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Thomas Annunziata wins 2026 ARCA Menards Series championship

Camry driver Thomas Annunziata captured his first career ARCA Menards Series title today with a fifth-place finish at Kansas Speedway. This championship is the first in ARCA competition for Nitro Motorsports.


The 21-year-old New Jersey native made his full-time debut in ARCA competition in 2026, with a terrific season-long performance behind the wheel of his No. 70 Toyota Camry. Annunziata captured one victory at Lime Rock Park in June, along with earning 11 top-five and 18 top-10 finishes across this season’s 20 races, with an average finishing position of seventh enroute to the driver’s title. Annunziata’s championship is also the second in four years for Toyota, and third in the last six, joining Jesse Love (2023) and Ty Gibbs (2021) with recent championships.


“We’re thrilled to have been a part of Thomas Annunziata and Nitro Motorsports’ first championship in the ARCA Menards Series,” said Paul Doleshal, general manager, sponsorships and motorsports, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). “This year’s ARCA Menards Series championship was very competitive amongst the Nitro Motorsports teammates, and for Thomas to come out on top shows not only his distinct talents, but also his determination to reach his goals. We look forward to celebrating this terrific moment with Thomas in his young and prospering career.”


Annunziata also made his debut in the NASCAR Truck Series at Lime Rock Park in the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage, where he started from the fourth position.


Annunziata’s championship was the finishing touch on another historic season for Toyota in the ARCA Menards Series, as Toyota teams won 11 of the 20 races. This included a stretch of four-in-a-row from Michigan International Speedway to Elko Speedway in the mid-summer where Annunziata’s Lime Rock Park win was the third of four in that stretch. Annunziata is the ninth Toyota-partner driver to capture an ARCA Menards Series championship, joining the likes of Patrick Sheltra (2010), Justin Lofton (2009), Frank Kimmel (2013), Austin Theriault (2017), Sheldon Creed (2018), Christian Eckes (2019), Gibbs (2021) and Love (2023).


— Toyota Racing —

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