Annett Truckin' to NASCAR Debut
Race Release posted on 12/03/2008
Iowa's Own Michael Annett Truckin' to NASCAR Debut at Milwaulkee
WEST DES MOINES, IA (June 17, 2008) - While the timeframe may be relatively short, Michael Annett has traveled far in his journey towards NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series. The 21 year-old Iowa native hung up his ice skates following an illustrious hockey career to pursue his passion for auto racing.
Annett's natural talent, competitive spirit and admirable work ethic that he credits to his parents have fueled the young racer through the ranks. Annett competed with the ASA Late Model Series in both their Northern Division and premier Challenge Division in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, he seized the opportunity to make his debut with the ARCA RE/MAX Series - a proving ground for NASCAR hopefuls and feeder series for many of the sports' prominent teams.
The young Hawkeye stole the show in his ARCA RE/MAX Series' debut in front of friends, family and local supporters at Iowa Speedway when he turned the fastest qualifying lap for the "SIM Factory Pole Award" and earned a 3rd place podium finish. Annett continued with Country Joe Racing for two additional speedway events and earned a pair of Top-10 finishes before partnering with NASCAR's Bill Davis Racing for his superspeedway debut and season finale at one of NASCAR’s most historic venues - Talladega Superspeedway.
Annett and his Bill Davis Racing team were instantly on the fast track to success. Michael's tenacious driving ability and personality melded seamlessly with the work ethic and teamwork emphasized at BDR and embodied by Joe Lax, crew chief of his No. 28 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota team. The combination was a potent force out of the gate with a 2nd place qualifying effort but they made ARCA RE/MAX Series' history by dominating the event, which marked the first visit to ARS' Victory Lane for both Annett, loyal sponsor Pilot Travel Centers and Toyota.
With his impressive team debut and capstone to his inaugural season in the ARCA RE/MAX Series, Bill Davis Racing extended an multi-year contract offer to Annett during the off-season to join the organization as part of their development program.
"I am honored to be able to be part of an organization like Bill Davis Racing and affiliated with Toyota. They have provided me with an opportunity to drive some of the best prepared cars available in any series and learn from the talented people they employ from the guys in the shop and engineering all of the way to my crew chief, Joe Lax. Tommy Baldwin, Jr., Jim Thomas and Marty Gaunt are mentors who have been so supportive and I know I can always count on for advice," noted Annett.
The No. 28 team launched their 2008 season at the ARCA RE/MAX Series' opener at the famed Daytona International Raceway. Their plan was to participate in a limited race schedule and concentrate on the Superspeedway Challenge events and show they were a force to reckon with. Mission accomplished as they repeated with a back-to-back win and once again lead the most laps in the race.
After earning a pair of trophies at the two premier tracks in stockcar racing history, Annett accrued 2 additional Top-5 honors at Kansas and Rockingham as well as a 9th place finish at Kentucky in only four starts. In fact, other than one mechanical DNF, Annett has never finished outside of the Top-10.
However, Annett now has a new destination for the remainder of his 2008 racing season. The former hockey ace has earned enough stripes in the competitive world of stockcar racing to get an opportunity to compete in one of NASCAR's three premier division's - the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Annett will receive an early birthday present as his NASCAR debut with Bill Davis Racing is scheduled for June 20th (three days shy of his 22nd birthday) at the Milwaukee Mile. Initial plans are for Annett to be behind the wheel of the No. 22 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Tundra for approximately eight events in the 2008 season. He recently assisted teammate Scott Speed (who had a scheduling conflict) by practicing and qualifying the truck at Texas Motor Speedway.
When asked to comment on this opportunity, Annett stated, "This is the next step towards reaching my goal of racing in the Sprint Cup Series. I cannot thank Bill&Gail Davis, everyone at BDR and Toyota for this opportunity. But I am extremely grateful for the continued support of Mark Hazelwood and the 13,000+ employees of Pilot Travel Centers. They have been along side me since the beginning of my racing career, for both ARCA RE/MAX Series victories and are along for the ride to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. I am looking forward to working with Doug Wolcott and the No. 22 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Tundra team and will definitely continue to work hard for this opportunity. The level of competition in ARCA and the
NCTS is amazing but we have all of the ingredients to continue to be a winning force."
Annett jokingly added a bit of enthusiastic humor, "Trucking is in my blood and I think it is pretty neat that we now have an opportunity to go truckin' in my own way - wide-open and in the fast lane. The styles and methods of our type of 'trucking' in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series are a bit different than our rigs on the open roads but the goals are the same - to be the best and get to the destination ahead of schedule. On the back of every TMC Transportation unit it says 'Destination: Excellence' and I will strive for that same result behind the wheel."
Additional details about Michael Annett's foray into the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is available by logging on to http://www.michaelannett.com. Tune in to the LIVE broadcast of the "Milwaukee 200" courtesy of SPEED on Friday, June 20, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. CDT.
MICHAEL ANNETT: FAST FACTS
DOB: 6/23/86
HOMETOWN: Des Moines, IA
CURRENT RESIDENCE: Greensboro, NC
ARCA RE/MAX SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
- 9 career starts
- 2 wins (Talladega - ‘07, Daytona - ‘08)
- 1 SIM Factory Pole Award (Iowa - ‘07)
- 5 Top-5s
- 8 Top-10s
- 8 Top-5 qualifying efforts
- 192 laps led
- 1st win for Toyota
Contact: Michelle Petroff, Rising Star Management Group, (618) 406-6842 or mpetroff@risingstarmg.com
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