MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Michael Annett, a former NASCAR driver known for his grit and perseverance across more than a decade in professional stock-car racing, has died. He was 39. The news was confirmed Friday by his former team JR Motorsports (JRM), which shared a short but heartfelt message mourning the loss of “our friend Michael Annett.” No cause of death has been announced.
From humble beginnings in the lower leagues to a storied career in the top three national NASCAR series, Annett amassed a total of 436 combined starts — 321 of them in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Of those, 158 came under the JRM banner.
Annett’s biggest moment came in 2019, when he drove the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet to victory in the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway. It was his first — and only — win at the national level, a triumph that underscored his perseverance and solidified his place in NASCAR lore.
But Annett’s racing roots ran deeper than the Xfinity Series. Before moving up, he found success in the ARCA Menards Series — winning at Talladega Superspeedway in 2007, and then at Daytona in 2008. It was a testament to his early potential and love for the sport.
His journey through NASCAR was far from linear. Annett debuted in Xfinity in 2008, went full-time in 2009, and raced for teams such as Germain Racing, Rusty Wallace Racing, and Richard Petty Motorsports, before spending three seasons at the sport’s highest level in the NASCAR Cup Series between 2014 and 2016. He ran 106 Cup starts before returning to Xfinity with JRM in 2017.
After a stress fracture to his leg sidelined him during parts of the 2021 season, Annett stepped away from full-time racing. That did not stop JRM from honoring him for the role he played in helping transform the team into the four-car operation it became. “Michael was a key member of JRM … and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today,” the team said.
As word of his passing spread, tributes poured in from across the racing world. The governing body, NASCAR, called him a “respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage.” Colleagues and former teammates — including champions and current drivers — echoed those sentiments, remembering Annett not just as a competitor, but as a friend.
Michael Annett was never the flashiest name on the grid. He didn’t rack up championships. But what he did — time and again — was show up, race hard, and stay true to the sport. His sudden passing at just 39 is a stark reminder that life doesn’t always hand out fair days. The NASCAR world has lost a racer — and many, a friend.
