{"id":657910,"date":"2026-05-09T09:48:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T09:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/657910\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T09:48:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T09:48:08","slug":"did-nascar-rob-gio-ruggiero-of-a-win-at-watkins-glen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/657910\/","title":{"rendered":"Did NASCAR Rob Gio Ruggiero Of A Win At Watkins Glen?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Gio<\/p>\n

Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images<\/p>\n

19-year-old\u00a0Gio Ruggiero\u00a0has had a strong start to the 2026\u00a0NASCAR Truck Series\u00a0season, sitting fourth in the point standings for Tricon Garage. But he could well have been even further up if not for a controversial call on a late restart Friday at\u00a0Watkins Glen.<\/p>\n

Ruggiero took the penultimate restart of the race on lap 68 on the front row alongside leader Connor Zilisch. However, he was sent to the back of the pack after NASCAR deemed that he jumped the restart, launching before Zilisch, who was in control of the race at the time.<\/p>\n

Video of the incident, meanwhile, suggests that\u2019s something else entirely.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a replay of the restart where Gio Ruggiero was penalized for jumping early.<\/p>\n

Gio told Frontstretch he was \u201capologized to\u201d after the race (video coming soon). NASCAR had no further comment. pic.twitter.com\/mK5MQTrJ7C<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Stephen Stumpf (@stephen_stumpf) May 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

NASCAR Missed Call Against Gio Ruggiero That May Have Cost Him Race Win<\/p>\n

Upon replay, it appears that fellow driver Brendan Queen, who restarted behind Ruggiero, was the one who launched early, pushing Ruggiero out ahead of Zilisch.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was just a bad call, obviously, I didn\u2019t jump the restart,\u201d Ruggiero told Frontstretch after the race<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was just a bad call. I didn\u2019t jump the restart.\u201d@Gio_Ruggiero1<\/a> talks about his day and his controversial penalty that took away his chance for the win @WGI<\/a>. #NASCAR<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VTVhBusgkW<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Frontstretch (@Frontstretch) May 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI think we just gave the No. 11 team (eventual race-winner Kaden Honeycutt) a nice gift there. We definitely would\u2019ve won the race or had a close battle with the No. 71 (Zilisch). (I\u2019m) Just really happy with the fact that we were going to be on the front row for the final two restarts of the last two weeks and to be in contention to win.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026We were just apologized to. It was a bad call, like I said,\u201d Ruggiero added. \u201cBut there\u2019s really nothing (NASCAR) can do about it now. So it\u2019s unfortunate, but (I\u2019ve) got to focus forward and on to Dover.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eventually, points leader Kaden Honeycutt went on to pass Zilisch for the lead on the final restart and win his career Truck Series race. Ruggiero, meanwhile, battled back for a 15th-place finish.<\/p>\n

Had he won, Ruggiero would\u2019ve sat second in the points behind Honeycutt. Instead, he\u2019s left with a hollow apology and the question of what could have been if not for the blown call.<\/p>\n

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