Getting into Friday’s ARCA Menard’s Collection finale, a winless Jake Bollman held a 16-point benefit over Nitro Motorsports teammate Thomas Annunziata within the battle for the 2026 title. The 100-lap race that adopted was full of drama and surprising moments.
Early within the race, the title rivals discovered one another on Lap 16, battling for third place. As they break up a lapped automotive whereas side-by-side, Bollman had a shallow entry into the nook and shot up the monitor. The 2 automobiles collided, sliding sideways with Annunziata absolutely spinning.
Simply few laps afterward Lap 24, Annunziata appeared to ship some payback as he swiped throughout Bollman’s bumper on the frontstretch, sending him spinning.
Thoughts you, these two drivers are team-mates, and the crew was not thrilled with how issues have been taking part in out. Annunziata was informed that their newest incident was the tip of it, and if he obtained into Bollman once more, the crew may even select to park the No. 70.
Nonetheless, the drama was removed from over. Simply after 40 laps into the race, Bollman was again operating forward of Annunziata and firmly in charge of the championship.
As Will Kimmel spun forward of him, Bollman slammed into the sideways No. 69 automotive. He crashed closely, and was then hit a second time in a significant influence to the door by Austin Vaughn. The No. 20 was fully destroyed, however his title hopes weren’t but over.
Bollman returns to the race Â
Annunziata nonetheless needed to end seventh or larger to make up the 16-point deficit. Bollman now sat twenty third, however the crew was thrashing to make repairs to his No. 20 automotive.
“I did not actually imply to get into him,” stated Bollman again within the storage. “I simply obtained into the nook method too flat. That lap automotive gave me no room and I had nowhere to go. Tried to maintain it out of him as greatest I can. However contact was made and it’s what it’s, proper? , transfer on. If I used to be in his place, I do not know if I might have retaliated the best way he did, so I really feel like that is going to harm his profession slightly bit, and it reveals the kind of individual he’s, proper? He will get it again in the future. I am not going to say I am doing it tonight as a result of, I do not know, I ain’t like that. But when it comes right down to it, I ain’t afraid both.”
On-track, Annunziata was operating seventh and so they remained tied for the factors lead. However with 25 to go, the warning flew for a spinning automotive, bringing the complete area again collectively.
With about 20 to go, Bollman by some means managed to return to the monitor, taking twenty second from Kimmel instantly. He later handed one other automotive that had fallen out of the race, bumping him as much as twenty first and which means Annunziata needed to end fifth.
The ultimate restart
With 13 to go, the warning flew for Landon S. Huffman, who was in entrance of Annunziata on monitor. Nonetheless, Annunziata needed to pit for additional work on his personal automotive.
Annunziata restarted ninth, however shortly charged as much as fifth, passing Andy Jankowiak. He truly tied with Bollman for the crown, however he received the tiebreaker courtesy of a July win at Lime Rock Park.
“It was loopy,” stated Annunziata after the race. “I imply, I got here into right here with none preconceived notions, and I knew it was going to be onerous. I imply, Jake Bollman did job, too. I imply, he had an incredible 12 months, simply sadly he had dangerous luck there, however we had horrible luck to start with as nicely, so I saved my head in it.
“We made contact there to start with, and I misjudged it on the straightaway there, however I imply, it was a watch for a watch. I imply, we have been racing onerous, and he is gotten into me a number of occasions, so it was simply onerous racing there once more, so I am happy with my guys … we led one championship for one race. That was actually cool.”
Carson Brown received the race, passing Gio Ruggiero with simply a few laps to go, incomes back-to-back victories to finish the 2026 season.
Watch: From on-track to battle, that is what occurred between Blaney and Hocevar
We would like your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
– The Motorsport.com Group