Michael Annett’s full-time NASCAR career concludes at Phoenix

AVONDALE, ARIZ. – For the 321st and final time, Michael Annett piloted a NASCAR Xfinity Series car, capping off his full-time NASCAR driving career, dating back to 2008.

Annett drove his No. 1 Pilot/Flying J Chevrolet Camaro to a 13th-place finish for JR Motorsports.

Annett ran inside the Top 10 for much of the night after starting 13th.

“We were about a sixth or seventh-place car all night and then just struggled a little bit on pit road and couldn’t gain any spots. The car was solid all night but we just needed one restart to go our way and we would’ve been fine.”

Annett even challenging Justin Haley for 7th-place during a long run before a caution with 20 laps to go.

“The car was really strong in the beginning, mediocre in the middle and come on strong when everyone would fall off,” Annett said.

As the laps counted down, Annett remained relatively level-headed, given the gravity of his race.

“Just focused on the job at-hand and go out on the right note. It won’t really hit until tomorrow.”

Annett’s NASCAR career began in the June 2008 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at The Milwaukee Mile. He earned a 6th-place for the now-defunct Bill Davis Racing.

Annett drove for Germain Racing, Rusty Wallace Inc., Richard Petty Motorsports and JR Motorsports in his NASCAR Xfinity Series career.

“Each one of them is different in their own way and the knowledge they were able to pass on,” Annett said. “When you drive for big names, they hire big name people and talented people so that was the biggest thing for me.”

Annett made three NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff appearances and finished 9th in each appearance. He won one race in the series – at Daytona in February 2019 – and two races in the ARCA Menards Series – driving for Bill Davis Racing at Talladega in October 2007 and Daytona in February 2008.

Annett has no plans for 2022 but hopes to run a few races, at the most, in the future and to get through the holidays before thinking about future plans.

SOURCES:
NASCAR
Racing-Reference.Info