The NASCAR community is mourning the loss of former driver Michael Annett. He passed away Friday at the age of 39. 

Annett, the winner at Daytona in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2019 and a veteran across all three national NASCAR levels, was remembered with heartfelt statements from both NASCAR and JR Motorsports. His loss is weighing on the two organizations.

NASCAR issued a statement Saturday morning, expressing deep sadness over Annett’s passing, honoring both his competitive spirit and the way he carried himself throughout his career: “NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” NASCAR’s statement read, via FOX’s Bob Pockrass.

“Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”

Annett spent five seasons driving the No. 1 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, from 2017 through his retirement in 2021. The team credited him with helping build the foundation of the organization as it stands today. 

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JR Motorsports’ statement read. “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.”

News of Annett’s death was first shared by his talent agency, Rising Star Management Group, which wrote, “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.” No cause of death has been released in the time since.

Annett had an impressive career, making 106 Cup Series starts between 2014 and 2016 and spending the majority of his NASCAR career in what was formerly called the Xfinity Series. His 2019 Daytona victory marked the biggest moment of his time in the sport, punctuating a career defined by perseverance and respect within the garage.

He stepped away after the 2021 season, due to complications from a right-leg injury that sidelined him late that year. The Xfinity Series paid tribute as well, writing, “We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of former Xfinity Series driver Michael Annett at the age of 39. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Annett family in this difficult time.”

As you can tell, Annett was a respected competitor, loyal teammate and universally liked figure in the motorsports world. He leaves behind a lasting impact across the NASCAR community, and thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. 

Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett has died at 39 years old, Team RSMG, who represented Annett, announced Friday (Dec. 5).

Annett ran 436 NASCAR national series races in his career, which spanned from 2008 until his retirement due to injuries in 2021.

His crowning achievement in the sport came in 2019 with a win at Daytona International Speedway for JR Motorsports in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The team paid respects to the Annett family in an X post on Friday, saying Annett 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.”

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Born in Des Moines, Iowa to father Harrold Annett, a World of Outlaws car owner, Michael’s sports career began in ice hockey. He won the Clark Cup in 2004 with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL before he began his racing career after high school.

After racing at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and briefly in ASA, Annett took the jump to the ARCA Menards Series in 2007. He won two races with Bill Davis Racing at Talladega Superspeedway in 2007 and again at Daytona in the 2008 season opener.

Annett made several starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2008 before making his O’Reilly’s debut with Germain Racing in the year’s final race, eventually going full time in 2009.

After two seasons with Germain and one with Rusty Wallace Racing, Annett’s breakout season came in 2012 with Richard Petty Motorsports. Annett recorded five top fives, including a new career-best finish of third on two occasions, and finished fifth in the driver’s standings.

Annett moved up to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2014 with Tommy Baldwin Racing, finishing 33rd in the standings before jumping to HScott Motorsports. He managed to race into the 2015 Daytona 500 and recorded his best Cup finish in 13th, but never managed a points finish better than 36th in two seasons.

The final five years of his career in NASCAR was spent with JRM, managing three playoff berths and three ninth-place finishes in the standings. In 2021, a stress fracture in his right femur led to him missing two races before returning and reaggravating the injury. On Oct. 6, he announced he’d retire from NASCAR at season’s end.

A cause of death was not announced.

James Krause joined Frontstretch in March 2024 as a contributor. Krause was born and raised in Illinois and graduated from Northern Illinois University. He currently works in Fort Wayne, Indiana covering minor league, college and high school sports. Outside of racing, Krause loves to keep up with football, music, anime and video games.

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina — Michael Annett, a longtime NASCAR competitor and former Xfinity Series winner, has died at 39, JR Motorsports and NASCAR announced Friday.

Details on Annett’s cause of death were not released.

According to NASCAR, Annett, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, competed in 436 races across NASCAR’s three national touring series, building much of his résumé in the Xfinity Series with 321 starts. His defining moment came in 2019 when he captured the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway, his lone national-series win.

NASCAR also said he entered the Xfinity Series in 2008 before moving to full-time competition the following year. Stops at Germain Racing, Rusty Wallace Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports preceded a three-year stretch in the NASCAR Cup Series, where he made 106 starts for Turner Scott Motorsports from 2014 to 2016. He joined JR Motorsports in 2017 and remained with the team until stepping away after a leg injury cut into his 2021 season.

