Michael Wayne Annett, a veteran driver on the NASCAR circuit, passed away on Friday, December 5, 2025, at the age of 39. The news was confirmed by his former team JR Motorsports.
The team shared a heartfelt tribute to Annett after announcing his passing. “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,” JR Motorsports announced in a statement.
NASCAR also paid tribute to the former NASCAR Xfinity Series winner. “NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” the company said in a statement of their own, describing Annett as a respected competitor, whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage.”
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. https://t.co/oZdMymjBz6 pic.twitter.com/PUsCZHkXEg
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) December 6, 2025
Born on June 23, 1986, in Des Moines, Iowa, Annett hailed from an auto-racing family and took an interest in the sport from a young age. “My parents planned the C-section to be on a Monday so I could be at Knoxville that weekend,” Annett once reflected in a 2014 interview with the Des Moines Register.
“They knew I was going to be a C-section baby, so they scheduled it for a Monday so everybody could be down at the racetrack that weekend.”
Annett’s father, Harold, was a dirt track enthusiast, though he passed away before he could see his son compete at Knoxville. Michael said that his spirit was felt when he made his debut at the track in 2014, saying “he’s right there with me.”
Annett’s professional journey began in the ARCA Menards Series, where he notched early victories, including triumphs at Talladega Superspeedway in 2007 and Daytona International Speedway in 2008. Over his 15-year career, he amassed 436 starts across NASCAR’s three national touring series: 113 in the Cup Series, 223 in the Xfinity Series, and 100 in the Truck Series.
His crowning achievement came in 2019 with JR Motorsports, piloting the No. 1 Chevrolet to victory in the Xfinity Series season-opener at Daytona—the series’ first race under stage racing rules. That win, a dramatic last-lap pass, propelled him to a career-best fourth in the championship standings.
Annett retired from professional racing in 2021 after a final season with Big Machine Racing. After that, Annett transitioned to team ownership with Annett Enterprises, which allowed him to coach up-and-coming drivers.
No cause of death has been disclosed, though peers alluded to his private struggles.
Fellow driver Brad Keselowski, who rose alongside Annett in ARCA, paid tribute to his friend in a social media post. “I remember this day vividly. Michael was an up and comer at the same time I was and he was looking really good. In the end, Life took us different paths and all of us who knew him and the talent he had are sad to see him go, but glad he is no longer suffering,” he said, concluding the post with the hashtag “RIPMichael.”
Xfinity competitor Sammy Smith added, “Very sad to lose someone who meant so much to me and my family. Michael was a great person to so many, and we’ll miss him a lot.”
, 2025-12-07 01:14:00, 
, Trending Politics Conservative Breaking News and Commentary, %%https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/cropped-tp-fav-2-32×32.png, https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/feed/, Cullen McCue
