Thomas Annunziata and Brent Crews had the fastest two cars throughout the ARCA Menards Series race weekend at Lime Rock Park. Crews posted the fastest lap in the practice session and Annunziata captured the pole with Crews in second.
In the race, both overcame adversity. In the first corner of the opening lap, Lawless Alan drove in too deep and made contact with Annunziata, who then spun and collected Crews.
The race stayed green as the two lost many positions. Both drivers wheeled their racecars back to the front.
Annunziata retook the lead on lap 37 and Crews continued to climb toward the front. When the final caution occurred, the duo lined up on the front row for the lap 51 restart. Crews crossed the finish line first, but the FOX Sports broadcast noted the restart was under review.
Shortly thereafter, series officials announced that Crews jumped the restart and would have to serve a pass-through pit road penalty. In ARCA, rather than the restart zone that the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series used at Lime Rock, all its races have a restart line. Crews beat leader Annunziata to the line, hence the penalty.
It wiped away Crews’ chances for victory. Annunziata ended up with a 4.139-second victory and Crews wound up sixth, 19.208 seconds behind.
Crews claimed Annunziata hit the brakes before reaching the restart line, therefore causing Crews to be first.
“Just beat him to the line there,” Crews told Frontstretch post-race. “Just sucks, he slammed on the brakes going into the box and we beat him to it. So, that’s the games I guess we play in the ARCA series and it sucks.
“Just want to thank the good Lord above for keeping me safe all day today. My Mobil 1 Toyota Camry was fast as it could it be. Obviously, had the winning car. Went to last, drove back to the lead and then got called for that violation. But can’t thank my guys enough. We had a great day and we’ll move on.”
All ARCA races use a restart line, and drivers are told where the restart line is during the drivers’ meeting. The broadcast had photographic evidence that Crews indeed crossed it first. Regardless of the amount in which he was first, the rule states the leader must control the restart by being first at the line.
Crews’ finish kept his Joe Gibbs Racing team in first in the owner points, but he had a race-winning No. 18 Toyota. Crews will soon get his shot at redemption as he will pilot the No. 18 in the next three ARCA races.
Mark Kristl joined Frontstretch at the beginning of the 2019 NASCAR season. He is the site's ARCA Menards Series editor. Kristl is also an Eagle Scout and a proud University of Dayton alum.