Thad Moffitt
{{short description|American racing driver}}
{{Infobox NASCAR driver
| name = Thad Moffitt
| image = Thad Moffitt Las Vegas 2024.jpg
| caption = Moffitt at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2024
| birth_name = Thaddeus Drake Moffitt
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|9|12}}
| birth_place = Trinity, North Carolina, U.S.
| achievements = 2016 Southeast Limited Late Model Series Challenger Division Champion
| Total_Truck_Races = 21
| Years_In_Truck = 2
| Truck_Car_Team =
| Prev_Truck_Pos = 32nd
| Prev_Truck_Year = 2024
| Best_Truck_Pos = 32nd (2024)
| First_Truck_Race = 2022 NextEra Energy 250 (Daytona)
| Last_Truck_Race = 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Race (Phoenix)
| First_Truck_Win =
| Last_Truck_Win =
| Truck_Wins = 0
| Truck_Top_Tens = 0
| Truck_Poles = 0
| Total_ARCA_Races = 51
| Years_In_ARCA = 7
| ARCA_Car_Team = No. 46 (Nitro Motorsports)
| Best_ARCA_Pos = 4th (2021)
| First_ARCA_Race = 2017 Music City 200 (Nashville Fairgrounds)
| Last_ARCA_Race = {{Latest ARCA Race}}
| First_ARCA_Win =
| Last_ARCA_Win =
| ARCA_Wins = 0
| ARCA_Top_Tens = 30
| ARCA_Poles = 0
| Total_ARCA_East_Races = 3
| Years_In_ARCA_East = 1
| ARCA_East_Car_Team = No. 46 (Nitro Motorsports)
| Best_ARCA_East_Pos = 15th (2021)
| First_ARCA_East_Race = 2021 Shore Lunch 150 (Iowa)
| Last_ARCA_East_Race = 2021 Bush's Beans 200 (Bristol)
| First_ARCA_East_Win =
| Last_ARCA_East_Win =
| ARCA_East_Wins = 0
| ARCA_East_Top_Tens = 2
| ARCA_East_Poles = 0
| Total_ARCA_West_Races = 2
| Years_In_ARCA_West = 2
| ARCA_West_Car_Team = No. 46 (Nitro Motorsports)
| Best_ARCA_West_Pos = 38th (2021)
| First_ARCA_West_Race = 2021 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
| Last_ARCA_West_Race = 2025 General Tire 150 (Phoenix)
| First_ARCA_West_Win =
| Last_ARCA_West_Win =
| ARCA_West_Wins = 0
| ARCA_West_Top_Tens = 2
| ARCA_West_Poles = 0
| updated = June 7, 2025
}}
Thaddeus Drake Moffitt (born September 12, 2000) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 46 Toyota for Nitro Motorsports. He previously competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Racing career
=Early career=
Growing up in a racing family, Moffitt cut his teeth in go-karts at age fourteen and later moved up to quarter midgets and limited late models,{{cite web|title=Thad Moffitt to Race ARCA Racing Series Events and Late Model with Performance Plus Motor Oil|url=https://www.speedwaydigest.com/index.php/news/racing-news/42710-thad-moffitt-to-race-arca-racing-series-events-and-late-model-with-performance-plus-motor-oil|website=Speedway Digest|date=March 16, 2018 |accessdate=May 14, 2018}} running at tracks like Caraway Speedway and Ace Speedway.{{cite web|last1=Hardin|first1=Ed|title=Ed Hardin: Thad Moffitt, Richard Petty's grandson, is racing to catch up|url=http://www.journalnow.com/sports/auto_racing/ed-hardin-thad-moffitt-richard-petty-s-grandson-is-racing/article_80595b28-f759-599f-8458-2b65b0491388.html|website=Winston-Salem Journal|date=May 22, 2018 |publisher=BH Media Group|accessdate=May 28, 2018}} Speaking about having racers in the family, he said that advice will be given upon request but also that older relatives wanted him to develop without help.