Michael Annett, who was 39 years old this year, has sadly passed away. Annett won the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (formerly Xfinity) Series and participated in the sport at all three national levels. The cause of Annett’s death has not yet been made public.
From 2014 to 2016, Annett drove the Cup full-time, starting 106 races and finishing as high as 13th in the 2015 Daytona 500. During his NASCAR Cup career, he drove for Tommy Baldwin and then Harry Scott. Annett participated in 321 NOAPS races between 2008 and 2021, including many seasons as a driver for JR Motorsports. He never finished higher than 33rd in the Cup standings, although the majority of his success was at the secondary level of the sport.
His only NASCAR triumph came with the team co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr.; he won the 2019 season opener at Daytona with teammate Justin Allgaier right behind him. He is a native of Des Moines, Iowa. When he drove for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2012, he finished as high as fifth in the championship standings. Throughout his NOAPS career, he also placed six times in the top ten of the championship.
“With the passing of our friend Michael Annett, our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family,” JR Motorsports said in a statement. “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”
Only nine Truck races were started by Annett, who finished second at Kentucky in 2008, trailing race winner Johnny Benson Jr. by half a second.
As an ARCA driver, Annett also achieved two victories, winning the checkered flag at Daytona in 2008 and Talladega in 2007.
In 2021, Annett had his last NASCAR national start, placing twelfth in the Phoenix final. Due to a stress fracture in his right femur, he also missed a few events that year.
“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” the organization said in a statement regarding Annett’s passing. Everyone in the garage could sense Michael’s professionalism, tenacity, and upbeat attitude as a respected competitor. He represented our sport with honesty and the fervor of a real racer throughout his career. NASCAR offers its sympathies to Michael’s numerous friends and family.
