Gio Ruggiero to Drive for Tricon Garage in 2027
The 22-year-old driver will return to pilot the No. 17 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for the upcoming season.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Motorsports
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Tricon Garage has confirmed that Gio Ruggiero will compete full-time in the 2027 Craftsman Truck Series. Ruggiero will pilot the No. 17 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, marking his third consecutive season with the team.
Why it matters
The extension secures a long-term position for the young talent within the Tricon Garage stable following his steady progression in the series. This move highlights the organization's focus on developing young drivers for the future of professional truck racing.
Ruggiero has earned 11 top-10 finishes and four top-fives over 22 races this season. He previously finished 11th in the 2025 Craftsman Truck Series standings.
The players
Gio Ruggiero
He is a 22-year-old professional racing driver who competes in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Tricon Garage
This is a professional racing organization that operates multiple entries within the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Joe Gibbs Racing
This is a prominent NASCAR team that fields entries in multiple top-tier series across the sport.
The details
Ruggiero first joined the Craftsman Truck Series in 2025 and secured his maiden victory that fall at Talladega Superspeedway. His racing background includes a third-place finish in the 2024 ARCA Menards Series East championship and four wins in the ARCA Menards Series driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Timeline
2024: Ruggiero finished third in the ARCA Menards Series East standings.
2025: The driver joined the Craftsman Truck Series full-time.
Fall 2025: Ruggiero achieved his first career Craftsman Truck Series win.
2026: Ruggiero competed in his second full season in the series.
2027: The driver will return for his third full-time season with the team.
Season Trajectory
Retaining Ruggiero positions Tricon Garage to build on his consistent mid-pack performance and previous win record. This decision stabilizes the team's roster for the 2027 season as it seeks to improve upon his 11th-place finish from the 2025 season.
With Ruggiero confirmed in the No. 17 truck for 2027, the team maintains its primary rotation for the upcoming season. Fantasy racing participants can continue to track Ruggiero based on his established performance trend of 11 top-10 finishes per season.
The takeaway
Securing early contract extensions helps racing teams build consistency and familiarity with equipment over multiple seasons. Fans should watch for how Ruggiero balances his proven speed at superspeedways with improved consistency across shorter tracks in 2027.
Further reading
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