Michael Annett, who recently turned 39, has sadly passed away. Annett competed across all three national NASCAR series and secured a win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (formerly Xfinity) Series. The cause of his death has not yet been revealed.
Annett also raced full-time in the Cup Series from 2014 to 2016, participating in 106 events and achieving his best finish of 13th at the 2015 Daytona 500. During his Cup career, he raced for teams including Tommy Baldwin and Harry Scott, though he never ranked higher than 33rd in the final standings. Most of his notable success came in the Xfinity Series, where he competed in 321 races between 2008 and 2021, including multiple seasons with JR Motorsports.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Annett’s sole NASCAR victory came with Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s co-owned team, winning the 2019 season opener at Daytona, with teammate Justin Allgaier finishing just behind him. While with Richard Petty Motorsports in 2012, he finished fifth in the Xfinity Series championship and earned top-10 finishes in the standings six times throughout his career.
JR Motorsports expressed their condolences, saying, “We extend our sympathies to the Annett family. Michael was an essential part of JRM from 2017 until his retirement in 2021 and helped shape the team into the four-car operation it is today.”
Annett raced in nine Truck Series events, with a close second-place finish at Kentucky in 2008. Additionally, he earned two victories in ARCA, winning at Talladega in 2007 and Daytona in 2008. His final NASCAR national series race was in 2021, where he finished 11th at Phoenix, despite missing several races that year due to a stress fracture in his right femur.
NASCAR released a statement honoring Annett’s passing, praising his determination, professionalism, and positive spirit, and extending condolences to his family and friends.
Fan Take: Michael Annett’s passing is a significant loss to the NASCAR community, as he was not only a respected competitor but also a beloved figure among fans and peers. His dedication to the sport and contributions to teams like JR Motorsports highlight the impact one driver can have beyond just race results, underscoring the tight-knit nature of NASCAR racing.
