“Arrivederci! End of an Era.” That’s how Venturini Motorsports framed its announcement of the sale to Nitro Motorsports, set to take effect on October 15, 2025. The team built by Bill Venturini and his wife, Cathy, first hit the tracks in 1982, turning into a cornerstone of ARCA racing with a family-run operation based in North Carolina. Bill, a former driver who kicked off his ARCA career that same year, racked up 12 wins and two championships in 1987 and 1991, setting records at Daytona and Talladega that still stand. As the longest-running ARCA team, it shaped the series with consistent presence, but now with the handover looming, attention turns to how this shift feels from the inside.

Over the decades, Venturini Motorsports became a launchpad for talent, grooming drivers like Joey Logano, who scored his first ARCA win with them in 2008 at Rockingham, and others such as Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, and William Byron, who all climbed to NASCAR Cup Series success. Bill Venturini, now 72, has seen it all, from driver to owner, blending personal grit with family involvement. With the final race under the Venturini banner wrapped up, his reflections after watching the team compete one last time carry real weight.

The emotional farewell of Bill Venturini

Bill Venturini opened up right after the checkered flag: “I never thought this day would come, but as it got closer, I kind of looked forward to it, but at the same time, I really didn’t want it to really happen. But it’s time. I’m okay. I’m not really. I’m not as emotional as I thought I would be, mainly because I think it’s time; my health is still good, right? I’m 72 years old, you know,” he told the reporter.

In the Owens Corning 200 Presented by CGS Imaging at Toledo Speedway, Venturini and his wife were presented with ARCA Gold Card lifetime memberships during pre-race activities by ARCA president Ron Drager. A rather fitting honor for a driver who not only won titles but also innovated with an all-female pit crew in 1987, including Cathy, pushing boundaries in a male-dominated sport. Even as his son Billy handled much of the load, Bill wanted to retire without financial worries after building a team that amassed 107 victories.

Diving deeper, Bill highlighted his pride in the family legacy: “I’m very proud of my son and what he’s done with the company. I mean, he put me in a position where I could retire, not have to worry about anything, and he’s kept the door open if I want to go to any races, I can get on the team plane and still go.”

His son, reflecting on the sale earlier, noted, “The last 20 years have been very rewarding, but also incredibly demanding. I love what this sport has given to me, but in return, I gave it everything I had. So the time has come to be able to prioritize other things ahead of racing.” For Bill, it’s about closing a chapter that began in the 1950s with his father, Tony, yet keeping ties alive through a small museum he’s building at the shop to house trophies and memories.

The garage feels the loss, as the reporter put it: “The garage is losing legend right here, a great man, like the world of it, I mean that.” Bill responded with thanks, underscoring the impact on ARCA, where Venturini fielded multiple cars and expanded to East and West series in 2020.

Looking back, he added, “Yeah, you’ll have to; I’m building a little museum right down in the shop next to where the race team is, and when I get it finished, you guys will have to come down to see it.” This nod to preservation stems from a career that included broadcasting stints and mentoring, with recent drivers like Corey Heim and Jesse Love poised for Cup futures, ensuring the over 4 decades of influence endures even as ownership changes hands.

While the handover marks a big shift, Bill’s plans show he’s ready to embrace life beyond the track, keeping one foot in racing.

Bill Venturini’s road ahead

Bill made clear he’ll stick around the sport casually, saying, “Yep, I’ll be around, but yeah, it’s time for me not to worry about anything… I’m still going to come to the races; I can’t not come. I mean, it’s been my life for 50 years, so it’s just going to be a little different, I think.” Though his son Billy steps into the general manager role at Nitro Motorsports for 2026 to smooth the transition, Bill himself focuses on retirement without daily responsibilities.

This setup builds on the family’s long Toyota alliance, which Nitro will continue, allowing Bill to visit spots like Daytona on the team plane as a guest, much like how he supported Billy’s one win as a driver in 2006 at Salem Speedway.

Travel tops the list for Bill and Cathy, with specific trips lined up: “Oh gosh, South America in March, Mississippi River Cruise in July, I think Ireland in October, and in between that, now those were my wife’s plans. Now, in between that, my bucket list was to drive Route 66 from Chicago to LA, so I’m going to fit that in somewhere in the schedule next year, and of course, go back to Sturgis.”

Wrapping it up, Bill affirmed his lasting connection: “Fly the V, I’ll always fly the V.” Even as Nitro takes over the operations, including potential drivers like Isabella Robusto and Lawless Alan, who ran full-time in 2025, Bill’s presence at select events keeps the personal touch alive.