Stephen Mallozzi, who has been in the Reaume Brothers Racing Development Driver program and serves as a member of the race team, will attempt to make his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut for the team in the No. 43 Toyota Tundra entry at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
In a press release from RBR, Mallozzi states that he owes making his first NCWTS start to team owner Josh Reaume, who has never shied away from giving drivers their launching pad in the sport.
“You know, breaking into motorsports in general is impossible, and I am so grateful for people in racing like Josh who continuously give drivers opportunities,” said Mallozzi.
Reaume explains that Mallozzi is the type of person that you just want to make things happen for.
“Mallozz is something else. His story, the reason why he’s racing, put together with his big personality make him the kind of guy you just want to root for,” Reaume stated in the release. “I think racing is like a family, and being able to help one of our own get his shot and letting Stephen complete something that is so important to him is an awesome thing to be a part of.”
For Mallozzi, who hails from New Jersey, this attempt at his first-career NASCAR National Series start is extremely special as it will also give his father, who has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, a chance to see his son race in the Truck Series.
“For me, I’ve been pushing so hard to make this happen for my dad,” Mallozzi explained. “He has his own impossible fight after being given just six months to live; and since that initial diagnosis he’s been going for almost six years. My old man has been my inspiration to keep going and try so hard to make this happen. He gave so much so I could race, and now it’s my turn to make him proud.”
The 21-year old driver made his way up the racing ladder through the Senior Rotax National Championship Series, where he finished runner-up in the championship standings back in 2017.
Mallozzi joined the RBR Driver Development program in 2021, the year that the program was founded and he spent 2021 running late model events at Hickory Motor Speedway, Florence Speedway and Dillon Speedway.
In addition to his driving pursuits, Mallozzi has been serving as the eSports journalist for TobyChristie.com.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 150 at Mid-Ohio will take place on Saturday, July 9th. The race will be televised on FS1 and the broadcast coverage will begin at 1:30 PM ET.
