Michael Annett Phoenix News and Notes
The Headlines.
Rusty Wallace Racing’s Michael Annett will pilot the No. 62 Pilot Flying J Toyota Camry for the second race of the season at Phoenix International Raceway this weekend. Saturday’s Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 will be Annett’s fifth Nationwide Series start on Phoenix International Raceway’s sunny one mile tri-oval. The 24-year-old driver has also competed at Phoenix International Raceway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and USAC Silver Crown Series.
During the off-season, both Rusty Wallace Racing Nationwide Series teams completed a two-day test at Walt Disney World Speedway. While Phoenix International Raceway isn’t like any other track on the circuit, Annett credits that the team’s test will help them heading into this weekend’s event.
This weekend’s racing festivities mark a change in NASCAR’s schedule. In years past, the sanctioning body’s top-three series have raced at Auto Club Speedway for the second event of the season. Still competing on the west coast, the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Nationwide and Camping World Truck Series’ will race at Phoenix International Raceway in February rather than April. In addition to this weekend’s events, Phoenix International raceway will host their traditional NASCAR weekend in November leading into the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
For the latest updates on Michael Annett, please visit
www.michaelannett.com.
From the Cockpit.
Annett on Saturday’s race at Phoenix International Raceway:
“Phoenix is a tough track and one thing that makes it that way is that each end of the track is different. Turns one and two are very different than turns three and four. I think one thing that will help us with this weekend’s race is our recent test at Walt Disney World Speedway. Our primary car for Phoenix is the one we tested at Disney. We learned a lot there that we can transition into practice and the race this week when we get to Phoenix.”
Annett on his new team:
“I couldn’t be happier with the group that’s been assembled for the No. 62 Pilot Flying J team this year. We all work really well together, and I think that will play a big role in where we finish in the 2011 championship points race. We showed our strength last week at Daytona, but our finish didn’t reflect that. I’m very excited to prove ourselves. There are definitely good things to come with our organization this season.”
The Machines.
Team 62 Primary: RWR-055 – A new chassis that was tested by the No. 62 team at Walt Disney World Speedway last month.
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.
Pilot Flying J provides 12 Pilot Travel Centers and Flying J locations along the roads of the state of Arizona. Four of these locations are conveniently positioned within a 100 mile radius of Phoenix International Raceway. For more information on Pilot Flying J and to map their nearest locations along your route, please visit
www.pilotflyingj.com.
Flying J
(I-10 Exit 137)
6700 West Latham
Phoenix, AZ 85043
Pilot Travel Center
(I-10 Exit 133)
900 North 99th Ave.
Avondale, AZ 85323
Pilot Travel Center
(I-10 Exit 208)
619 S. Sunshine Blvd.
Eloy, AZ 85231
Flying J
(I-10 Exit 208 A)
16189 S. Sunshine Blvd.
Eloy, AZ 85231
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.
