Michael Annett, a longtime competitor in NASCAR’s national series has passed away, he was 39 years old.
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Annett began his racing journey after a stint in hockey, transitioning to motorsports in his early 20s.
He first made headlines in the ARCA Menards Series, earning two victories at Talladega Superspeedway in 2007 and Daytona International Speedway in 2008. These wins paved the way for his move into NASCAR.
Annett competed across all three of NASCAR’s top divisions during his career. He made nine starts in the Craftsman Truck Series, highlighted by a second-place finish at Kentucky Speedway in 2008. His time in the NASCAR Cup Series spanned 106 races from 2014 to 2016, driving for teams including Germain Racing, Rusty Wallace Racing, Richard Petty, Tommy Baldwin Racing, HScott Motorsports and more throughout his career.
We are sad to have lost a family member. Michael Annett will always be in our hearts. Our thoughts are with the Annett family at this time.
Rest in peace MA. pic.twitter.com/nr91CeTwis
— RSMG (@teamRSMG) December 6, 2025
The bulk of Annett’s success came in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where he raced in 321 events over 11 seasons. Driving primarily for JR Motorsports in the later stages of his career, Annett scored his lone Xfinity Series victory in the 2019 season opener at Daytona International Speedway.
He recorded 95 top-ten finishes and one pole position in the series.
After battling injuries during the 2021 season, Annett announced his retirement from full-time racing at the end of that year ending a 16 year career.