Silly Season updates for NASCAR’s third tier are dropping every day. Tricon Garage is actively involved in them, as the Craftsman Truck Series team just solidified its line-up for 2025. No wonder the developments are so quick, as the team came dangerously close to a championship in 2024. Corey Heim clinched 6 wins and 14 top-fives, and hounded Ty Majeski for the title bid, finishing 2nd in the championship standings. Now this speedster will welcome new teammates – like Gio Ruggiero.

Days after roping in ARCA Menards sensation Toni Breidinger, Tricon has tapped into another big talent. Gio Ruggerio has made waves in ARCA in 2024, throwing up big expectations for the 18-year-old. So he caught the attention of Heim’s championship-contending team – and could not express his gratitude any less.

Gio Ruggerio opens his heart to new opportunity

“Gio has shown a lot of promise in his young career, and we are super excited to welcome him into our program,” David Gilliland, partner of Tricon Garage, said this week. Indeed, hopping into the No. 17 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro did not come easily to Gio Ruggiero. The Seekonk, Massachusetts native has won championships in the Show Me The Money Pro Late Models (2022), CRA Super Series (2023), and Southern Super Series (2023). He owns a prestigious Late Model victory in the Winchester 500. This year, the 18-year-old posted seven top-5 and nine top-10 finishes in 10 starts. Clearly, Ruggiero was well-prepared to venture into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

And the speedster has no dearth of gratitude for getting this opportunity. In a recent interview with SiriusXM NASCAR, Gio Ruggiero said his life’s dream is becoming a reality. “Yeah, super exciting, and so cool to see. 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. I’m super excited to be racing for Tricon next year, they’re definitely one of the best teams in the Truck Series if not the best.” Snuggling with teammates – Corey Heim, Tanner Gray, and Toni Breidinger – is exciting as well. “I think I got some great teammates who will be able to help me, you know, through the learning process as well.” 

Although lofty aspirations inspire the teenager, Gio Ruggiero admitted that he wants to go with the flow in his first Truck season. Yet he is not skipping his desire to gain a rookie’s highest honor. “Yeah, I don’t necessarily have a specific list, or written anything down. But I obviously want to go out there and win Rookie of the Year. I mean, that’s for sure. In general, I want to run up front and run good – I’d be happy with that…run all the laps and finish all the races.”

Like Ruggiero, another fresh candidate in Tricon also bubbled with gratitude.

Breaking bigger and bigger barriers

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Besides roping in a promising new talent in Gio Ruggiero, Tricon is also setting examples. Women in NASCAR have been few and scattered across several decades. The last female driver was Hailie Deegan, although her Xfinity team discharged her in mid-2024 after a streak of poor finishes. Before her, Danica Patrick created waves in the Cup Series, but could not clinch a win.

Despite this poor history, Tricon is leading the way in enhancing female presence in the sport – as it roped in Toni Breidinger for the No. 5 entry. This year, she achieved a career-high 4th place in the AMS championship standings while recording 11 top-10 finishes. Her diverse racing portfolio includes 19 USAC victories and multiple starts in Late Model Stocks and the Toyota GR Cup.

And Breidinger, like Gio Ruggiero, could not be more elated at Tricon’s opportunity. The Bay Area native saluted her benefactors a week ago: “Racing full-time with TRICON is a dream for me. It’s been a 15-year process to get here but I’m so excited for this moment and ready to capitalize on it. I wouldn’t have this opportunity if it wasn’t for Toyota, Raising Cane’s, CELSIUS, and Sunoco. I’m beyond grateful to have these partners and team in my corner to take this next step in my career.” Having a massive social media presence and modeling gigs at Victoria’s Secret and GAP, Breidinger is also a huge marketing icon.

By the looks of it, Tricon Garage is investing in the future. With both of their latest recruits, Breidinger (25) and Ruggiero (18) entering the scene as young rookies. Performances should be less scrutinized with development for the future of their team being a top priority, as championship contender Corey Heim is already on their hands. David Gillian also added that he has no doubts about Ruggiero’s ability heading into 2025, saying, “Jumping into the Truck Series is no small feat, but Gio has proven that he adapts quickly, and we have no doubt that he will have a successful rookie season with us as he takes over the 17 truck.”

Evidently, Tricon is gearing up for a dynamic twist to its 2025 season. With fresh faces like Ruggiero and Breidinger on the radar, we cannot wait to see how the team performs.