{{cite web|title=4th-gen Petty...Thad Moffitt first to file entry for Nashville|url=https://www.arcaracing.com/articles/2009180-4th-gen-petty-thad-moffitt-first-to-file-entry-for-nashville|website=ARCAracing.com|accessdate=May 14, 2018}} Moffitt was the 2016 Southeast Limited Late Model champion{{cite web|last1=Weaver|first1=Matt|title=Richard Petty's grandson, Thad Moffitt, will make his ARCA debut this weekend|url=http://autoweek.com/article/nascar/richard-pettys-grandson-thad-moffitt-will-make-his-arca-debut-weekend|website=Autoweek|date=April 4, 2017 |accessdate=May 11, 2018}} and won his first late model race earlier that year.{{cite web|last1=Marquis|first1=Andy|title=Thad Moffitt Continues the Petty Family Legacy in Late Models|url=http://www.shorttrackscene.com/2016/08/18/thad-moffitt-continues-petty-family-legacy-late-models/|website=Short Track Scene|accessdate=May 14, 2018}}
=ARCA Menards Series=
File:Thad Moffitt Pocono 2018.jpg in 2018]]
Moffitt made his ARCA Racing Series debut in April 2017 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, driving a car reminiscent of one driven by his grandfather Richard Petty, for Empire Racing, a satellite team of Richard Petty Motorsports.{{cite web|title=Thad Moffitt has helmet fit for 'The King' in ARCA debut|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2017/04/08/thad-moffitt-has-helmet-fit-for-the-king-in-arca-debut/|website=NASCAR.com|date=8 April 2017 |accessdate=May 11, 2018}} He ran a total of three races in 2017.{{cite web|last1=McFadin|first1=Daniel|title=Thad Moffitt, Richard Petty's grandson, makes Daytona debut in ARCA test|url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2018/01/13/thad-moffitt-richard-pettys-grandson-makes-daytona-debut-in-arca-test/|website=NASCAR on NBC|date=January 13, 2018 |publisher=NBC Sports|accessdate=May 14, 2018}} Moffitt's best finish was eleventh, at Lucas Oil Raceway.{{cite web|title=Thad Moffitt Set For Three ARCA Events|url=https://speedsport.com/stock-cars/arca-stock-cars/thad-moffitt-set-for-three-arca-events/|website=Speed Sport|accessdate=May 14, 2018|date=March 16, 2018}}
In early 2018, Moffitt tested at Daytona International Speedway and announced races at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Lucas Oil with the potential for more races to be added later in the year. In his second start of the year, at Salem Speedway, Moffitt was involved in two incidents, one with Natalie Decker and one with Jack Dossey III.{{cite news|last1=de la Bastide|first1=Ken|title=Eckes gets ARCA win at Salem|url=http://www.heraldbulletin.com/sports/eckes-gets-arca-win-at-salem/article_254d56d0-4677-11e8-8b39-af360558d48a.html|accessdate=May 14, 2018|work=The Herald Bulletin|date=April 22, 2018}} Moffitt rebounded from a mid-race spin in his next race to claim his first top ten, finishing tenth in the race at Toledo.{{cite web|last1=Eberly|first1=Brian|title=Thad Moffitt Recovers From Spin to Earn First ARCA Top-10|url=https://motorsportstribune.com/thad-moffitt-recovers-from-spin-to-earn-first-arca-top-10/|website=Motorsports Tribune|date=May 20, 2018 |accessdate=May 20, 2018}}
On January 9, 2020, it was announced that Moffitt would join DGR-Crosley for the season-opening race at Daytona,{{cite web |first=Joy |last=Tomlinson |title=Thad Moffitt Joins DGR-Crosley |url=https://www.frontstretch.com/2020/01/09/thad-moffitt-joins-dgr-crosley-in-arca-menards-series-season-opener/ |website=Frontstretch |date=January 9, 2020 |access-date=January 10, 2020}} and would then run all races on the schedule until sponsorship dried up, plus Memphis, which the team had previously signed a sponsor for. He claimed three top-five finishes over thirteen races, with a career-best finish of fourth at Memphis.
