A fiery moment at Lime Rock
Thomas Annunziata, a 21‑year‑old driver in his rookie full‑time campaign with Nitro Motorsports, was running his eighteenth race of the season when his truck caught fire on lap 80 at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut.
Smoke filled the cockpit, but Annunziata managed to climb out of the burning vehicle unharmed and was taken to a nearby hospital for a precautionary evaluation, a routine step that left onlookers breathing a sigh of relief.
Fans took to Twitter and other platforms to voice their relief, flooding the feed with messages of support for the young competitor just moments after the incident.
Although he has yet to break higher than a seventeenth‑place finish in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, Annunziata’s consistent performances have kept him second in the overall ARCA standings, underscoring the promise of his debut season.
The incident also highlighted the partnership between Nitro Motorsports and its parent organization Tricon Garage, a collaboration that has brought additional attention to the team’s growing presence in the series.