Annett Prepares for '09 Race Season
Race Release posted on 01/19/2009
Germain Racing recently announced that they have signed 22 year-old Michael Annett to a multi-year agreement to take over duties behind the wheel of their NASCAR Nationwide program. Germain Racing has a long-standing tradition in the NASCAR Nationwide Series including their most recent 8th place ranking in championship standings and proudly welcomes the 2009 Raybestos Rookie of the Year Candidate into their veteran team. Annett, a native of Des Moines, IA, captured the national spotlight last fall by putting the Toyota nameplate in victory lane at Talladega Superspeedway for the first time ever in the 55-year history of the ARCA RE/MAX Series.
The former hockey standout returned to the winner’s circle at the 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series’ opener at Daytona International Speedway. He earned 1 win, 3 top-5 and 4 top-10 finishes in 5 starts in his Toyota Camry during the 2008 season before taking the wheel of a Toyota Tundra for limited NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ events. His first foray into the upper echelons of NASCAR, Annett continued to demonstrate success in spite of obstacles faced by the lack of a full schedule of competition. He earned a 6th place finish in his series’ debut at The Milwaukee Mile and a career-high runner-up finish at Kentucky Speedway in only his third start. In fact, he has already led laps in only eight starts, earned one top-5 and a pair of top-10 finishes.
While Annett’s 2008 season started with Bill Davis Racing, he competed under the Germain Racing banner in the No. 9 Construct Corps/Crocs Toyota Tundra in his final NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ event of the season at Phoenix International Raceway. Annett capstoned the eventful season with a debut in the NASCAR Nationwide Series along with a new sponsor, Hype Energy Drinks, in a Germain-fielded entry at Homestead Miami Speedway.
“I really appreciate the opportunity Bob Germain presented me with and it is a great honor to be able to continue being part of a great tradition and the Toyota family. The team assembled at Germain Racing is one of the best in the business and I am looking forward to working with Mike Hillman Sr., Bruce Cook and all of their crew members,” commented Annett. “Bruce and I have been able to start working on our chemistry and I believe his personality and experience will be a key asset to my success as we compete for the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title and our first season together. It will also be a unique opportunity to work with two teammates, Todd Bodine and Max Papis, who bring a lot of unique experience to the organization.”
“We have had the opportunity to start working with Michael both in test sessions and at the track and are looking forward to 2009,” added Bruce Cook who will remain at the helm of Annett’s Nationwide efforts. “He brings a unique maturity with him that you don’t see in a lot of rookie drivers. We all see a lot of potential in Michael and I am looking forward to helping him demonstrate that on track.”
Annett will join their organization for the full Nationwide Series behind the wheel of the No. 15 Toyota Camry carrying support from Pilot Travel Centers and Hype Energy Drinks and veteran team member Bruce Cook will retain the role of crew chief. Announcements regarding additional team sponsors will be forthcoming.
Team Owner Bob Germain, Jr., explained what sets Annett apart from his fellow competitors, “Michael is a driver that fits the Germain Racing profile - he’s a true competitor that measures his racing success by his performance each race, not by performances of the past. This attitude is what has earned Germain Racing a championship and has allowed our team to be a walk-on, top-ten team in NASCAR’s highly competitive Nationwide Series. We’re very excited about Michael’s potential as a member of our race team.”
Mike Hillman, Sr., General Manager, echoed Germain’s sentiments, “Having Michael join the Germain Racing organization gives our team a solid shot at the Raybestos Rookie of the Year title in the Nationwide Series in 2009. This title takes on new meaning with NASCAR’s ban on testing especially with a competitor like Michael who has yet to compete at most tracks. It puts more emphasis on driver-crew chief communication but we have a lot of faith in Bruce Cook as he has led rookie drivers before and we’ve seen him develop our Nationwide Series program into a top-ten team in just one season. We believe that Michael and Bruce together will to continue that tradition of Germain Racing.”
Germain Racing will field an entry for the reigning event winner for the ARCA RE/MAX Series’ “Lucas Oild Slick Mist 200” at Daytona International Speedway on February 7, 2009, before the team debuts the No. 15 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Camry for the “Camping World 300” NASCAR Nationwide Series’ opener. For more information on the winning tradition at Germain Racing, visit http://www.germainracing.com or log on to http://www.michaelannett.com for the latest news and information on Michael Annett.
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