ISABELLA ROBUSTO Claims Front Row Start, Best Female Showing Since 2021

February 13, 2026

• ISABELLA ROBUSTO secured her spot on the front row for Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series General Tire 200, qualifying second with a lap of 49.191 seconds at 182.960 mph. The Nitro Motorsports driver will line up alongside pole-sitter Gus Dean, marking her third career front row start after earning her first series pole at Kansas in 2024 and starting second at Michigan last summer.
• ROBUSTO’s second-place qualifying effort represents the strongest showing by a female driver at Daytona since GRACIE TROTTER started second in 2021. This performance continues her momentum from a breakout 2024 season that included her maiden pole position.
• The front row lockout by Nitro Motorsports teammates Dean and ROBUSTO sets up an intriguing dynamic for Saturday’s race, with ROBUSTO positioned perfectly to challenge for her first series victory. With proven speed on superspeedways and the strategic advantage of starting up front in pack racing, she’s poised to make history at one of NASCAR’s most prestigious venues.

arca menards series, daytona international speedway, icon direct toyota, nitro motorsports