Motorsports
Des Moines native and NASCAR driver Michael Annett dies at 39
Michael Annett, a Des Moines native who competed in more than 300 NASCAR national series races and earned a landmark victory at Daytona, has died.
JR Motorsports announced Friday that Annett died at the age of 39.
The team shared the news in a statement on X, saying, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett. Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”
Annett raced five seasons with JR Motorsports and captured his only NASCAR Xfinity Series win in 2019 at Daytona International Speedway. He stepped away from full-time racing after the 2021 season.
Before his racing career, Annett was a standout athlete in Iowa, spending two seasons with the Waterloo Black Hawks hockey team and skating on their 2004 Clark Cup Championship squad.
No further details about his death have been released.