Thomas Annunziata Scores First ARCA Win After Opening-Lap Spin

Thomas Annunziata, a 20-year-old standout driver in the Trans Am TA2 Division, has put Nitro Motorsports back into Victory Lane for the second time in the last three races, after an eventful inaugural run for the ARCA Menards Series at Lime Rock Park.

By looking at the final rundown, it probably looks like the Colts Neck, New Jersey-native had an easy go at things on Saturday, winning the pole, leading a race-high 32 of 68 laps, and winning the race, but the journey to his first career ARCA Menards Series win was a difficult one.

It all started on the opening lap of the 68-lap contest around the Connecticut-based road course, when third-place starter Lawless Alan completely missed his braking mark, getting into the back of the No. 70 Toyota Camry and sending Annunziata and Brent Crews – the two favorites to win the race – around in Turn 1.

From there, Annunziata (No.70 Nitro Motorsports) and Crews (No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing) had to work their way back through the field, but after getting close to the top-five, their quick progress quickly slowed, as several drivers had strong cars at the front of the pack.

Alon Day, who has joined Venturini Motorsports for a three-race deal on the road courses this season, led a lot of the middle portion of the race and looked to have a car fast enough to challenge for the victory. However, at the mid-race break, Day didn’t come down pit road at the proper time, forcing him to drop to the rear of the field in the closing laps.

As the end of the race approached, though, it looked to be Annunziata and Crews who would be battling it out for the victory late in the going, that was until the race’s final restart, where Crews beat his rival to the restart line, which forced ARCA Menards Series officials to give him a drive-through penalty.

With a 17-lap green-flag run to the finish, Crews was unable to get the opportunity to challenge for the victory, only able to rebound to sixth, while Annunziata easily drove away to a 4.139-second victory over runner-up Alon Day.

“It means a lot, especially after what happened in the Truck Series race, I mean we had a great run going and got taken out in the end,” Annunziata said in Victory Lane. “Got taken out at the beginning of this race, too, so I wasn’t very cool, and they helped me stay calm, but oh my gosh, I can’t thank Toyota and Nitro Motorsports, Venturini enough for taking this chance on me.”

“This is the first time I’m in real winning equipment and I get to showcase my talent. Man, that was so good, there’s no better way to win than just go back to last and have to make a comeback.”

The victory marks the second for the newly-formed ARCA Menards Series program for Nitro Motorsports, who earned their first win two races ago at Berlin Raceway with NASCAR Canada Series champion Treyten Lapcevich.

Alon Day rebounded from that penalty at the halfway point of the event to finish in the runner-up position, while Lawless Alan was third, Brenden Queen fourth, and Ryan Gemmell in his second ARCA Menards Series start for NEMCO Motorsports rounded out the top-five.

Brent Crews rebounded from the late-race drive-through penalty to come home sixth, with Lavar Scott in seventh, Jeff Anton finishing eighth in his first-ever ARCA Menards Series start. Dale Quarterley was ninth, and Isabella Robusto rounded out the top-10.

Brenden Queen will leave Lime Rock holding a 10-point lead over Lawless Alan, who finished one spot better than the Pinnacle Racing Group driver in Saturday’s event. Next, the ARCA Menards Series heads to Dover Motor Speedway on July 18

Race Results: