Thomas Annunziata may not be the name you hear weekly in NASCAR circles, but he is one of the most interesting up-and-coming road course drivers in motorsports today. Here is everything you need to know about Annunziata
Thomas Annunziata was born on June 14, 2005, in Colts Neck, New Jersey. Whereas most NASCAR drivers get their start in cars like Bandoleros or Legends cars, Annunziata took a different route, karting.
Karting is typically what aspiring road course racers get into. Most drivers in Formula One, IndyCar, etc., got their start here, which played a role in Annunziata’s course. However, his goal and commitment were to race in NASCAR.
While in karting, Annunziata quickly showcased his need for speed, winning three National Karting titles. In the early 2020s, he began to jump into bigger and faster cars.
In 2023, he competed in road-racing sports car series, such as Trans-Am TA2 and the Mazda MX-5 Cup. He also got his first oval-track experience in the Carolina Pro Late Model series, winning two races and nabbing five poles. He also won his first Trans-Am race at the Circuit of the Americas, and his crew chief was Brian Keselowski, brother of 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Brad Keselowski.
Annunziata raced alongside some notable NASCAR names in TransAm, including Connor Zilisch and Thad Moffitt. In the Mazda-MX5 Cup, Annunziata also impressed, finishing second at Watkins Glen in the race below.
In 2024, Annunzata continues to race in TransAm for the Nitro Motorsports team, but he also makes his first few starts in the NASCAR ranks. He earned a part-time opportunity driving for Jeff McLure. Annunziata impressed in his first start, finishing second in a field of 40 cars and keeping his nose clean in a race that featured 49/84 laps (58.3%) run under caution.
He returned to ARCA in April at Talladega, where he finished 12th after starting the race in 29th. This led to his first Xfinity Series opportunity at Sonoma with JD Motorsports in the No. 6 car. He qualified a respectable 26th out of 38 cars, but he finished 34th after a transmission issue ended his race 16 laps early.
He returned to the ARCA ranks a few weeks later at Mid-Ohio. Back in his wheelhouse on a road course, he showed what he could do by qualifying fifth and competing up front throughout the race. He came home in fourth, which turned many heads in and out of the garage.
He will return to the Xfinity Series at the Chicago Street Race for JD Motorsports. How well could Annunziata do in Chicago? Let us know on Discord or X what your take is, and don’t forget you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and even YouTube.
