Thomas Annunziata entered the ARCA Menards Series season with high hopes after finishing fourth in the preseason test at Daytona International Speedway. Scheduled to make his second start at the 2.5-mile superspeedway on February 14, Annunziata was eager to build on his runner-up finish in his series debut at the same track. However, his opening weekend did not go as planned, as a late-race collision ended his race prematurely.
After qualifying in 31st position, Annunziata made significant progress through the field, reaching the top 10 during the race. Unfortunately, on lap 73, a contact with Jason Kitzmiller resulted in a crash that forced him out of the event, leading to a 26th-place finish.
Details on the Daytona Race Incident and Performance
Annunziata’s crash was the only major incident he experienced during the race weekend. Despite this, the impact was severe, causing him whiplash. Reflecting on the accident, he said,
“Honestly, it was cool spinning out at 180 mph. That fast is crazy. It was harder than I thought. It did not look that hard in the video but I ended up with some whiplash as a result. It was a hard hit for sure, but that’s Daytona.”
– Thomas Annunziata, Driver
The driver praised the efforts of his team, emphasizing their preparation and speed despite the setback.
“The guys at the shop did a great job. The whole team did a good job. Our Nitro No. 70 JBL Toyota was fast, especially in different lanes making runs. We got a bad draw for qualifying. We did not go out with the quickest cars, so we qualified 31st. Had our work cut out for us in the race. Drove up to the front with our teammates and was in a good spot to have a chance there at the end for the win. Unfortunately, it ended early getting wrecked, but still rallied to a 26th-place finish, which was important for points.”
– Thomas Annunziata, Driver
Annunziata was one of five Nitro Motorsports drivers who faced issues at Daytona, despite the team posting the fastest five times in the preseason test.
“Yeah, it was unfortunate. We all had fast cars and got wrecked there at the end. None of that was our doing, that’s for sure.”
– Thomas Annunziata, Driver
Preparing for Phoenix with Focus and Resolve
With the next race scheduled at Phoenix Raceway less than three weeks later, Annunziata has used the break to recover and prepare. He spent time with family, worked on fitness, and engaged in iRacing to sharpen his skills.
“Spent some time with family, training, obviously, studying, doing some iRacing, working out. We’ve been having some family issues at home at the moment, so being there for them for a little bit, then came back to North Carolina, which was important for me. Family is everything.”
– Thomas Annunziata, Driver
Even as he deals with a cold and a hoarse voice leading into Phoenix, Annunziata’s concentration remains strong. He noted that competing at Phoenix Raceway is a familiar experience, having raced there in both the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and ARCA.
When discussing differences between the racecars, he pointed out key technical contrasts.
“There’s less aero and downforce in the O’Reilly car and there’s less horsepower, so they are a lot more difficult to drive. It’s hard to compare otherwise. Our ARCA equipment is better than what we had in the O’Reilly Series and that series was more difficult competition-wise. It’s much more difficult to drive in the O’Reilly Series.”
– Thomas Annunziata, Driver
Experience and Expectations at Phoenix Raceway
While Annunziata has completed 18 races in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, many ARCA Menards Series tracks this season will be new to him, making Phoenix a welcome challenge. He emphasized the importance of adaptability for drivers facing fresh venues.
“100%, I’d much rather have been to the track before, and there are not many of those this season. I think that’s what makes a driver a good driver is their ability to adapt to the challenge.”
– Thomas Annunziata, Driver
In the 2025 ARCA Menards Series West season finale at Phoenix, Annunziata secured a third-place finish. With the upcoming ARCA event featuring a strong 40-car field combining the main series and the West division, he anticipates fierce competition but remains confident in his potential to contend for the win.
“We spent a lot of time in the sim trying to get a lot better. I thought I did a good job at Phoenix last year in the ARCA car. We didn’t quite have the pace of the Joe Gibbs or PRG car out front. We should still have a shot. With the superspeedway chaos, this will be the first big test to see if our work over the winter has paid off. I’ll be there for the taking if the win is there. I know I can put myself in a position to run up front.”
– Thomas Annunziata, Driver
He views the Phoenix race as a fresh start, signaling a critical moment for measuring the team’s progress.
“It’s a reset. To me, I see this as race No. 1 and see what we got. It’s going to come down to where we are. I’m excited for this race to start, as I think the season really starts here. After Phoenix, Kansas Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, we will know where we are at for sure.”
– Thomas Annunziata, Driver
Implications for the Season Ahead
Following a tough setback at Daytona, Thomas Annunziata’s approach to Phoenix will be a crucial indicator of his and his team’s competitiveness in the ARCA Menards Series. His combination of prior experience at Phoenix Raceway, focused preparation, and a strong desire to reset his season paves the way for a potentially strong showing. The upcoming races at Kansas and Talladega will further clarify the team’s position in the championship battle.
Trouble! Thomas Annunziata goes around with eight laps to go at @DAYTONA
📺 Catch the #GeneralTire200 finish on FOX! pic.twitter.com/8OoUvpplL6
— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) February 14, 2026
