After running a four-race schedule in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series last season, Stephen Mallozzi is set to make his first start of 2024, linking up with Reaume Brothers Racing once again for Friday’s Long John Silver’s 200 at Martinsville Speedway.
Mallozzi will pilot the No 22 Ford F-150 in Friday’s 200-lap contest, the second full-time entry for the Josh Reaume-owned organization. The Swedesboro, New Jersey-native will have support from long-time partners Stacking Dennys and Win the Race, while bringing along new partner Ozark Rods.
“I am super excited to be back with Reaume Brothers Racing,” said Mallozzi. “Everyone at the shop is like a second family to me. Without Josh Reaume and all of the hardworking people at RBR, my career never would’ve happened. I’m grateful for every single opportunity I get behind the wheel, and I am so thankful for all of my partners who have trusted me to represent their brands with pride.”
The 23-year-old racer first appeared on the NASCAR Truck Series circuit in 2022, making his series debut for Reaume Brothers Racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. After an incident in practice, Mallozzi would earn an impressive 22nd-place result, which to this date remains a career-best result.
Mallozzi would return to Reaume Brothers Racing the following season as an employee and part-time competitor, running four events, including Martinsville Speedway, where he made his oval debut for AM Racing — in partnership with RBR — finishing 36th after a late-race mechanical issue.
However, returning to a racetrack for a second run is something that Mallozzi thinks will make a night-and-day difference in his performance, as the pressure of having to maximize the limited on-track time before the event slightly fades away.
“Returning to a track for a second time should be a huge step up for me,” added Mallozzi. “I’ve obviously been playing catch-up every time I’ve been to the track with the short practices. But with Martinsville, I’ve been there. I’ve raced there. I am excited to see what we can do at the Paper Clip.”
Despite competing sporadically over the last two seasons, Mallozzi has quickly become a favorite amongst the low-budget teams, largely due to his relatable story of hustling working as a server at Outback Steakhouse while also chasing his NASCAR dream.
That hustling paid off in a major way last September at Bristol Motor Speedway, where Mallozzi managed to secure sponsorship from Outback Steakhouse after a call-to-action on social media. Driving for AM Racing, Mallozzi came home 32nd in that event.
Josh Reaume, owner of Reaume Brothers Racing and a mentor to Mallozzi, is hopeful that his previous experience at Martinsville can be helpful to not just the driver, but the organization as a whole.
“Stephen is a die-hard racer that refuses to give up,” said Reaume. “His ability to continue to create opportunities for himself in this sport all while pursuing a law degree is a true testament to his intelligence and abilities as an individual. I take pride in being the first owner to give Stephen his shot in NASCAR, and I look forward to continuing our successful relationship this weekend at Martinsville.”
Entering Martinsville, the No. 22 Ford F-150 for Reaume Brothers Racing sits an impressive 25th-place in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series owner points, after an opening sequence of events that has seen both Keith McGee and Carter Fartuch get behind the wheel of the entry.
