For the first time in the 2026 ARCA Menards Series season, the drivers will make left- and right-hand turns at a road course. They will compete at Watkins Glen International on Friday (May 8). Thomas Annunizata could not be more excited.

Annunziata enters the fifth race of the season seventh in points, losing two spots after crashing out at Talladega Superspeedway.

“I’m confident going into Watkins Glen,” he told Frontstretch pre-race. “Every racecar driver, of course, should be confident. Nitro Motorsports has given me every resource and it’s my job to execute.

“Other than Lime Rock Park, I feel like Watkins Glen is my best track. This’ll be a good opportunity for our team to show what we can do. On one hand, I obviously want to win in front of my family and friends. On the other hand, they’re so supportive of me and help calm my nerves.”

Watkins Glen is about a four-hour drive from his New Jersey home. Yes, he has some family and friends coming to support and cheer him on in the General Tire 100. It’s one of those tracks that he considers his home track.

“I really like it up there,” he continued. “We always go to the waterfalls. The nearby nature is nice and it’s really beautiful.”

Annunziata has a pair of NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at The Glen as well as some Trans-AM TA2 starts there.

“I’m very familiar with The Glen. We ran within the top three, really well there in Trans-Am, though we never could finish,” he said with a chuckle.

While ARCA only contests two events at road courses, Annunziata began his career racing at road courses. In fact, he did not start competing on oval racetracks until a year or two ago.

“Road course racing is a very niche skillset to have,” he stated. “I have been racing on them for years, so they come very naturally to me. I excel at them and enjoy racing on those tracks the most. Obviously, I want to become better on ovals, and we’re working on that, but I’m best at road courses.”

Thirty-three drivers are entered at The Glen. That marks the most there since 2004, when the now ARCA Menards Series East ran there. Annunziata has looked at the entry list, too. Among those entered are NASCAR national series drivers Patrick Staropoli and Kaden Honeycutt, defending race winner Tristan McKee, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Max Reaves, four-time ARCA road course winner Andrew Ranger and road course ringer Tyler Kicera.

“It’s a balance between extra pressure and just racing,” Annunziata noted. “Confident is the best way to be in a high-pressure situation. We can only control what we can control. I got to hit my marks, not make any mistakes, and we try not to beat ourselves. If we do those things, then it doesn’t matter what anyone else does. We’ll be in a good spot if another car makes a mistake. We’ve got to do what we’ve got to do tomorrow, and then it’ll just be racing against other cars.”

Annunziata scored his first, and thus far only, ARCA triumph at fellow road course Lime Rock in 2025. He firmly believes a strong performance, especially with a victory, will lead to further successes this season.

“We’ve had speed,” he said. “I’m a firm believer in momentum. This race is our opportunity to turn it around as we chase the championship. The picture is already clear. We’re either going to leave with this as a turning point or it’ll just be another day in the office. Like I’ve said, I’m confident my Nitro guys will give me a fast No. 70 JBL Toyota Camry.”

Annunziata and the field will have a 45-minute practice before qualifying. The green flag for the General Tire 100 will then fly at 1:30 p.m. ET with TV coverage provided by FOX Sports 2.