CONCORD, NC :: Milka Duno is gearing up for her first full season ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards behind the wheel of Venturini Motorsports’ (VMS) No.35 team entry.
With continuing sponsorship support from CANTV, Milka Way and Seguros Altamira, Duno will make her team debut on February 16 at the Lucas Oil 200 presented by MAVTV American Real at Daytona International Speedway.
Duno, a native of Caracas, Venezuela, has gained international fame for her efforts both on and off the track. Widely noted for becoming the first-ever Hispanic female driver to compete in the Indianapolis 500 in its 101-year history, Duno has achieved eight major race wins in the highest classes (Prototype) in the American Le Mans Series and Rolex Series and the highest finish ever by a female driver (2nd Place) in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in the 51-year history of the race.
“Milka possess a strong desire to succeed in the series and is expected to fit in well with our team and compete at a high level,” says Billy Venturini, Director of Competition for VMS.
In partial season competition in 2012, Duno earned her first top-10 finish in the ARCA Series at New Jersey Motorsports Park. She also earned two CGS Imaging “Hard Charger” awards – at NJMP and at Salem Speedway.
“I’m really looking forward to my first full ARCA Series season and to team with Venturini Motorsports is a fantastic opportunity,” says Milka Duno. “I can’t wait to get to Daytona and hit the track with the Venturini crew in the No. 35 Toyota.”
Milka became the first Venezuelan athlete to be inducted into the Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame at their 35th Anniversary Induction Ceremony in January, 2010. In addition to being the most successful female sports car racer in history, Milka is also a qualified Naval Engineer with four master’s degrees – in Organizational Development, Naval Architecture, Aquaculture and Maritime Business – earning the last three degrees simultaneously.
In continuing efforts to use her celebrity as a catalyst to promote her philanthropic interests, in 2004, Duno started “MILKA WAY,” an educational outreach program designed to promote academic excellence among children world-wide. CANTV is the leading integrated telecommunications provider in Venezuela and provides domestic and international long distance telephone services throughout Venezuela, wireless telephone services, and Internet access, and publishes telephone directories.
Venturini Motorsports (VMS), fielding cars in the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards, is one of the premier NASCAR driver development programs in the country.
The 50th annual Lucas Oil 200 presented by MAVTV American Real airs live on SPEED Channel at 4:30 p.m. EST Saturday, February 16, and precedes NASCAR’s Sprint Unlimited.
