By Logan Morris
Thad Moffitt has lofty goals in his return to the ARCA Menards Series. Not only does he expect to win, he wants to compete for a championship. With his new ride at Nitro Motorsports, he feels like he can do just that.
"My main goal is to win races. I now have all the resources to do that, and I'd like to run for the championship and be in the conversation for it. The ARCA field is getting pretty competitive with drivers like Lavar [Scott] in the Rev Racing car, Butterbean [Brenden Queen] in the 28, and several Venturini cars. It’s going to be a tough battle, but I want to be in the championship conversation in the final races of the season and hopefully bring home the championship. Beyond that, I’m focused on constant improvement."
As he moves to Nitro Motorsports and Toyota he admits that transitioning to them has taken some getting used to.
"It's been great, honestly a little overwhelming, but they've really taken me under their wing and trained me up. I’m hoping to be up to speed by Daytona and continue to grow as a team. This is a new team for ARCA, and coming out of the test sessions really fast was a good sign. I hope we can continue that momentum into the start of the season."
The recent practice session at Daytona gave him a boost in confidence and gave him a comfortable feeling in his return to ARCA.
"It had been a while since I drove an ARCA car—the last time was Talladega in 2022. It was great to get back in and get used to the different aspects of the car. A lot of the race cars, whether it's Trucks or Xfinity, are similar inside, but they drive a lot differently. Getting back in the car was like a homecoming for me. I raced several years in ARCA before moving up to trucks and Trans Am, so it feels comfortable and familiar."
Being the grandson of The King, Richard Petty, and the expectations that come with that is something he’s had to get used to.
"I’ve grown accustomed to it. When I was 15, I was already Petty’s grandson racing late models, and I’d hear things like ‘silver spoon’ all the time. But for me, it's about proving that Thad Moffitt belongs here, not just because I'm a Petty, but because I have the talent. The pressure I feel comes from within myself—I want to perform and succeed. It’s more about making my own name in the sport."
Despite that, he’s determined to keep his family’s legacy going.
"It’s very important to me to carry on that legacy, not just for my family, but for everything they’ve done in the sport. I want to honor that legacy while making my own mark."
The ARCA Menards Series begins on February 15th in Daytona.
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