Michael Annett Daytona News and Notes
the headlines.
-Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300 will be 24-year-old driver Michael Annett’s first ever start with Rusty Wallace Racing’s No. 62 Nationwide Series team. Annett signed a two year contract with the organization in November 2010.
-For the 2011 season opener, Annett returns to a track where he was victorious in the 2008 ARCA 200. One of two superspeedway wins on his resume, Annett’s 2008 visit to Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway followed a 2007 ARCA Racing Series win at NASCAR’s famed Talladega Superspeedway.
-In his two most recent Nationwide Series races at Daytona International Speedway, Annett has notched back-to-back 12th place finishes.
-Loyal sponsor Pilot Flying J will again adorn the hood of Annett’s No. 62 Toyota Camry this season after backing the Des Moines, Iowa native since he entered the sport in 2007. Together Annett and Pilot Flying J have shared two victories, tallied six top-fives and earned 16 top-10 finishes.
-Leading the No. 62 Pilot Flying J team will be crew chief Jason Overstreet. Overstreet joined Rusty Wallace Racing before the Nationwide Series race at Kansas Speedway last year and is familiar with calling the shots for young drivers like Annett as they develop their racing careers. Overstreet’s experience includes working in the crew chief capacity for now Sprint Cup Series drivers David Reutimann and A.J. Allmendinger during their rookie seasons in the Camping World Truck Series.
-2011 marks Annett’s first season having a teammate in the Nationwide Series. Formerly driving for a one-car team, the third year Nationwide Series driver is excited about his newly formed relationship with Rusty Wallace Racing’s two team organization and having his friend Steve Wallace as a teammate.
-About Pilot Flying J: Pilot Flying J is headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has more than 550 locations in North America. The company employs more than 20,000 people and is the largest retail operator of travel centers in North America. Follow Pilot Flying J on Twitter at @pilottravel.
-For the latest updates on Michael Annett, please visit www.michaelannett.com
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the machines.
Team 62 Primary: RWR-057 – A new Nationwide Series car from the RWR stables.
Team 62 Backup: RWR-051 – RWR competed with this car in 2010 Nationwide Series events at Daytona International Speedway (July) and Michigan International Speedway. Driven to an 11th place finish by former RWR driver Brendan Gaughan at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October.
race day roster.
Crew Chief: Jason Overstreet
Race Engineer: Jason Stockert
Car Chief, Rear Tire Changer: Ryan McKinney
Mechanic, Rear Tire Carrier: Troy Hartmann
Front Tire Changer: Mike Janssen
Pit Crew Coach, Front Tire Carrier: Chris Brook
Mechanic, Jackman: Brian Gainey
Fueler: Rick Pennington
Spotter: Rocky Ryan
Pit Sign: Lori Adams
pilot flying j locations on your way.
Flying J
(I-95 Hwy 206 Exit 305)
950 State Road 206 West
St. Augustine, FL 32086
Pilot Travel Center
(I-95 Exit 329)
1625 County Road 210 West
Jacksonville, FL 32259
Pilot Travel Center
(I-75 and FL 484 Exit 341)
2020 SW 135th Street
Ocala, FL 34473
from the cockpit.
Annett on his first race with Rusty Wallace Racing:
“I couldn’t be more excited to kick off the 2011 race season with Rusty Wallace Racing. Right now, I’m positioned with one of the most prestigious teams in racing and have a loyal sponsor, Pilot Flying J, behind me, so I’m in the perfect place to start the year off. We’re looking to be strong right from the start. We’ve got a great group of guys put together for 2011 and my crew chief, Jason Overstreet, is a great leader for the group. I look for our first race to be a solid start to a breakaway season for the No. 62 Pilot Flying J team and the whole Rusty Wallace Racing organization.”
Annett on the changes for the 2011 Nationwide Series championship point race:
“I really like NASCAR’s decision to revise the points rules for 2011. Making Nationwide-only drivers like myself the only ones eligible to win the championship makes the competition more intense and more exciting for the fans. Still having the participation of Cup Series drivers is important to the series too. Not only does it help to fill the grandstands, but it’s great to have those more experienced drivers on the track with us to learn from. Overall, the decision gives our series more identity while maintaining the brand we already stand for.”
