Michael Annett

Michael Wayne Annett, a former NASCAR driver whose career spanned more than a decade and included a memorable win at Daytona, died in December 2025. He was 39 years old.

Born June 23, 1986, in Des Moines, Iowa, Annett rose through the ranks to become a familiar face in America's top stock-car racing circuits. Over the course of his career, he made a total of 436 combined starts in NASCAR's three national touring series.

Annett was best known for his time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he made 321 starts, including 158 with JR Motorsports (JRM). His sole national-series victory came in the 2019 season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway, where he drove the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet to the checkered flag.

Before reaching NASCAR's national spotlight, Annett found early success in the ARCA Menards Series. He won at Talladega Superspeedway in 2007 and captured the 2008 series opener at Daytona.

He made his Xfinity Series debut in 2008 and competed full-time from 2009 onward. Over the years, he drove for several teams, including Germain Racing, Rusty Wallace Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports, and eventually JR Motorsports, which signed him in 2017. Later, Annett advanced to the sport's top level, the NASCAR Cup Series, where he competed from 2014 through 2016.

His career concluded after the 2021 season. A stress fracture in his leg sidelined him for part of that season, and he announced his retirement at its end.

Following news of his death, tributes were shared from across the racing community. In a statement, NASCAR said Annett "was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage." JR Motorsports added that Annett was "a key member of JRM" and credited him with helping shape the team's growth.

Fellow drivers also expressed sorrow. Brad Keselowski, a longtime peer, reflected on Annett's early promise and wrote, "[A]ll of us who knew him and the talent he had are sad to see him go." Another former teammate, Noah Gragson, described himself as "heartbroken" and added, "Going to miss you, man. Love you Diesel Mike."

By Legacy News Staff

(Image: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR)