Bill Venturini

William "Bill" Venturini (born February 14, 1953), nicknamed "Big Bill",[1] is a retired American professional stock car racing driver who currently co-owns Venturini Motorsports, a team that competes in the ARCA Menards Series which he founded. As a driver, he primarily competed in the same series from 1982 through 1996. Venturini has won two ARCA championships, which came in 1987 and 1991.

Bill Venturini
Venturini in 2018
Nationality American
BornWilliam Venturini
(1953-02-14) February 14, 1953
Chicago, Illinois
Related toTony Venturini (father)
Billy Venturini (son)
Wendy Venturini (daughter)
ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series career
Debut season1982
Starts188
Wins12
Poles12
Best finish1st in 1987, 1991
Championship titles
1987, 1991ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series
NASCAR Cup Series career
7 races run over 3 years
Best finish45th (1990)
First race1989 Miller High Life 400 (Michigan)
Last race1991 Miller Genuine Draft 500 (Pocono)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Xfinity Series career
4 races run over 4 years
Best finish103rd (1985)
First race1982 Goody's 300 (Daytona)
Last race1985 Kroger 200 (IRP)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series career
2 races run over 2 years
Best finish78th (1995)
First race1995 GM Goodwrench / Delco Battery 200 (Phoenix)
Last race1996 Sears Auto Center 200 (Milwaukee)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 0 0
Statistics current as of April 14, 2020.

Career

Driving career

As a driver, "Big Bill" Venturini made his ARCA Series debut in 1982. In 1983, Venturini won his first ARCA race at Flat Rock Speedway and at the end of the season he became rookie of the year and finished runner-up to Bob Dotter.[2] Venturini backed up this performance by finishing runner-up in 1984 and 1985. After finishing third in 1986 Venturini won his first ARCA championship in 1987.[3] After finishing fourth in the 1988 season Venturini scaled down and only ran a part-time schedule in 1989 and 1990. Venturini won his second ARCA championship in 1991 after a consistent season. He finished third in 1992 and sixth in his last full-time season in 1994. Venturini made his last ARCA Racing Series start at the season finale at Atlanta in 1996. During his ARCA Racing Series career Venturini set the all-time qualifying records at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.[3]

Venturini made thirteen NASCAR starts across all three national series. He made his Winston Cup Series debut at Michigan International Speedway in 1989. In his seven Cup Series starts, his best finish was eighteenth at the 1990 Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Venturini attempted to qualify for the Daytona 500 in 1990 and 1991 but failed to qualify on both occasions.

Team owner career
Venturini (on left in front of the car) celebrating a win by his driver Chandler Smith in 2018

Bill, his wife Cathy, and his son Billy, also a retired driver, are the co-owners of Venturini Motorsports,[1] a team which competes full-time with three cars in the ARCA Menards Series (Nos. 15, 20, 25) as well as one part-time car (the No. 55). They have competed in that series for decades to much success. In 2020, they began fielding teams in the ARCA Menards Series East (the No. 20 part-time and the No. 25 full-time) and West (one car part-time).

It has been a tradition since 2006 for "Big Bill" to kiss one of his drivers in victory lane if they win a race. The first time he did it was when Billy was still competing in ARCA as a driver and won an ARCA race at Salem that year, and they continued it in 2007 when the Venturini's turned their team into a driver development team.[4][5]

Personal life

Venturini was born in Chicago, Illinois, as the son of Tony Venturini, an amateur racing driver who began his stock car racing career at the historic Soldier Field, also in Chicago. His father competed against NASCAR drivers such as Tom Pistone and Fred Lorenzen. Venturini's wife Cathy was part of his pit crew during his championship winning season in 1987. His son Billy also became a racing driver and competed in the ARCA Racing Series from 1994 through 2007. His daughter Wendy currently works in NASCAR as a radio reporter for the Performance Racing Network and formerly on TV for Speed and Fox as well.[3]

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

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

Winston Cup Series
NASCAR Winston Cup 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 29 30 31 NWCC Pts Ref
1989 Venturini Motorsports 35 Chevy DAY CAR ATL RCH DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH
37		 DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR PHO ATL 100th 52 [6]
1990 DAY
DNQ		 RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL
18		 CLT
DNQ		 DOV SON POC MCH
30		 DAY POC TAL
25		 GLN MCH
28		 BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT
DNQ		 CAR PHO ATL 45th 349 [7]
1991 DAY
DNQ		 RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH
40		 DAY POC
39		 TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL
DNQ		 74th 89 [8]
1992 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH
DNQ		 DAY POC TAL GLN MCH
DNQ		 BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL NA - [9]
1993 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY
DNQ		 NHA POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT
DNQ		 CAR PHO ATL NA - [10]
1994 DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL
DNQ		 NA - [11]
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1990 Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet DNQ
1991 DNQ

