Jade Avedisian Accelerates Toward NASCAR Dreams with Top-Tier Support

Eighteen-year-old phenom inks multi-race deal, earning praise from racing legends.

Rising racing star Jade Avedisian has taken a significant stride toward her ultimate NASCAR aspiration of competing on Sundays, securing vital backing from prominent figures within the sport.

Venturini Motorsports Partnership Ignites ARCA Debut

The 18-year-old Californian officially committed to a multi-race agreement with Venturini Motorsports this week, marking her highly anticipated ARCA Menards Series debut. The team is reinforcing its lineup, recently welcoming back driver Kris Wright.

Avedisian will pilot the No. 25 Yahoo Toyota Camry at the iconic DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in Illinois on August 31st. This 100-lap event, the Southern Illinois 100, stands as the 16th round of the 20-race ARCA Menards Series season. The series has seen dominance from Brendan Queen, who has secured four victories in eleven starts this year.

Proven Talent Poised for Pavement and Dirt Success

The talented young driver will also compete in the ARCA West Series at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 10th, driving her Mobil 1-sponsored Toyota. Avedisian described the opportunity as a dream realized, especially with the chance to achieve victory with a team as reputable as Venturini Motorsports.

Avedisian has been on an upward trajectory since clinching the 2023 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series title, notably becoming the first female driver to reach the podium in a preliminary event at the prestigious Chili Bowl Nationals. Her controlled aggression and composure on dirt earned her accolades from NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the same year.

She continued her development across the USAC National Midget and Xtreme Midget Series under the guidance of Keith Kunz Motorsports. Simultaneously, Avedisian gained extensive road course and pavement experience in the Toyota GR Cup with Nitro Motorsports. Her versatility was further showcased in Late Model Stock Cars, with races she entered being commentated by Dale Jr. himself.

“I grew up watching drivers like Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson, both with similar open-wheel backgrounds. I feel dirt racers just hit different. The car has a lot more feel; it helps when transitioning to a heavy stock car. The most important goal right now is experience. Thinking about walking into the series and winning is a stretch, but I have confidence in myself.”

—Jade Avedisian

NASCAR Icon’s Endorsement Boosts Young Racer’s Profile

Avedisian‘s participation on Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s podcast, specifically an episode spotlighting the “Next Generation of Women Racers,” further amplified her burgeoning career. The NASCAR Hall of Famer lauded her fearless yet composed racing style.

“You made this aggressive move. And I was impressed by the tenacity you showed in that moment. At 18, I was more conservative; you just had so much confidence.”

—Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Despite a concussion sustained from a flip at Farmer City last year, which led to a two-month hiatus and prevented her from competing in the Chili Bowl, Earnhardt Jr. remains a strong proponent of her talent. He referred to the young driver as an asset to any series she races in and expressed his intent to follow her career progression as a fan as she works her way through the ranks.

The growth of female participation in motorsports is a notable trend, with female drivers achieving significant milestones across various disciplines. For instance, Hailie Deegan became the first woman to win a NASCAR K&N Pro Series West race in 2018, demonstrating the increasing opportunities for women in the sport.