File:Thad moffitt (51278168145).jpg in 2021]]
In January 2021, it was announced that Moffitt would return to ARCA with the renamed David Gilliland Racing team for at least eleven races that year.{{cite web |first=Christian |last=Koelle |url=https://kickinthetires.net/nascar/arca/taylor-gray-and-thad-moffitt-return-to-david-gilliland-racing-in-2021-add-joey-iest-to-east-lineup/ |title=Taylor Gray and Thad Moffitt Return to David Gilliland Racing in 2021; Add Joey Iest to East Lineup |website=Kickin' the Tires |date=January 23, 2021 |access-date=February 3, 2021}} He proceeded to compete in almost the entire season, only being replaced by Taylor Gray for the dirt races and Canadian J. P. Bergeron for the final two events. At Michigan, Moffitt was involved in controversy after his retaliation attempt against Drew Dollar for a previous wreck that resulted in a crash that injured Tim Richmond.{{cite web |first=Shane |last=Walters |url=https://racingnews.co/2021/08/22/racing-driver-suffers-broken-leg-following-retaliation-at-michigan-video/ |title=Racing driver suffers broken leg following retaliation at Michigan (Video) |website=RacingNews.co |date=August 21, 2021 |access-date=February 11, 2022}}
On January 7, 2025, it was announced that Moffitt would return to running ARCA full time with Nitro Motorsports.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=January 7, 2025 |title=Thad Moffitt and Nitro Motorsports set for full 2025 ARCA Menards Series season |url=https://www.arcaracing.com/2025/01/07/thad-moffitt-and-nitro-motorsports-set-for-full-2025-arca-menards-series-season/ |access-date=January 9, 2025 |website=ARCAracing.com |language=en-US}}
On June 10, 2025, it was revealed that Moffitt would scale to part-time for Nitro so that they would make room for Treyten Lapcevich.{{Cite web |last=Release |first=Press |date=June 10, 2025 |title=Treyten Lapcevich joins Nitro Motorsports for ARCA event at Berlin Raceway; Thad Moffitt transitions to part-time |url=https://www.arcaracing.com/2025/06/10/treyten-lapcevich-joins-nitro-motorsports-for-arca-event-at-berlin-raceway-thad-moffitt-transitions-to-part-time/ |access-date=June 10, 2025 |website=ARCA |language=en-US}}
=NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series=
On February 10, 2022, it was announced that Moffitt would make his Camping World Truck Series debut at Daytona for Reaume Brothers Racing in collaboration with GMS Racing, running a paint scheme that pays tribute to Richard Petty's 1992 retirement season.{{cite web |first=Joseph |last=Srigley |url=https://tobychristie.com/2022/02/10/thad-moffitt-competing-part-time-in-trucks-with-reaume-brothers-racing-driving-no-43-at-daytona/ |title=Thad Moffitt Competing Part-Time in Trucks with Reaume Brothers Racing, Driving No. 43 at Daytona |website=TobyChristie.com |date=February 10, 2022 |access-date=February 11, 2022}}
File:Thad Moffitt 46 Truck Las Vegas 2024.jpg in 2024.]]
On December 9, 2023, Moffitt was announced as the full-time driver for the new NASCAR team, Faction46, in the No. 46 Chevrolet for the upcoming 2024 season.{{Cite web |last=Christie |first=Toby |date=December 9, 2023 |title=Thad Moffitt Officially Announced as Faction46 NASCAR Truck Driver |url=https://tobychristie.com/2023/12/09/thad-moffitt-officially-announced-as-faction46-nascar-truck-driver/ |access-date=December 9, 2023 |website=TobyChristie.com}}{{Cite web|date=December 9, 2023 |title=Thad Moffitt Running Full Truck Schedule for Faction46 |url=https://frontstretch.com/2023/12/09/thad-moffitt-running-full-truck-schedule-for-faction46/ |access-date=December 10, 2023 |website=Frontstretch}}{{Cite web|date=December 9, 2023 |title=Thad Moffitt to compete full-time in Truck Series with Faction46 |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/12/09/thad-moffitt-to-run-full-time-in-2024-with-faction46/ |access-date=December 10, 2023 |website=NASCAR.com}}{{Cite web|date=December 9, 2023 |title=Petty family member Thad Moffitt joins NASCAR Truck Series in 2024
|url=https://us.motorsport.com/nascar-truck/news/richard-petty-grandson-thad-moffitt-nascar-truck-faction46-2024/10556647/ |access-date=December 10, 2023 |website=Motorsport.com}} On June 28, 2024, prior to the race at Nashville Superspeedway, Moffitt had a medical emergency and the team substituted Dawson Cram as the driver of the No. 46 truck. On July 8, 2024, Faction46 team owner Lane Moore officially shut down the team due to financial constraints. On July 10, 2024 Young's Motorsports officially announced that Moffitt would drive the No. 46 at Pocono Raceway and the remainder of the 2024 season, which is the same team he drove for at one point in 2022. On September 19, 2024, Moffit announced via X that due to lack of funding, he would not race for as much of the remainder of the 2024 season. Moffit returned to the No. 46 at Phoenix. He finished the season 32nd in the points standings, last of the ROTY Contenders.
