# Bill Venturini

William Venturini (born February 14, 1953), nicknamed "Big Bill", is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He is the founder and co-owner of Venturini Motorsports, a team that competes in the ARCA Menards Series. 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.

## 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. 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. 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.
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

Bill, his wife Cathy, and his son Billy, also a retired driver, are the co-owners of Venturini Motorsports, 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.

## 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.

## 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 |
| 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 |
| 1990 | Venturini Motorsports | 35 | Chevy | 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 |
| 1991 | Venturini Motorsports | 35 | Chevy | 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 |
| 1992 | Venturini Motorsports | 35 | Chevy | 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 | - |
| 1993 | Venturini Motorsports | 35 | Chevy | 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 | - |
| 1994 | Venturini Motorsports | 35 | Chevy | 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 | - |

##### Daytona 500

| Year | Team | Manufacturer | Start | Finish |
| 1990 | Venturini Motorsports | Chevrolet | DNQ | DNQ |
| 1991 | Venturini Motorsports | Chevrolet | DNQ | 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 |
| 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 |
| 1983 | Venturini Motorsports | 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 |
| 1984 | Venturini Motorsports | 35 | Pontiac | 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 | - |
| 1985 | Venturini Motorsports | 35 | Pontiac | 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 | - |
| 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 | - |

#### 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 | |
| 1996 | Venturini Motorsports | 35 | Chevy | 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 | |

### 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 |
| 1982 | | 35 | Buick | NSV | DAY 22 | TAL | FRS | CMS | WIN | NSV | TAT | TAL | FRS | BFS | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NA | 0 |
| 1982 | Venturini Motorsports | 25 | Buick | | | | | | | | | | | | MIL 3 | SND | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | NA | 0 |
| 1983 | Venturini Motorsports | 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 |
| 1984 | Venturini Motorsports | 35 | Pontiac | DAY 20 | ATL 6 | TAL 4 | | | | | | | TAL 27 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 2425 |
| 1984 | Venturini Motorsports | 35 | Chevy | | | | CSP 17 | SMS 4 | FRS 1* | MCS 11 | LCS 3 | IRP 20 | | FRS 1* | ISF 6 | DSF 14 | TOL 3 | MGR 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 2425 | |
| 1985 | Venturini Motorsports | 35 | Chevy | 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 |
| 1985 | Venturini Motorsports | 35 | Pontiac | | | | | | | IRP 21 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2nd | 2585 |
| 1986 | Venturini Motorsports | 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 |
| 1987 | Venturini Motorsports | 25 | Chevy | 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 |
| 1988 | Venturini Motorsports | 25 | Chevy | 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 |
| 1989 | Venturini Motorsports | 25 | Chevy | DAY 39 | ATL 19 | KIL | TAL 4 | FRS 25 | POC | KIL | HAG | POC | TAL | DEL | FRS | ISF | TOL | DSF | SLM | ATL | | | | | | | | | NA | 0 |
| 1990 | Venturini Motorsports | 25 | Chevy | DAY | ATL | KIL 2 | TAL | FRS 17 | POC | KIL 8 | TOL 18 | HAG | POC | TAL | | | TOL 4 | DSF | WIN | DEL 4 | | | | | | | | | 16th | 1605 |
| 1990 | Venturini Motorsports | 35 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | MCH 5 | ISF | | | | | ATL 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | 16th | 1605 |
| 1991 | Venturini Motorsports | 35 | Chevy | DAY 16 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1st | 5085 |
| 1991 | Venturini Motorsports | 25 | Chevy | | 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 | | | | | | | | 1st | 5085 | |
| 1992 | Venturini Motorsports | 25 | Chevy | 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 |
| 1993 | Venturini Motorsports | 25 | Chevy | 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 |
| 1993 | Bill Egbert | 25 | Chevy | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ATL 35 | | | | | | | | | | NA | 0 | |
| 1994 | Bill Egbert | 25 | Chevy | 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 |
| 1995 | Venturini Motorsports | 25 | Chevy | 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 |
| 1996 | Venturini Motorsports | 25 | Chevy | 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 |