John "Reggie" Ruggiero is an American former NASCAR driver. He is known for his dominance in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in the 1990s despite never winning the championship.[1]

Reggie Ruggiero
BornJohn Ruggiero
(1951-07-28) July 28, 1951 (age 73)
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
4 races run over 3 years
1995 position113th
Best finish54th (1987)
First race1987 Miller 500 (Martinsville)
Last race1995 NE Chevy Dealers 250 (Loudon)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 1 0

Racing career

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NASCAR Busch Series

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Ruggiero debuted in the Busch Series in 1987, where he drove the No. 90 Cox Chevrolet to a 10th place finish after he had started 20th. He returned to the car for the next race at Darlington, where he finished 26th after starting 27th. He was then replaced by Rusty Wallace for the remainder of the season.

In 1993, he drove the No. 13 Auto Palace Chevrolet at Loudon, and started 23rd. A crash caused him to finish 30th in the race.

His fourth and last race in the series was in 1995, where he drove his own No. 06 Chevrolet at Loudon to a 20th place finish after starting 18th.

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour

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Ruggiero raced in the Modified Tour from 1985 until 2009; a total of 24 years. He has participated in a total of 419 races in the series and won 44 of those races.[2] He has also finished as runner-up in the points standings seven times.[3][4]

Ruggiero has the second most wins in the series as of 2018, with 44 victories, 30 behind from Mike Stefanik's 74.[5]

After racing

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Ruggiero later found work in the chassis shop of Stewart-Haas Racing, where he helps them in building their cars.[6] He has also been inducted into the New England Auto Racers Hall of Fame.[7]

Motorsports career results

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NASCAR

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(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Busch Series

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NASCAR Busch Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 NBSC Pts Ref
1987 Shugart Racing 90 Chevy DAY HCY MAR
10
54th 134 [8]
Buick DAR
26
BRI LGY SBO CLT DOV IRP ROU JFC
80 Ford OXF
DNQ
SBO HCY RAL LGY ROU BRI JFC DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT CAR MAR
1993 13 Chevy DAY CAR RCH DAR BRI HCY ROU MAR NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL IRP MCH NHA
30
BRI DAR RCH DOV ROU CLT MAR CAR HCY ATL NA - [9]
1995 Ruggiero Racing 06 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NHA
20
NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM NA - [10]

References

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  1. ^ Albert, Zack (February 5, 2018). "Reggie Ruggiero's legend lives on at Stewart-Haas Racing". Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  2. ^ DeGray, Nick (November 17, 2017). "Class of 2017 Announced For the Riverside Park Speedway Hall of Fame". Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  3. ^ Courchesne, Shawn (October 25, 2018). "Modified Racing Pioneer And Legendary Team Owner Bob Judkins Passes".
  4. ^ "The Famous Barney 14: A Family And Grandson Continue A Tradition On Whelen Modified Tour". October 5, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  5. ^ Courchesne, Shawn (August 6, 2018). "Exclusive: Ted Christopher, Mike Stefanik Lead 2018 New England Racing Hall Of Fame Induction Class". Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  6. ^ Schrote, Jesse (February 5, 2018). "A legendary racer is behind all of Stewart Haas' cars". Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  7. ^ Remillard, Jason (April 5, 2012). "Racin' with Jason: Ted Hebert and Teddy Bear Pools to help sponsor NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race at Monadnock". Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  8. ^ "Reggie Ruggiero – 1987 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  9. ^ "Reggie Ruggiero – 1993 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  10. ^ "Reggie Ruggiero – 1995 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
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