=Trans Am=
In 2023, Moffitt would run the full schedule in the Trans Am Series, driving the No. 43 Chevrolet for TeamSLR with support from Petty's Garage in the TA2 class. He would earn six top-tens with a best finish of second at the second Detroit Street Circuit race on his way to finish seventh in the class standings.{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2023 |title=That Moffitt Joins Trans AM TA2 Class |url=https://www.speedsport.com/sports-cars/other-sports-cars/thad-moffitt-joins-trans-am-ta2-class/ |access-date=December 10, 2023 |website=Speed Sport}}{{Cite web|title=Pair of Solid Top-Fives for TeamSLR in Detroit Race No. 2 |url=https://teamslr.com/2023/06/04/pair-of-solid-top-fives-for-teamslr-in-detroit-race-no-2/ |access-date=December 10, 2023 |website=TeamSLR|date=June 4, 2023 }}
Personal life
Moffitt was born on September 12, 2000, to Brian Moffitt and Rebecca Petty-Moffitt in Trinity, North Carolina. His mother, Rebecca, is the youngest daughter of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty. Throughout his childhood, Moffitt played football and other organized sports. In his mid-teens, Moffitt began competing in Kart racing before moving to Late model racing in 2016. Moffitt had attended Wheatmore High School before deciding to switch to online schooling midway through his high school career.
In 2019, Moffitt traveled to England to run a 1981 edition of grandfather Richard Petty's racecar at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.{{cite web |title=Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019: oddities and unexpected gems |url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/slideshow/goodwood-festival-speed-2019-oddities-and-unexpected-gems#3 |website=Autocar |accessdate=July 9, 2019}}
Despite sharing the same last name, he is not related to fellow NASCAR competitor Brett Moffitt.
Motorsports career results
=NASCAR=
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
==Craftsman Truck Series==
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
! colspan=45| NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results |
| Year
! Team ! No. ! Make ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! 19 ! 20 ! 21 ! 22 ! 23 ! {{Tooltip|NCTC|NASCAR Craftsman Truck classification}} ! Pts ! Ref |
|---|
| rowspan=2| 2022
! 43 ! Chevy | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAY | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| LVS | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ATL | COA | MAR | BRD | DAR | KAN | TEX | CLT | GTW | SON | colspan=11| ! rowspan=2| 46th ! rowspan=2| 38 |
| Young's Motorsports
! 20 ! Chevy | colspan=12| | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| KNX | NSH | MOH | POC | IRP | RCH | KAN | BRI | TAL | HOM | PHO |
| rowspan=2| 2024
! rowspan=2| 46 ! rowspan=2| Chevy | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ATL | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| LVS | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BRI | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| COA | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MAR | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TEX | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| KAN | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DAR | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| NWS | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| CLT | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| GTW | NSH | colspan=10| ! rowspan=2| 32nd ! rowspan=2| 138 |
| Young's Motorsports
| colspan=13| | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| POC | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IRP | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| RCH | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MLW | BRI | KAN | TAL | HOM | MAR | style="background:#CFCFFF;"| PHO |
{{sup|*}} Season still in progress
{{sup|1}} Ineligible for series points
=ARCA Menards Series=
(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
! colspan=28| ARCA Menards Series results |
| Year
! Team ! No. ! Make ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! 15 ! 16 ! 17 ! 18 ! 19 ! 20 ! {{Tooltip|AMSC|ARCA Menards Series classification}} ! Pts ! Ref |
|---|
| 2017
! rowspan=5| Empire Racing ! rowspan=5| 46 ! rowspan=2| Ford | DAY | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NSH | SLM | TAL | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TOL | ELK | POC | MCH | MAD | IOW | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IRP | POC | WIN | ISF | ROA | DSF | SLM | CHI | KEN | KAN ! 45th ! 440 |
| rowspan=2| 2018
| DAY | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NSH | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SLM | TAL | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TOL | CLT | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC | MCH | MAD | GTW | CHI | IOW | ELK | POC | ISF | BLN | DSF | SLM | colspan=2| ! rowspan=2| 26th ! rowspan=2| 780 |
