Gio Ruggiero Enters Money in the Bank with Good Vibes

Don’t look now but Gio Ruggiero is starting to feel himself.

With wins in ASA competition at Hickory and CRA competition at Salem, a young driver in one of the best rides in Super Late Model racing enters Money in the Bank week at Berlin Raceway with a lot of confidence.

There is a visible pep in his step, one that Donnie Wilson Motorsports general manager Bond Suss even recognizes as tangible, and a sign that the 16-year-old knows he belongs against the likes of Bubba Pollard, Casey Roderick or the occasional moonlighters of the Cup Series.

“Yeah, I have a lot more confidence going into these races,” Ruggiero said. “The car has always been there, obviously, but now I am a lot more comfortable and that gives us a better shot. It comes down to experience.”

Obviously, Suss and Donnie Wilson are experienced team leaders, and Ruggiero just needed the seat time working them to get to this point.

“It’s just preparation and adjusting from the Pro Late to the Super this year, and that’s something I feel like I have a good grasp on now,” Ruggiero said. “The Super Late Model has a different feel and that was something I didn’t fully understand until just recently, what that was, but with a lot of the practice time, and races, we’re getting there.”

Despite the two wins this month, Ruggiero isn’t an obvious favorite on Wednesday night, and will have to overcome an experience deficit to have a chance in the 150-lapper.

For one, the only experience he has at the Marne, Michigan bullring is a test session, and there is no other track like Berlin Raceway.

“I think it’s going to be a good race, good field of cars here,” Ruggiero said. “This place is unique and am not totally sure what to predict yet.”

He says he’s leaned on Wilson and Suss, but also track owner Mike Bursley, for how to get around this place.

“He’s given me a lot of advice, and with this team and car, we should be pretty good this week.”

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Read more Short Track Scene:

• The latest on the Huffmans versus the Crums at Hickory
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• North Wilkesboro Late Model Tripleheader Was Special