Michael Annett, a past winner in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, has died at age 39, JR Motorsports announced Friday in a social media post and confirmed to NASCAR.com.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Annett made 436 combined starts across NASCAR’s three national touring series, making a name for himself most prominently in the Xfinity Series where he made 321 starts, 158 of which came with JRM. Annett earned his career-best achievement in 2019, winning the series’ season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet for his first and only win at the national level.
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Annett ascended to the Xfinity Series for his debut in 2008 before going full-time in 2009, entering with Germain Racing before transitioning to Rusty Wallace Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports. He spent three years at the sport’s top level in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving for Turner Scott Motorsports from 2014 through 2016 and making 106 starts across those three seasons. He then joined JRM in 2017, racing for the company through the remainder of his racing career before stepping away after a stress fracture in his leg sidelined him for parts of the 2021 season.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JR Motorsports shared on social media via 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.”
Annett was also a two-time winner in the ARCA Menards Series, scoring a Talladega Superspeedway victory in 2007 before winning the 2008 series opener at Daytona.
JRM co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. believed in the journeyman driver’s ability when he signed Annett in 2017. Annett’s triumph in Daytona in February 2019 sparked a comparison for the third-generation Earnhardt, reminding him of Michael Waltrip’s 2001 Daytona 500 victory after being hired by Dale Earnhardt to drive for Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
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“It reminds me of an Earnhardt giving a Michael a chance years ago to show his potential,” Earnhardt said.
Before making the leap to stock-car racing, Annett was working his way up the ladder in ice hockey, serving as a defenseman on the United States Hockey League’s Waterloo Black Hawks. His 2004 season with the team earned him a “Most Improved Player” award as he and his team prevailed to win the Clark Cup that year, alongside future NHL player Joe Pavelski, who played for 18 seasons with the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars.
YOUTUBE: Watch ‘The Michael Annett Story’
Annett’s late father, Harrold, previously served as CEO of TMC Transportation, which sponsored much of Annett’s racing efforts. Harrold Annett also co-owned a sprint-car team which fielded cars for famed dirt-tracker Sammy Swindell, collecting 35 wins in their four years together.
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TMC Transportation and Pilot Flying J remain sponsors of JR Motorsports’ Xfinity endeavors through driver Sammy Smith, who pilots the team’s No. 8 Chevrolet donning the companies’ colors.
“Very sad to lose someone who meant so much to me and my family,” Smith shared on X Friday night. “Michael was a great person to so many, and we‘ll miss him a lot.”
Noah Gragson, another former teammate of Annett’s at JRM, also shared condolences.
“Heartbroken,” Gragson wrote in an Instagram caption. “Going to miss you man. Love you Diesel Mike.”
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Brad Keselowski, 2010 Xfinity champion and 2012 Cup champion, reflected fondly of his time shared with Annett as well.
“Michael was an up-and-comer at the same time I was and he was looking really good,” Keselowski, co-owner of RFK Racing, wrote. “In the end, life took us different paths and all of us who knew him and the talent he had are sad to see him go.”