| rowspan=2| Chevy
| colspan=18| | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IRP | KAN |
| rowspan=2| 2019
| style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY | FIF | SLM | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TAL | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| NSH | TOL | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CLT | POC | MCH | MAD | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| GTW | colspan=9| ! rowspan=2| 23rd ! rowspan=2| 1110 |
| Ford
| colspan=11| | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CHI | ELK | IOW | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| POC | ISF | DSF | SLM | IRP | KAN |
| 2020
! rowspan=2| 46 ! rowspan=2| Ford | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DAY | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| PHO | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TAL | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| POC | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| IRP | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| KEN | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| IOW | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| KAN | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TOL | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TOL | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MCH | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| DRC | GTW | L44 | TOL | BRI | WIN | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MEM | ISF | KAN ! 9th ! 539 |
| 2021
| style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DAY | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| PHO | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TAL | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| KAN | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| TOL | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CLT | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MOH | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| POC | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| ELK | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BLN | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| IOW | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| WIN | style="background:#DFFFDF;"| GLN | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MCH | ISF | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MLW | DSF | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI | SLM | KAN ! 4th ! 666 |
| 2022
! 44 ! Chevy | DAY | PHO | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| TAL | KAN | CLT | IOW | BLN | ELK | MOH | POC | IRP | MCH | GLN | ISF | MLW | DSF | KAN | BRI | SLM | TOL ! 74th ! 40 |
| 2025
! 46 ! Toyota | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| DAY | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| PHO | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| TAL | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| KAN | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| CLT | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MCH | BLN | ELK | LRP | DOV | IRP | IOW | GLN | ISF | MAD | DSF | BRI | SLM | KAN | TOL ! -* ! -* |
==ARCA Menards Series East==
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
! colspan=15| ARCA Menards Series East results |
| Year
! Team ! No. ! Make ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! {{Tooltip|AMSEC|ARCA Menards Series East classification}} ! Pts ! Ref |
|---|
| 2021
! 46 ! Ford | NSM | FIF | NSV | DOV | SNM | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| IOW | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MLW | style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRI ! 15th ! 143 |
| 2025
! 46 ! Toyota | FIF | CAR | NSV | FRS | DOV | IRP | IOW | BRI ! -* ! -* ! |
==ARCA Menards Series West==
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:75%"
! colspan=21| ARCA Menards Series West results |
| Year
! Team ! No. ! Make ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! {{Tooltip|AMSWC|ARCA Menards Series West classification}} ! Pts ! Ref |
|---|
| 2021
! 46 ! Ford | style="background:#DFDFDF;"| PHO | SON | IRW | CNS | IRW | PIR | LVS | AAS | PHO | colspan=3| ! 38th ! 42 |
| 2025
! 46 ! Toyota | KER | style="background:#FFDF9F;"| PHO | TUC | CNS | KER | SON | TRI | PIR | AAS | MAD | LVS | PHO ! -* ! -* |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|thadmoffitt.com}}
- {{Racing-Reference driver|Thad_Moffitt}}
{{Nitro Motorsports}}
{{Faction46}}
{{Youngs Motorsports}}
{{Reaume Brothers Racing}}
{{David Gilliland Racing}}
{{Empire Racing}}
{{Petty family}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moffitt, Thad}}
Category:ARCA Menards Series drivers
Category:Racing drivers from North Carolina
Category:People from Asheboro, North Carolina