has so far. One of his biggest achievements in his racing career is winning the Winchester 500, known as the ‘World’s Fastest 1/2 mile’ along with one of the highest banking angles in motorsports. Additionally, winners of this race include many former Cup Series champions like Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon.

Still, not all assessments are negative. Ruggiero’s third-place finish at Mid-Ohio stands out as a testament to his ability to excel outside his comfort zone, even to skeptics. If TRICON’s faith in him is warranted, or if the “pay driver” tag will stick, his debut Truck Series season will determine. Still, Ruggiero’s focused on what’s next. TRICON is committed to nurturing young talent, even if that means taking calculated risks. “Jumping into the Truck Series is no small feat,” Gilliland acknowledged, “but Gio has proven that he adapts quickly.”

Going into the Truck Series, Ruggiero has a bunch of positive stats on his side. To begin with, he has the Show Me The Money Pro Late Models (2022), CRA Super Series (2023), and Southern Super Series (2023) titles. The 2024 season even saw him get seven top-5 finishes nine top-10 finishes.