Gio Ruggiero will debut in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series for Joe Gibbs Racing this season, JGR announced Feb. 4.
Ruggiero will pilot the No. 19 at Daytona International Speedway and EchoPark Speedway to kick off the 2026 season.
The No. 19 is largely driven by Brent Crews this season, save for the four races he can’t run before he turns 18 in the spring.
Ruggiero is the full-time driver of TRICON Garage’s No. 17 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, a role he’s assuming for a second year in 2026. In 2025, he earned one win, seven top fives and 11 top 10s, finishing 11th in points.
JGR has not yet announced who will drive the other two O’Reilly races Crews cannot.
In addition to Ruggiero’s two-race O’Reilly schedule, he will also compete for JGR’s ARCA Menards Series team in select events, as previously reported.
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