The NASCAR community is mourning the loss of former Xfinity and Cup Series driver Michael Annett, who has passed away at the age of 39, as confirmed Friday by JR Motorsports.
JR Motorsports paid tribute to Annett in a statement on social media, writing:
“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 made 321 starts in what is now the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (formerly Xfinity) Series between 2008 and 2021, with the highlight of his career coming in the 2019 season opener at Daytona, where he scored his lone NASCAR national-series victory driving for JR Motorsports. He recorded 95 top-10 finishes and a pole in the series, becoming a steady veteran presence in the JRM stable over his final seasons in the sport.
Beyond Xfinity, Annett competed in all three of NASCAR’s national divisions, making 106 Cup Series starts from 2014–2016 and earning a best finish of 13th in the 2015 Daytona 500, plus a runner-up result in the Truck Series at Kentucky in 2008. He also won twice in ARCA at Talladega (2007) and Daytona (2008) earlier in his career.
Annett retired from full-time competition after the 2021 season following injury issues but remained closely connected to many in the garage. Tributes from former teammates, competitors, and industry members are beginning to pour in as the sport reflects on the life and career of a driver remembered as a loyal teammate and a key piece of JR Motorsports’ rise to a four-car powerhouse.
