American Racecar Driver
Thomas C. Annunziata
Age: 20 years old
Thomas Annunziata is a professional American racing driver with nearly a decade of experience behind the wheel. At just 19 years old, he’s already charted an extraordinary path from local karting tracks to the national stage, building momentum toward a future in NASCAR.
His journey began in 2015 at Englishtown Raceway Park, where a young Thomas entered the local karting scene with big dreams and raw determination. What started as weekend races soon became an obsession with mastering the craft of driving. By 2019, he had clinched three local championships and earned the chance to step onto the national karting stage. Over the next few years, Thomas competed in America’s most competitive series SKUSA, USPKS, and Rok Cup collecting three national titles and building a reputation as one of the sport’s most promising young talents.
The transition to cars came naturally. In 2022, he began competing in the SCCA Spec Miata class, immediately showing the same fire and discipline that defined his karting career. That year, he was selected to attend the exclusive Spec MX-5 Mazda Shootout alongside just eight other standout drivers. While he didn’t win the shootout, Thomas wasn’t deterred. Instead, he doubled down, committed to proving he belonged. His performance in the Spec MX-5 Challenge Series with BSI Racing was nothing short of dominant, capturing both available championship titles and earning his way to the next MX-5 Cup Shootout. There, he delivered when it mattered most—winning the $75,000 factory driver scholarship and securing a full-season ride with Mazda and Hixon Motorsports in 2023.
Even as he thrived in sports cars, Thomas had his sights set on the stock car world. At the close of 2022, he made his debut in the Trans Am 2 series with Nitro Motorsports, entering the final two rounds of the season. In just his second ever start, he shocked the field with a podium finish at COTA—the largest Trans Am 2 race in history. It was a signal that this young driver could adapt, compete, and excel in any format.
In 2023, Thomas joined Nitro full time in the Trans Am series. That season, he became the only rookie to earn a pole position and a race win, delivering crew chief Brian Keselowski (brother of NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski) his first career victory in the role. The performance solidified Thomas as a serious contender—not just in Trans Am, but in the greater racing world.
2024 marked a major breakout. He debuted in the ARCA Menards Series at Daytona with Jeff McClure Racing and nearly won his first race, finishing a hard-fought second in the iconic Mello Yello paint scheme. He continued to run additional ARCA events, coming close again at Mid-Ohio, and his performance quickly drew the attention of several NASCAR Xfinity Series teams. JD Motorsports gave him his debut at Sonoma, and he closed out the year racing with Joey Gase’s team after JD’s program was shuttered. Meanwhile, back in Trans Am 2, Thomas claimed the Young Guns Championship and finished third overall in the series standings.
In 2025, Thomas signed a part-time Xfinity deal with Cope Family Racing while committing to another year with Nitro Motorsports in Trans Am 2. And he wasted no time. He opened the season with back-to-back wins at Sebring and Road Atlanta, making history in the process by delivering Toyota their first-ever pole and win in Trans Am 2 history. Once again, Thomas proved he isn’t just participating—he’s pushing boundaries and setting benchmarks.
He’s focused, relentless, and mature beyond his years. Every lap has been earned. Every next step, intentional. And now, as his career accelerates toward NASCAR’s highest levels, one thing is clear: Thomas Annunziata isn’t just one of the most exciting young drivers in American racing—he’s one of the most determined.
2025
NASCAR Xfinity Driver for Cope Family Racing and Trans Am TA2 Pilot for Nitro Motorsports
