Annett Gains Experience at Homestead
Race Release posted on 12/03/2008
MOORESVILLE, NC (11-17-2008) - At only 22 years old Michael Annett has a unique personality, which blends sheer determination and fearlessness with his natural abilities that are essential competing in the upper echelons of professional motorsports. Annett conquered one more milestone this past weekend when he qualified for his first ever NASCAR Nationwide event.
With 52 teams in attendance, nine competitors fell short of qualifying for the season finale "Ford 300" at Homestead Miami Speedway. Annett made the most out of a completely new opportunity - new team partnership with Germain Racing, new sponsor in Hype Energy Drink, track debut, and Nationwide debut - and relied on the constant he knew, giving it 100% behind the wheel, to qualify the No. 03 Hype Energy Drink Toyota Camry in the 29th position. His first goal for the event was
completed - the team with no owner’s points to rely on for a guaranteed starting position made the show based on their qualifying time.
"I want to thank Bob Germain, Mike Hillman Sr., Mike Hillman Jr., everyone at Germain Racing, Hype Energy Drink, Pilot Travel Centers, and Toyota for making this possible," commented Annett. "We had about every odd possible stacked against us but we were able to be a little conservative in qualifying and still make it in the show. That and just letting me get some seat time was the whole idea of this
event. I've never driven a Nationwide car before and we really didn’t want to go into a full season without ever sitting in a car."
Annett got the experience he was seeking even if the results where not everything that the tenacious Iowa native hoped for. As the only competitor in the 43-car starting grid making his first race appearance, Annett impressed by moving forward in the Hype MFP Camry and even was solidly competing in the Top-20 with on-track times ranking in the Top-15. Unfortunately, like several other competitors, the No. 03 Germain Racing crew was working with a fine line of adjustments to battle
loose handling conditions. Following a minor brush with the Turn 4 wall, the team was forced to pit for tires and minor repairs but eventually the same handling issues were magnified by suspension damage to the right front and it was an early night for the team and a 36th place finish.
"We learned a lot and everyone on this team gave it 200%," Annett added. "We tried to find the limits of the car and we definitely did that. With NASCAR suspending all tests at sanctioned tracks, I am going to see some tracks for the first time when we show up on race weekends. We're going into the off season now with a working relationship to build on as we prepare for a full season in the NASACAR Nationwide Series in 2009."
For more information on the tradition of excellence at Germain Racing, visit
http://www.germainracing.com and be sure to log on to http://www.michaelannett.com for the latest Michael Annett news and events.
Contact: Michelle Petroff, Rising Star Management Group, (618) 406-6842 or mpetroff@risingstarmg.com
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