RAFA Racing Team’s Isabella Robusto interview on MRN

RAFA Racing Team will make its highly anticipated ARCA Menards Series debut this weekend at Phoenix Raceway, with Isabella Robusto behind the wheel.

The 19-year-old racer, who recently captured Rookie of the Year honors in the ARCA Menards Series, will lead the team’s first foray into stock car competition after a successful year across its IMSA and SRO sports car programs.

Robusto, a rising star in the Toyota Racing Development (TRD) driver development program, brings both experience and technical acumen to the team as she helps bridge RAFA’s sports car heritage with its new chapter in NASCAR’s developmental ladder.

Appearing live on the Motor Racing Network’s NASCAR Coast to Coast with host Chris Wilner, Robusto previewed the weekend ahead and discussed the team’s preparations for the ARCA Menards Series West race in Arizona.

Q&A

Chris Wilner (MRN):

Welcome back to NASCAR Coast to Coast on the Motor Racing Network. We’re going from one guest to the next, this time talking ARCA West heading out to Phoenix. Joining us here in the studio is our ARCA Menards Series Rookie of the Year, Isabella Robusto. Good to see you again! Probably ready to get out of the cold in Charlotte and head to Phoenix, right?

Isabella Robusto:

Yeah, I’m so ready. I can’t wait to get on the plane tomorrow and head to the warm West Coast—100 percent.

Chris:

Before we get to your big news and why we’re going to Phoenix, let’s talk about your 2025 Rookie of the Year campaign. Everybody wants to win, but were your expectations met or exceeded this season?

Isabella:

I feel like we had some really good races, and then a handful that didn’t go our way—either mechanical issues or getting caught in other people’s trouble. But when things went right, we were up front running in the top three and had pace, which was the goal.
We wanted that win, and while we didn’t get it, I learned a lot—especially going to 90% of the tracks for the first time. It was a really good learning year overall. Results-wise, we came close to what we wanted, but the win was the one thing we didn’t check off.

Chris:

You finished fourth in points and earned Rookie of the Year honors—congratulations! That was with Venturini Motorsports, later transitioning to Nitro Motorsports. But now, big news this week: you’re joining RAFA Racing Team, who’ll make their ARCA Menards Series debut. How did this come together, and for fans who may not know, what is RAFA Racing?

Isabella:

Yeah, RAFA Racing is big on the sports car side—in IMSA and SRO—running in the VP Challenge GS and SRO GT America. The team owner, Kevin Conway, used to race in NASCAR and was Rookie of the Year in Cup, so it’s kind of a full-circle moment for him.
I’m grateful they chose me to kick off their NASCAR campaign. We’ll start in Phoenix with the ARCA West race and see how it goes.
RAFA’s really cool because it’s more than a race team—it’s a luxury motorsports lifestyle brand with the RAFA Racing Club and RAFA Racing Team under the same umbrella.

Chris:

What’s the process been like joining RAFA and helping them make this big move from sports car racing into stock cars? Have they leaned on you for guidance from your ARCA experience?

Isabella:

Definitely. We’ve had a lot of those conversations. Jamie Jones, who’s been huge in getting the car ready, actually came from the Venturini side, so I already knew him. It’s been a long process getting the car built and ready—we did a shakedown test last Friday before the trailer rolled west.
It’s been a learning curve for much of the RAFA team, but between Kevin, Jamie, and me, we’ve done a good job explaining what the NASCAR world is like. It’s going to be a continual building process, for sure.

Chris:

You’ll still be in the Toyota program running a Camry under TRD. How rewarding is it being part of something brand new compared to joining a well-established team like Venturini?

Isabella:

It’s a totally different mindset. At Venturini, their legacy is already set with years of wins and success. With RAFA, I’m the first driver in their first NASCAR car, but they already have that winning culture from sports cars—winning both VP Challenge championships, finishing third in GS, and second in both SRO championships.
This was actually RAFA Racing Team’s first full year after transitioning from Smoodge Racing, and for them to have that much success in year one is huge. I’m hoping to launch their NASCAR side the same way.

Chris:

You also come from a road racing background, having competed in GR Cup. Any chance we’ll see you double-dip between stock cars and sports cars?

Isabella:

I hope so! I really enjoy it. It’s fun to go back to the sports car world with the GR Cup or GT4 Supra. It’s also helped me get to know everyone on the team better and build those relationships at the shop.

Chris:

Let’s talk about Phoenix. You’ve been there before—what are the biggest challenges of that track, especially for a new team setting up a car there?

Isabella:

I think we’ll be good. We’ve had a lot of help from friends in the NASCAR world, and I feel like we’ll show up right on pace. The weather looks great compared to earlier this year when we didn’t get any practice or qualifying—we just lined up by points and raced.
Phoenix was actually my first-ever ARCA race, so I’m really excited to go back and have another shot.

Chris:

What’s the key to running well there?

Isabella:

You have to make the right adjustments at the halfway break—the track changes a lot. Communication will be huge since it’s a new team and new spotter. If we do our jobs right, the race will come to us.

Chris:

What’s been the biggest thing the ARCA Series has taught you as a driver?

Isabella:

Honestly, just the racetracks. The competition is mostly the same group I’ve grown up racing with, but the tracks are so different—bigger, faster, more aero. Phoenix is kind of a short track, but still aero-sensitive.
Working with Trevor Bayne and Blake Koch through TRD has been a big help—using video and iRacing to prep.

Chris:

You mentioned the dogleg at Phoenix. I’ve heard it can be brutal if you get it wrong. Have you experienced that?

Isabella:

Oh yeah. The first time I cut the dogleg in practice, I did it wrong—it hurt! The second time, I hit it at the right angle, and it wasn’t nearly as bad. It’s mostly about feel—you can see the rougher areas on a track walk, but once you’re racing, you just have to hold the wheel tight and be ready. There’s a lot of Advil passed around after Phoenix!

Chris:

How’s your brother Will doing? You two raced each other a few times this year, right?

Isabella:

Yeah! We raced together a few times, including at Indy in GR Cup. It’s special to race with him—and give him a hard time. I didn’t qualify great, started 13th, and by the end of Lap 1, I was on his bumper…and ran into him.
I didn’t spin him out, thankfully, but I did hurt my nose. We laugh about it now. There’s definitely some sibling rivalry, especially when we’re on track together, but at the end of the day, we’re each other’s biggest fans.

Chris:

You’re also pursuing an aerospace engineering degree while racing. How do you balance it all?

Isabella:

It’s all about time management. My professors are super helpful about scheduling tests around race weekends. I’ve been doing online school since high school, so I’ve learned how to focus fully on school when I’m studying, and fully on racing when I’m at the track.
It’s something I really want for myself—I love engineering, 3D printing, and working on my cars. It’s definitely a long four years, but worth it.

Chris:

Do you see any overlap between engineering and racing?

Isabella:

Absolutely. Working with engineers on the sim and at the shop, it helps me understand data, terminology, and how to communicate feedback better. It’s made a huge difference in my development as a driver.

Chris:

RAFA’s debut comes this weekend at Phoenix. What’s a good result for this team?

Isabella:

I think we have a shot to win—but realistically, a top three is the goal. We want to run up front and be competitive with the 28 and 18 cars. If everyone does their job, it’s very doable.