Wednesday Rock Truck Testing Led By Rookie Ruggiero
Gio Ruggiero on track in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series testing at Rockingham Speedway. (Scotte Sprinkle/Race Face Digital photo)
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie-of-the-year contender Gio Ruggiero led the way during the second day of organizational testing at Rockingham Speedway Wednesday.
Ruggiero, who will drive for TRICON Garage during his first full season and tested with the team at the one-mile oval, turned 75 laps and posted a best time of 21.888 seconds (167.270 mph) along the way.
The 18-year-old from Seekonk, Mass., has come up the pavement ladder through pro and super late models, as well as ARCA Menards Series competition.
Ruggiero is a current member of TD2, the Toyota Driver Development Program.
Second behind Ruggiero on Wednesday’s speed charts was Niece Motorsports’ Kaden Honeycutt, whose best lap of 60 was 21.917 seconds (167.048 mph).
Honeycutt competed in 14 Truck Series races last year for Al Niece’s organization, earning two top-five and six top-10 finishes. His best finish of the 2024 season was fourth at both Kansas Speedway events.
Front Row Motorsports’ Layne Riggs (22.073/165.868), McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Jack Wood (22.155/165.254), and Rackley W.A.R. rookie Dawson Sutton (22.251/164.541) were the balance of the top five on single-lap speeds.
Experienced veterans composed the second half of the overall top 10, with Niece Motorsports’ Matt Mills ranking sixth (22.298/164.194) ahead of MHR’s Connor Mosack, TRICON’s Corey Heim, CR7 Motorsports’ Grant Enfinger, and MHR’s Daniel Hemric.
Tyler Ankrum, the fourth driver testing for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing at Rockingham, was 16th overall and turned the most laps – 98 – of any driver that made it on track Wednesday.
Defending Truck Series champion Ty Majeski led the Tuesday time sheets, but was not in attendance Wednesday as ThorSport Racing’s fleet of trucks returned to the team’s shop in Sandusky, Ohio.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series returns to Rockingham Friday, April 18 during the Easter holiday weekend for the Black’s Tire 200, the first series event at The Rock since April of 2013.
Broadcast coverage is slated for 5 p.m. ET on FS1, the Motor Racing Network, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.
For ticket information regarding NASCAR weekend at Rockingham Speedway, visit racetherock.com/tickets.
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