By Reid Scearce
Thomas Annunziata captures the ARCA Menards Series championship after a tense finish in the Menards 150 at Kansas Speedway on Friday night.
Thomas Annunziata entered the finale at Kansas Speedway as the underdog in the ARCA Menards Series championship race, trailing Nitro Motorsports teammate Jake Bollman by 16 points. Bollmann led the championship standings for most of the season and needed only a tenth or better finish to clinch the title.
Annunziata captures the ARCA Championship
After losing several positions in the race due to the incident with Annunziata and a later crash that seriously damaged his car, Bollmann had to finish in 21st place. Annunziata then needed to finish fifth to tie Bollman in points and win the championship in a tiebreaker, putting Annunziata in a position where one place late in the race could decide the championship.
During Friday’s post-race media availability at Kansas, Fan4Racing’s Reid Sears asked Annunziata how nervous he was in the closing laps as he battled Andy Jankowiak for fifth, which ultimately secured him the championship.
Annunziata said his team told him he needed one more position, but the pressure was on as the rounds went down.
“Yeah, they said we need another one,” Annunziata said. “Before, with eight to go, they were saying I needed three or four more, which, I mean, dude, my right leg was shaking the whole time.”
Describing how he timed the restart perfectly, Annunziata weaved his way through traffic before catching Andy Jankowiak.
“I knew what I had to do and I had to time that restart and I did it where I didn’t jump or do something stupid this time,” Annunziata said.
After claiming another position, Annunziata said he knew his car had improved after the team made adjustments during the race.
He eventually made a move on Jankowiak for fifth, giving him the position he needed to win the championship.
“I had a big run on Andy coming down the backstretch and I was worried he was going to take the top off me and he didn’t. So I sent it over the top and just barely got the run,” Annunziata said. “I almost hit the exit wall just trying to catch him … I was able to catch him and then I just kind of kicked it again the last five laps hoping it would stay green and rip the wall and it did.”
A fifth-place finish ultimately gave Annunziata the position he needed to secure the championship after a tight battle in the final laps at Kansas.
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