Annett Indianapolis Race Recap

Race Release posted on 12/03/2008

Michael Annett - Pilot Travel Centers  
Post Race Report 
 
Race:    Power Stroke Diesel 200, presented by AAA Hoosier Insurance (Race 14 of 25) 
Track:    O'Reilly Raceway Park 
Date:    Friday, July 25, 2008 
Started:   16th 
Finish:   21st 
Laps Completed:  200 
Total Laps:   200 
NCTS Points Position 10th 
 
The No. 22 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Tundra team carried momentum into this weekend’s race at O'Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis.  As driver, Michael Annett, earned the highest finish (second) of his of young NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career last week at Kentucky Speedway.  Annett and his team were ready for 
another top finish at the .686-mile short track. 
 
Early into practice Friday morning, Annett said his Toyota Tundra was pretty good, but the handling was extremely loose coming off the corners.  To remedy this condition, crew chief Doug Wolcott and the No. 22 Pilot Travel Centers team made a couple of minor changes to the Tundra.  Annett reported that the changes 
helped, and it showed on the stopwatch.  By the end of practice, Annett was among the top 10 fastest drivers on the speed chart.  He was looking forward to the 200-lap event. 
 
The Pilot Travel Centers  No. 22 Bill Davis Racing entry took the green flag for the start of the race in the 16th spot, but it did not take long for Annett to start to pick off his competitors.  Annett had broken into the top 10 within the first 20 laps.  He told his crew that the truck was really good; he could really hustle the truck into the 
corners and could pass trucks on both the top and bottom side of the track.   
 
By lap 37, the 22-year-old rookie announced that his Tundra was tight in turns three and four, so he was searching for another line on the track.  The handling condition certainly did not affect his lap times, as Annett was piloting one of the fastest trucks on the track.   
 
Annett stopped long enough to have the Pilot Travel Centers crew service the truck under caution on lap 85.  The team made an air pressure adjustment during the four-tire stop, hoping to fix the tight handling condition.  Annett restarted in the 16th spot on lap 90.   
 
Wolcott reminded his young driver to be cautious as he moved up through the field.  Annett heeded Wolcott's advice, but he did not waste any time getting his Tundra back in the front.  By lap 125, Annett had moved into the seventh spot.  He spent the next 60 laps working on what appeared to be his second consecutive top-five 
finish.  
 
With three laps remaining in the event, Annett was battling series veteran Rick Crawford for the third spot.  Knowing he had the faster truck, Annett dove to the bottom of turn three.  Crawford crowded the rookie, which caused the No. 22 truck to get loose.  Despite Annett’s efforts to keep the truck from spinning, the truck spun 
out, prompting NASCAR officials to wave the caution flag.  Annett was relegated to the 22nd spot with only two laps remaining in the race.  Though he battled hard, Annett brought home a 21st-place finish.  
 
The No. 22 Toyota Tundra team has a week off before returning to action in the Toyota Tundra 200 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway Saturday, Aug. 9.  The race can be viewed live on SPEED Channel.

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