Michael Annett, a former NASCAR driver, has died at the age of 39. JR Motorsports shared the news of Annett’s passing on social media Friday evening. Annett raced for the team in the Xfinity Series for five seasons from 2017 to 2021.
Over his career, Annett competed in over 100 races in NASCAR’s Cup Series and more than 300 in the Xfinity Series. His sole Xfinity Series win came in 2019 when he took victory in the season opener at Daytona. That same year, he also earned five additional top-five finishes and ended the season ninth in the points standings.
Annett’s strongest Xfinity season was in 2012 with Richard Petty Motorsports, where he finished fifth in the standings with six top-five and 17 top-10 finishes. While racing with JR Motorsports, he consistently ranked within the top 15 in the points standings.
In the Cup Series, Annett participated in 106 races from 2014 to 2016, driving for financially struggling teams Tommy Baldwin Racing and HScott Racing. He had six top-20 finishes, with his best result being 13th place at the 2015 Daytona 500.
Annett retired after the 2021 season due to a stress fracture in his right foot that limited him to just part of the season, causing him to miss seven races. His career was also impacted by a serious crash in 2013 at Daytona that fractured and dislocated his sternum, sidelining him for several races.
Fan Take: Michael Annett’s passing is a significant loss for the NASCAR community, as he was a tenacious competitor who showed resilience through injuries and tough seasons. His career highlights and steady presence in the sport remind fans of the dedication required to race at this level, making his legacy an important chapter in recent NASCAR history.
