One of the primary reasons why Venturini Motorsports is able to dominate ARCA Series racing is because they rope in talented race car drivers. And they’ve gone on to add another emerging prospect to their driver lineup for 2025. Isabella Robusto has joined Venturini to compete for the championship alongside Brayton Laster, Brenden Queen, and Brad Smith.

Robusto made her ARCA Series debut in 2024. Across the three divisions, she ran a total of 11 races and recorded five top 5s and eight top 10s. She did come close to clinching her first series win at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Nashville Fairground Speedway, and Irwindale Speedway. TRD has been helping Robusto level up her racing credentials, and a full-time run at Venturini Motorsports will put her on the map.

“I’m excited for this incredible opportunity to return to Venturini and run full-time for a championship in the ARCA Menards Series. I can’t thank Toyota and VMS enough for putting me in this position.” The 20-year-old said this via the team’s press release. She knows that history is within her grasp if she lives up to the billing, driving the No. 55 entry next year. In the 71-year history of ARCA, there hasn’t been a single woman race car driver to win the race, and this is something Robusto wants to change in 2025.

“I feel confident going into the season and will set some big goals for myself; I’m here to learn but also compete for the title and challenge for the win each time out. Knowing I have a chance to become the first female to win at this level is also exciting and on my mind. There’s a lot of history with VMS and the ARCA Series, and I’m proud to be a part of it,” she added. It is only natural that fans would start making her comparisons with the likes of Hailie Deegan and Toni Breidinger.

However, it feels like the community is rallying behind Robusto as if they know she will deliver the goods.

Fans are confident about Isabella Robusto’s debut run in ARCA next year

With Toni Breidinger securing a seat at Tricon Garage, Venturini Motorsports needed to reinforce their driver lineup. Robusto’s arrival seems like a straight swap, but as far as talent is concerned, fans feel Robusto has an upper hand over the previous female driver line-up in ARCA. “So happy for Isabella. In the few starts, she’s already impressed me in the few starts across ACRA East and West competition. She’s also done great in the Cars Tour. I’m sure Isabella will have a ton of success in the ARCA Menards Series.”

Well, there were a few who aimed cryptic jabs at former ARCA series driver Hailie Deegan. Just like Robusto, she was linked with TRD. However, Deegan jumped ships to Ford camp and climbed her way to the Xfinity Series. From the outside looking in, it feels as if she made the right call. But her disappointment in the Xfinity Series, where she was sacked mid-season, makes you think otherwise. Reacting to this new signing by Venturini, a fan added, “Finally, a female racer with talent! She will be fun to watch.”

There were a few passionate fans who didn’t want either Breidinger or Amber Balcean to return to the team. Briedinger had a streak of top-10 finishes this season, but now that Robusto has joined the team, fans are excited to cheer her on for race wins. “If Rubusto wins in THIS equipment, I never want to see Breidinger or Balcean near a race car ever again.”

Robusto’s run in the ARCA East and the West Series in 2024 was indeed commendable. In eight starts she managed to register two runner-up finishes and was close to scripting history. Now that she has secured a full-time ride, Robusto will be eager to hunt down that historic win, and this fan also is optimistic about her chances in 2025. “So happy for Isabella. In the few starts, she’s already impressed me in the few starts she had across ACRA East and West competition. She’s also done great in the Cars Tour. I’m sure Isabella will have a ton of success in the ARCA Menards Series.”

It seems like the 20-year-old driver has already garnered loyal support for herself thanks to her exploits on the racetrack. Back in 2021, she even went toe-to-toe against Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the South Carolina 400. She raced from 30th to finish this event 3rd, and performances like this seem to have struck the right chord with the racing community. “This is the news I was waiting for! This is not just another female race car driver. This is a driver that can win races and compete for the championship! I have every confidence in her ability! I’m stoked!” another fan added.

What are your expectations for Isabella Robusto as she embarks on the next big chapter in the ARCA Series?