Busch Series
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 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 NBSC Pts Ref
1982 Venturini Motorsports 35 Buick DAY
13		 RCH BRI MAR DAR HCY SBO CRW RCH LGY DOV HCY CLT ASH HCY SBO CAR CRW SBO HCY LGY IRP BRI HCY RCH MAR CLT HCY MAR 126th 124 [12]
1983 65 Pontiac DAY
24		 RCH CAR HCY MAR NWS SBO GPS LGY DOV BRI CLT SBO HCY ROU SBO ROU CRW ROU SBO HCY LGY IRP GPS BRI HCY DAR RCH NWS SBO MAR ROU CLT HCY MAR 130th 91 [13]
1984 35 DAY RCH CAR HCY MAR DAR ROU NSV LGY MLW
11		 DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU SBO ROU HCY IRP LGY SBO BRI DAR RCH NWS CLT HCY CAR MAR 113th - [14]
1985 DAY CAR HCY BRI MAR DAR SBO LGY DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU IRP
21		 SBO LGY HCY MLW BRI DAR RCH NWS ROU CLT HCY CAR MAR 103rd - [15]
1995 Colburn Racing 36 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY
DNQ		 NHA
DNQ		 NZH CLT
DNQ		 DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM NA - [16]

Craftsman Truck Series
NASCAR Craftsman Truck 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 NCTC Pts Ref
1995 Venturini Motorsports 35 Chevy PHO TUS SGS MMR POR EVG I70 LVL BRI MLW CNS HPT IRP FLM RCH MAR NWS
DNQ		 SON MMR PHO
34		 78th 116 [17]
1996 HOM PHO POR EVG TUS CNS HPT BRI NZH MLW
31		 LVL I70 IRP FLM GLN NSV RCH NHA MAR NWS SON MMR PHO LVS 119th 70 [18]

ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series

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

ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde 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 ABSC Pts Ref
1982 35 Buick NSV DAY
22		 TAL FRS CMS WIN NSV TAT TAL FRS BFS NA 0 [19]
Venturini Motorsports 25 Buick MIL
3		 SND
1983 35 Pontiac DAY
7		 NSV
2		 TAL
8		 LPR
3*		 LPR
6		 ISF
13		 IRP
5		 SSP
2		 FRS
1*		 BFS
6		 WIN
13		 LPR
4		 POC
14		 TAL
9		 MCS
1		 FRS
2		 MIL
2		 DSF
8		 ZAN
6		 SND
3		 2nd 3075 [20]
1984 DAY
20		 ATL
6		 TAL
4		 TAL
27		 2nd 2425 [21]
Chevy CSP
17		 SMS
4		 FRS
1*		 MCS
11		 LCS
3		 IRP
20		 FRS
1*		 ISF
6		 DSF
14		 TOL
3		 MGR
2
1985 ATL
10		 DAY
38		 ATL
6		 TAL
4		 ATL
25		 SSP
1*		 CSP
5		 FRS
4		 IRP
6		 OEF
4		 ISF
4		 DSF
7		 TOL
12		 2nd 2585 [22]
Pontiac IRP
21
1986 25 Chevy ATL
15		 DAY
19		 ATL
1		 TAL
9		 SIR
18		 SSP
20		 FRS
12		 KIL
4		 CSP
4		 TAL
4*		 BLN
2		 ISF
22		 DSF
18		 TOL
19		 MCS
10		 ATL
2		 3rd 2385 [23]
1987 DAY
2		 ATL
5		 TAL
33		 DEL
1*		 ACS
22		 TOL
1		 ROC
1		 POC
6		 FRS
14		 KIL
7*		 TAL
3		 FRS
3		 ISF
14		 INF
5		 DSF
10		 SLM
2		 ATL
1		 1st 4245 [24]
1988 DAY
5		 ATL
3		 TAL
39		 FRS
8		 PCS
10		 ROC
5		 POC
3		 WIN
12		 KIL
6		 ACS
14		 SLM
7		 POC
5		 TAL
2		 DEL
6		 FRS
3		 ISF
30		 DSF
37		 SLM
17		 ATL
23		 4th 3740 [25]
1989 DAY
39		 ATL
19		 KIL TAL
4		 FRS
25		 POC KIL HAG POC TAL DEL FRS ISF TOL DSF SLM ATL NA 0 [26]
1990 DAY ATL KIL
2		 TAL FRS
17		 POC KIL
8		 TOL
18		 HAG POC TAL TOL
4		 DSF WIN DEL
4		 16th 1605 [27]
35 MCH
5		 ISF ATL
3
1991 DAY
16		 1st 5085 [28]
25 ATL
29		 KIL
19		 TAL
2		 TOL
6		 FRS
12		 POC
7		 MCH
12		 KIL
7		 FRS
7		 DEL
3		 POC
5		 TAL
3		 HPT
16		 MCH
6		 ISF
9		 TOL
11		 DSF
4		 TWS
1		 ATL
3
1992 DAY
3		 FIF
6		 TWS
28		 TAL
4		 TOL
15		 KIL
1		 POC
6		 MCH
5		 FRS
8		 KIL
6		 NSH
25		 DEL
5		 POC
6		 HPT
20		 FRS
3		 ISF
22		 TOL
6		 DSF
15		 TWS
29		 SLM
18		 ATL
18		 3rd 5265 [29]
1993 DAY
30		 FIF TWS
30		 TAL
12		 KIL CMS FRS TOL POC
14		 MCH
4		 FRS POC
5		 KIL ISF DSF TOL SLM WIN NA 0 [30]
Bill Egbert ATL
35
1994 DAY
20		 TAL
5		 FIF
8		 LVL
10		 KIL
7		 TOL
20		 FRS
14		 MCH
26		 DMS
35		 POC
6		 POC
29		 KIL
15		 FRS
5		 INF
27		 I70
21		 ISF
9		 DSF
16		 TOL
13		 SLM
12		 WIN
11		 ATL
26		 6th 4515 [31]
1995 Venturini Motorsports DAY
41		 ATL TAL FIF KIL FRS MCH
15		 I80 MCS FRS POC POC
28		 KIL FRS SBS LVL ISF DSF SLM WIN ATL NA 0 [32]
1996 DAY ATL SLM TAL FIF LVL CLT CLT KIL FRS POC MCH FRS TOL POC MCH INF SBS ISF DSF KIL SLM WIN CLT ATL
17		 NA 0 [33]
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References
  1. "Venturini Motorsports: Team". Venturini Motorsports. Digital Momentum. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  2. "ARCA Menards Series". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  3. "Venturini Motorsports – History". venturinimotorsports.com. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  4. Blount, Rob (June 21, 2015). "Father, Son Turn Venturini Motorsports Into ARCA Gold". Speed51.com. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  5. Radebaugh, Don (September 16, 2017). "Who wants a kiss from "Big Bill"?... you'd be surprised". ARCARacing.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  6. "Bill Venturini – 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  7. "Bill Venturini – 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  8. "Bill Venturini – 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  9. "Bill Venturini – 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  10. "Bill Venturini – 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  11. "Bill Venturini – 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  12. "Bill Venturini – 1982 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  13. "Bill Venturini – 1983 NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  14. "Bill Venturini – 1984 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  15. "Bill Venturini – 1985 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  16. "Bill Venturini – 1995 NASCAR Busch Grand National Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  17. "Bill Venturini – 1995 NASCAR SuperTruck Series by Craftsman Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  18. "Bill Venturini – 1996 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  19. "Bill Venturini – 1982 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  20. "Bill Venturini – 1983 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  21. "Bill Venturini – 1984 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  22. "Bill Venturini – 1985 ARCA Talladega SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  23. "Bill Venturini – 1986 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  24. "Bill Venturini – 1987 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  25. "Bill Venturini – 1988 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  26. "Bill Venturini – 1989 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  27. "Bill Venturini – 1990 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  28. "Bill Venturini – 1991 ARCA Permatex SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  29. "Bill Venturini – 1992 ARCA SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  30. "Bill Venturini – 1993 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  31. "Bill Venturini – 1994 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  32. "Bill Venturini – 1995 ARCA Hooters SuperCar Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  33. "Bill Venturini – 1996 ARCA Bondo/Mar-Hyde Series Results". Racing-Reference. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
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