Top NASCAR drivers to compete for Venturini Motorsports

The all-time winningest team in ARCA Menards Series history, Venturini Motorsports was sold to Nitro Motorsports in the spring, with Nitro assuming full ownership of the team on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

With the Venturini era coming to an end after 43 years of ARCA competition, take a look at some notable drivers who raced for the Venturini family before graduating to NASCAR's national series.

Jesse Love

ARCA starts with Venturini: 44 (48 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 1st (12 times) at Salem (two wins), Springfield, Talladega, Kansas, Charlotte, Elko, Pocono, Michigan, IRP, Watkins Glen and DuQuoin

Present day: Full-time in Xfinity Series with Richard Childress Racing

Note: Love won the 2023 ARCA Menards Series title with Venturini.

Christian Eckes

ARCA starts with Venturini: 46 (46 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 1st (seven times) at Salem, Springfield, IRP, Nashville, Pocono, DuQuoin and Kansas

Present day: Full-time in Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing

Note: Eckes won the 2019 ARCA Menards Series title with Venturini.

Corey Heim

ARCA starts with Venturini: 31 (44 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 1st (nine times) at Daytona (two wins), Kansas (two times), Talladega, Pocono, Elko, Watkins Glen and Springfield.

Present day: Full-time in Truck Series with Tricon Garage

Todd Gilliland

ARCA starts with Venturini: 2 (9 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 1st at Toledo

Present day: Full-time in Cup Series with Front Row Motorsports

Note: After winning at Toledo Speedway with Venturini in 2015, Gilliland became the youngest winner in the history of the ARCA Menards Series at 15 years and two days old.

Chandler Smith

ARCA starts with Venturini: 35 (35 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 1st (10 times) at IRP (three wins), Madison (two wins), Salem, Toledo, Elko, Iowa and Phoenix

Present day: Full-time in Truck Series with Front Row Motorsports

Zane Smith

ARCA starts with Venturini: 13 (38 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 2nd at Madison

Present day: Full-time in Cup Series with Front Row Motorsports

Christopher Bell

ARCA starts with Venturini: 6 (6 career starts) 

Best finish with Venturini: 1st (three times) at Salem (two wins) and Chicagoland 

Present day: Full-time in Cup Series with Joe Gibbs Racing

Joey Logano

ARCA starts with Venturini: 4 (4 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 1st (twice) at Rockingham and Pocono

Present day: Full-time in Cup Series with Team Penske

Daniel Suárez

ARCA starts with Venturini: 5 (5 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 2nd at Daytona

Present day: Full-time in Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing

Erik Jones

ARCA starts with Venturini: 14 (14 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 1st at Berlin

Present day: Full-time in Cup Series with Legacy Motor Club

Toni Breidinger

ARCA starts with Venturini: 60 (65 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 3rd at Kansas

Present day: Full-time in Truck Series with Tricon Garage

Brennan Poole

ARCA starts with Venturini: 35 (35 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 1st (six times) at Salem, Elko, Pocono, Michigan, Springfield and Kentucky

Present day: Full-time in Xfinity Series with Alpha Prime Racing

Dean Thompson

ARCA starts with Venturini: 10 (12 career starts) 

Best finish with Venturini: 2nd (twice) at Kansas and Charlotte

Present day: Full-time in Xfinity Series with Sam Hunt Racing

Gio Ruggiero

ARCA starts with Venturini: 10 (12 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 2nd (three times) at Phoenix, Dover and Toledo

Present day: Full-time in Truck Series with Tricon Garage

Alex Bowman

ARCA starts with Venturini: 2 (21 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 1st (twice) at Madison and Kansas

Present day: Full-time in Cup Series with Hendrick Motorsports

William Byron

ARCA starts with Venturini: 4 (4 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 2nd (twice) at IRP and Daytona

Present day: Full-time in Cup Series with Hendrick Motorsports

Harrison Burton

ARCA starts with Venturini: 6 (17 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 1st at Daytona

Present day: Full-time in Xfinity Series with AM Racing

Noah Gragson

ARCA starts with Venturini: 6 (10 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 4th at Chicagoland

Present day: Full-time in Cup Series with Front Row Motorsports

Hailie Deegan

ARCA starts with Venturini: 6 (26 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 5th at IRP

Present day: Full-time in INDY NXT Series; last competed in Xfinity Series in 2024

Justin Allgaier

ARCA starts with Venturini: 1 (87 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 8th at Nashville

Present day: Full-time in Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports

Note: Allgaier won the 2008 ARCA Menards Series title, but only made one start with Venturini at Nashville Superspeedway during his championship-winning season.

John Hunter Nemechek

ARCA starts with Venturini: 1 (1 career start)

Best finish with Venturini: 4th at Mid-Ohio

Present day: Full-time in Cup Series with Legacy Motor Club

Brandon Jones

ARCA starts with Venturini: 12 (31 career starts) 

Best finish with Venturini: 2nd at Mobile

Present day: Full-time in Xfinity Series with Joe Gibbs Racing

Bubba Wallace

ARCA starts with Venturini: 1 (1 career start)

Best finish with Venturini: 35th at Daytona

Present day: Full-time in Cup Series witb 23XI Racing

Justin Haley

ARCA starts with Venturini: 6 (16 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 3rd at Elko

Present day: Full-time in Cup Series with Spire Motorsports

Natalie Decker

ARCA starts with Venturini: 27 (31 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 5th (twice) at Daytona and Elko

Present day: Part-time in Xfinity Series with DGM Racing

Ryan Blaney

ARCA starts with Venturini: 2 (5 career starts) 

Best finish with Venturini: 2nd at IRP

Present day: Full-time in Cup Series for Team Penske

Ben Rhodes

ARCA starts with Venturini: 1 (2 career starts)

Best finish with Venturini: 9th at Madison

Present day: Full-time in Truck Series for ThorSport Racing