NASCAR ARCA Menards Series Race at Lime Rock Park

The ARCA Menards Series race at Lime Rock Park, known as the Lime Rock Park 100, took place on June 28, 2025, marking the series’ first-ever race at this 1.47-mile road course in Lakeville, Connecticut. This event was part of a NASCAR weekend doubleheader alongside the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, making it a historic debut for both series at the track. Lime Rock Park is a historic 1.53-mile road course built in 1955, known for hosting prestigious racing series and drivers like Mario Andretti and Scott Pruett. The ARCA Menards Series race marked the track’s first national ARCA event, though the ARCA Menards Series East raced there from 1993 to 2010, with Andrew Ranger winning the last East Series race in 2010. This was the 181st different track and the 32nd state (Connecticut) in ARCA Menards Series history. It was also the series’ first of two road-course races in 2025. The weekend included a Pit Stop Party and Hauler Parade on June 26, and a premium Champions Club hospitality experience overlooking the Sam Posey Straight. General admission tickets maintained 2024 pricing, with free entry for veterans, active military, and children 12 and under. The event drew an estimated 12,000–15,000 attendees, prompting local concerns about traffic, with proposals to make a state highway one-way during the event. The Event was known as the Lime Rock Park 100 while the Trucks had the LiUNA! 150.

On the opening lap, contact between Annunziata and Brent Crews (No. 18 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing) set the tone for a chaotic race. Crews briefly led but was later penalized for jumping a restart, dropping him in the final order. Lawless Alan then took the lead and passed through Brendan Queen and Alon Day. After the moment that they didn’t release the first Caution until the 4th lap when Austin Vaughan’s car was stuck at turn 1. When they reset the race. Dale Quarterley was in the lead until he drove into the grass on turn 1, but managed to maintain his truck and went all the way in the back. Lawless Alan maintained the lead after the first-lap melee, with the field spreading out slightly as drivers adjusted to the track’s rhythm. Alon Day (Venturini Motorsports), a NASCAR Euro Series veteran making his ARCA debut, began making moves. By Lap 16, Day challenged Alan for the lead. Alan attempted to block in Turn 1, but Day executed a clean pass to take the top spot.A nnunziata and Crews, recovering from their Lap 1 setback, steadily climbed through the field, with Annunziata leveraging his Trans Am TA2 experience at Lime Rock. Day led comfortably, showcasing his road-course expertise. The field saw competitive racing, with drivers like Brenden Queen (Pinnacle Racing Group) and Ryan Gemmell holding strong in the top 10. Brent Crews, despite his early setback, remained a factor, using his road-course pedigree (second at Mid-Ohio 2024, third at Watkins Glen 2023) to regain ground. Dale Quarterley, running the No. 4 car and competing in both ARCA and the Craftsman Truck Series that day, made an aggressive move for the lead, going three-wide into Turn 1. He missed the braking zone, ran wide into the grass, and fell back, allowing Alan to briefly regain a strong position.

Moments before the break, Jeff Anton contacted Ed Pompa and got spin on turn 7 while Lavar Scott moved out of the way to avoid getting hit. After that, Jason Kitzmiller #97 car tried to avoid getting hit but didn’t move out of the way in time and got hit by Ed Pompa #10, which his car stopped working as they release the 2nd Caution.

The race paused for a five-minute break around Lap 33, as per ARCA rules, allowing teams to refuel, make adjustments, and check tires. No tire changes (dry-to-dry or wet-to-wet) were permitted outside this break unless weather conditions necessitated a switch to wet tires. No reports indicated rain, so teams likely stayed on dry tires.This break reshuffled strategies, with Annunziata’s team likely optimizing their setup to aid his charge back to the front. Alon Day’s Strong Debut as he was the Four-time NASCAR Euro Series champion Alon Day, driving for Venturini Motorsports, took the lead on lap 16 from Lawless Alan (No. 20 Toyota) and held it for much of the race. Despite a competitive showing, he finished second in his ARCA debut, showcasing his road-course prowess. The race saw intense competition among road-course specialists as Lawless Alan led early but was overtaken by Day, ultimately finishing third. Brenden Queen (Pinnacle Racing Group), the points leader entering the race, secured a solid fourth-place finish, maintaining his championship contention. A scheduled break around lap 33 allowed for strategic pit stops, though tire changes were restricted to weather-related switches (dry to wet or vice versa). No tire changes occurred outside the break, as weather reports did not indicate significant rain.

During the Post-break, Thomas Annunziata began a strong recovery, methodically working through the field. His familiarity with Lime Rock from Trans Am TA2 (where he never finished outside the top three) was evident as he posted competitive lap times. Day continued to lead, with Alan, Queen, and Gemmell holding top-five positions. However, Brendan Queen ended going off roading and managed to get back on the road. During Lap 38, Brent Crews contacted Dale Quarterley at Turn Six and made a 360 turn which the caution didn’t go up. Dale Quarterley’s car was totaled on the front left bumper. At Lap 48 Michael Maples’ car was stuck in the grass on Turn 1 and handed out the 4th caution of the day. After the restart, Brent Crews, however, faced a setback with a penalty for jumping a restart, which dropped him in the order and limited his chances for a podium. There was also some brief contact front the other drivers at different turns and had some moments when the driver lose control on the grass which managed to turn back.

Brendan Queen drove off to the grass with 3 laps to go, as his car pushed too hard at the front and lost momentum as his car lost control and made a wide turn as he drove through the grass. He was about to take 2nd and dropped to 4th place after the pressure. Annunziata overtook Day in the final stages, reclaiming the lead and pulling away. He led a race-high 32 laps, demonstrating his dominance once back at the front. Thomas Annunziata maintained a commanding lead, crossing the finish line 4.139 seconds ahead of Day, securing his first career ARCA Menards Series victory and Nitro Motorsports’ second win of the season.

Thomas Annunziata as won the ARCA Menards Race at Lime Rock Park which it was his first Career ARCA Menards Race. It was also his Debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Thomas Annunziata is a young driver that came all the way from Colts Neck, New Jersey. He also did the donut after his victory and got the checkered flag and celebrated with his teammates of Nitro Motorsports Toyota. He also get to have an interview with Fox Sports about the full day experience with NASCAR Trucks Series and ARCA Menards Series.

The Top 3 Drivers who were able to get to presentation Event were Thomas Annunziata, Alon Day and Lawless Alan. The 3 Drivers did some handshakes and each got themselves a trophy. The 3 drivers lifted up their own trophies into the air as the fans cheered for the top 3 winners of the Lime Rock Park Race for the Arca Menards Series. Before they wrapped up the race, everyone each had their own interview about the experience of being in the Race.