In a statement posted to Instagram, JR Motorsports reflected on Annett’s impact and extended condolences.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” the team wrote. “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.”

The team added that Annett’s presence helped shape the identity and growth of the program during a pivotal stretch.

Before reaching NASCAR’s highest levels, Annett twice won in the ARCA Menards Series, claiming victories at Talladega in 2007 and Daytona in 2008.

NASCAR called Annett a respected competitor whose attitude resonated throughout the garage.

“Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone,” NASCAR’s statement said, noting that he handled his career “with the passion of a true racer.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr., co-owner of JR Motorsports, said he saw untapped potential in Annett when he recruited him in 2017. Annett’s 2019 Daytona victory, he said, reminded him of another moment in the sport’s history.

“It reminds me of an Earnhardt giving a Michael a chance years ago to show his potential,” Earnhardt said.

JR Motorsports, who fielded entries for Annett between 2017 and 2021, also posted on social media sharing the team’s condolences.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” reads JR Motorsports’ post. “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 earned a victory in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2019 at Daytona International Speedway while driving for JR Motorsports. He recorded 19 top-five finishes and 95 top-10 finishes in 321 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts, finishing fifth in the series’ points in 2012.

Four days are down in the 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports versus NASCAR antitrust lawsuit trial scheduled to last 10 days. NASCAR attorney Lawrence Buterman began cross-examining FRM owner Bob Jenkins on Wednesday, which continued into Thursday.

One of the main topics covered was FRM’s attempted sale of a charter/merger with 23XI in 2021. A September 4, 2021, email exchange between Jenkins and 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin was brought up, in which Jenkins imposed a Friday afternoon deadline to Hamlin in negotiations of the transaction.

Why was this important? Well, you’d have to go back to Sept. 6, 2024. NASCAR reportedly handed the teams a “take-it-or-leave-it” Charter Agreement offer at 5 p.m. ET. Both 23XI and FRM were critical of NASCAR over the offer, and they were the only Cup Series teams not to sign the agreement. Two months later, they filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR and its CEO Jim France, alleging monopolistic practices.

According to NASCAR reporter Toby Christie, Buterman questioned Jenkins why it was OK that he did the same thing he claims was bad when NASCAR did it three years later to him and other team owners. Jenkins responded that Hamlin was negotiating with other teams at the time about a charter. 23XI eventually acquired a charter from StarCom Racing for $13.5 million.

Jenkins then addressed the deadline. He said, per Christie, that he had to either renew with Ford for another season or risk losing manufacturer support and his existing alliance with Roush. He added he did what was best for his team and moved on from negotiations with Hamlin.

23XI, FRM vs. NASCAR lawsuit: Judge Bell levels warning of jury revolt

The cross-examination of Jenkins has concluded. The trial is moving forward, though not at a speed quick enough for Judge Kenneth Bell. At the conclusion Day 4 of the trial, Bell issued a warning to both sides. He wants both legal teams to make sure they are keeping arguments concise and direct.

Bell waited for the jury to leave the courtroom. Once they did, he told both sides that they needed to hurry up, because a third week of this trial is not going to work. The jury would be very upset at everybody in that case.

23XI and FRM are supposed to finish up their arguments by next Tuesday or Wednesday. Then, NASCAR will have the rest of the time to make its defense.

“Judge Bell has issued a warning to both sides to pick up the pace,” Christie reported. “The trial cannot drag to three weeks long, or the jury will revolt. He says both sides need to instruct their witnesses to just quickly answer hard questions instead of trying to deny obvious facts, and that exhibits need to stop beating horses past their death date.”

On3’s Jonathan Howard contributed to this report.

(Gray News) – The motorsport world is mourning the death of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett.

JR Motorsports announced Annett’s death Friday evening.

Annett was 39 years old.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” the company shared online.

He drove for JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series for five seasons from 2017 to 2021.

“Michael was a key member of JRM … and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today,” team members wrote.

According to NASCAR, the Des Moines, Iowa, native earned his career-best achievement in 2019, winning the series’ season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet.

Annett made his debut in the Xfinity Series in 2008 and spent three years at the sport’s top level in the NASCAR Cup Series with Turner Scott Motorsports from 2014 through 2016.

He finished his career with JRM in 2021 after a stress fracture in his leg sidelined him for parts of the season.

“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” NASCAR said in a statement. “Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage.”

Annett’s cause of death was not immediately released.

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