Fast Facts: Michael Annett

Photo: Debbie Ross/Skirts & Scuffs

Michael Annett, driver of the No. 43 Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, is in a position most young drivers could only dream of being in: driving for “The King,” Richard Petty, at Richard Petty Motorsports. Here are a few “Fast Facts” about the driver and his interesting sports background.

• Michael Annett was born June 23, 1986 in Des Moines, Iowa. His family has a long history in auto racing: for many years, they served as the owner and main sponsor for World of Outlaws champ Sammy Swindell. Annett attended his first auto race, the prestigious Knoxville Nationals, only a few days after his birth.
• Annett’s sport of choice for many years was ice hockey. At age 16, he helped the Team Illinois AAA team to the 2002 Calgary Mac’s AAA Hockey Tournament Championship. He later moved up to the United States Hockey League (USHL), playing for the Waterloo (Iowa) Black Hawks and was named the Most Improved Player in the league in 2004.
• After another successful season with the Black Hawks, Annett hung up his skates in favor of a steering wheel in 2005. Annett competed in the America Speed Association and the ARCA Racing Series in 2007, winning his first ARCA race at Talladega in October of that year; in February 2008, he followed that up with a win at Daytona in the series.
• Annett made his NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series in 2008, and moved up to the Nationwide Series with Germain Racing in 2009 and 2010. He spent 2011 with Rusty Wallace Racing, then signed on with RPM for 2012 after Wallace’s team shut down.
• Find out more about Annett at michaelannett.com.