Italy’s Matteo Nannini, 18, will compete in a partial 2022 NASCAR ARCA Menards Series schedule with Team Stange Racing
CHICAGO, Illinois – Team Stange Racing on Tuesday announced it has launched a unique driver development program that will take top drivers from the international racing scene and place them on a path to NASCAR through customized programs starting with the NASCAR ARCA Menards Series.
The program’s first participant will be Matteo Nannini. The 18-year-old Italian driver has followed his family’s lineage, coming up through the European Formula series and driving in F3, F4, and GP2 as recently as the 2021 season.
Nannini will begin his climb up the NASCAR ranks by competing in a partial NASCAR ARCA Menards Series schedule in 2022, beginning with the Mid-Ohio 150 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on July 8.
“Our goal is to find talented drivers, develop their abilities through our customized high-speed program and prepare them for competing at the highest levels of motorsports,” said John Stange, Jr., President and CEO of Team Stange Racing. “We believe that Matteo with his strong road racing background will find his way around the track in his new surroundings very quickly.”
“I’m very excited to make my NASCAR debut and race for championships in the United States,” stated Matteo Nannini. “I look forward to gaining more experience and developing my racing skills in a new car that will make me a more diverse driver.”
Team Stange Racing’s longtime VP, Doug Knight, a veteran of the NASCAR world who got his start in the Goody’s Dash Series, will oversee the driver development program.
“We’re going to find drivers who have the talent and give them a fair shot at making it to the highest ranks of racing,” explained Knight. “We’re very excited to work with a rising star in Matteo and look forward to introducing him to the NASCAR scene, which will allow him to grow and become more diverse on the track.”
Nannini will pilot the Number (46) Team Stange Racing Ford Mustang made famous by the great Larry Clement Racing Championship Racing team before selling the ARCA team to Team Stange Racing.
About Team Stange Racing
Team Stange Racing expanded into the IndyCar Series in 2019, finishing 22nd in the Indianapolis 500. Its goal for 2022 and beyond is to consistently compete for wins in the NASCAR Cup Series, and multiple racing formulas in both the USA and internationally. Team Stange Racing aims to build a motorsports empire looking at other motorsport disciplines to compete in 2023 along with NASCAR and the GT Sprint Race in Brazil.
For more information, follow Team Stange Racing on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Source: Team Stange Racing
