Annett Milwaukee Recap

Race Release posted on 12/03/2008

Michael Annett - Pilot Travel Centers Post Race Report Race: Camping World RV Sales 200 Track: The Milwaukee Mile Date: Friday, June 20, 2008 Started: 14th Finish: Sixth Laps Completed: 200 Total Laps: 200 Michael Annett and the No. 22 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Tundra team headed to The Milwaukee Mile confident they were going to have a strong run. Although it was the first career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start for the 21-year-old driver, he was confident he had a great truck and team to help him post a solid finish. The team unloaded its Toyota Tundra Friday, and Annett was immediately happy with how his truck handled. He told crew chief Doug Wolcott that the truck handled tight in the center of both corners, which hurt his exit. The team made spring and shock changes in an effort to free up the Pilot Travel Centers Tundra. By the end of practice, Annett and the entire No. 22 team felt confident they had a truck that could race up front all night long. The rookie drew an early position for qualifying and was the fourth driver to make his qualifying attempt. He laid down a solid lap of 30.223 seconds, which lined him up 14th for the start of the 200-lap event. Annett told his team he was a little free getting into turn three and had to chase his truck up the track during his qualifying run. However, he thought his truck would be strong for the start of the race. Annett took the green flag and immediately started to pick off his competitors. On lap seven, Annett dove to the bottom of turn three to get by a slow truck, but the back end of his Tundra lost grip and caused him to spin out. The Des Moines, Iowa, native did a great job keeping his Tundra off the outside wall, but he had to visit pit road under caution for four fresh tires and fuel. When the race restarted on lap 11, Annett was relegated to the 32nd spot. He knew he had his work cut out for him, but he was up for the challenge. By lap 50, the rookie sensation stood 21st. He told his crew that his truck was still very tight in the middle of both corners. When the caution flag waved on lap 77, the No. 22 Pilot Travel Centers Toyota Tundra was only one of seven trucks still on the lead lap. The team took the opportunity to service its truck. Annett rolled down pit road on lap 79 for another four-tire stop. He restarted fifth on lap 82. Annett remained in the top 10 for the next 50 laps, but he was still battling a tight race truck. He explained to the crew that he could really hustle the truck into the corners, but the truck would slide up in the middle, which hurt his exit. The team devised a plan to make changes to the Tundra the next time it came to pit road. When the caution flag waved on lap 144, Wolcott called his driver down pit road for what was to be the final stop of the night. The team made a trackbar adjustment during the four-tire stop, hoping to free Annett up for the final run of the night.

» back to news