Former NASCAR driver and Des Moines native Michael Annett has died at age 39.
Annett, who retired after the 2021 season following a leg injury, spent 10 years in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series (formerly the Xfinity Series), starting in 2009. The former JR Motorsports driver won one race in his NASCAR career, coming in the 2019 O’Reilly Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
Advertisement
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JR Motorsports posted on X. “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.”
Outside of the O’Reilly Series, Annett also spent three full-time seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series driving for Tommy Baldwin Racing and HScott Motorsports. The former NASCAR driver had a best Cup Series finish of 13th place in the 2015 Daytona 500.
Annett’s first love was ice hockey, according to his website michaelannett.com, and he played for the Waterloo Black Hawks in the United States Hockey League. In 2005 he transitioned full-time to auto racing.
Feb 16, 2019; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Michael Annett (1) celebrates after winning the NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona International Speedway.
Annett won the pole position in his first ARCA race, at Iowa Speedway in Newton. From 2007-09, he won twice and had eight top-10 finishes in 10 races. Then came a successful run in the NASCAR Truck and Xfinity Series. He had seven top-five and 34 top-10 finishes in Xfinity races, finishing fifth in the points race in 2012.
The cause of Annett’s death is unknown.
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Michael Annett, former NASCAR driver from Des Moines, dies at 39
