The Headlines:
Previous Race Recap: After a one week break in the NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule, Michael Annett heads to Bristol Motor Speedway yearning for a spot in the top-10 in the Nationwide Series championship point standings. After a 13th place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 5, Annett enhanced his position in the points standings by seven spots moving to 15th. Rusty Wallace Racing’s No. 62 Pilot Flying J race team proved their skill at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and hopes to carry the momentum from their strong performance into this weekend’s event at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Pilot Flying J Races on Home Turf: Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot Flying J calls Bristol Motor Speedway’s “Thunder Valley” their home track. Bristol Motor Speedway is situated on the border of Virginia and Tennessee, and Pilot Flying J offers 75 locations in those two states, 12 locations in Virginia and 63 locations in their home state of Tennessee. Thirty of those 63 Tennessee Pilot Flying J stops are located in Pilot Flying J’s founding city of Knoxville.
Michael Annett’s History with Pilot Flying J: Pilot Flying J has partnered with Annett for the past five years of his career in motorsports while competing in the ARCA Racing Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and currently in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.
Annett and Pilot Flying J entered the sport together in 2007 and since their start have visited Victory Lane twice at two of the most prestigious racetracks, Talladega Superspeedway and Daytona International Raceway, tallied six top-fives and earned 16 top-10’s. Carrying the colors of loyal sponsor Pilot Flying J, Annett finished 10th in the NASCAR Nationwide Series championship point standings in 2009.
Pilot Flying J was pleased to partner with Rusty Wallace Racing for the 2011 season to support Annett as he was named driver of the No. 62 Pilot Flying J Toyota Camry. Annett, Pilot Flying J and Rusty Wallace Racing look forward to a successful relationship together and a strong season ahead.
Michael Annett at Bristol Motor Speedway: Annett has four career Nationwide Series starts on Bristol Motor Speedway’s high-banked 0.533 mile oval. His best finish at Bristol Motor Speedway was in August 2009 where he recorded an eighth place Rookie of the Race finish after starting 13th. Driving for an owner who earned his first Sprint Cup victory at Bristol Motor Speedway and has nine wins to his name at that track, Annett hopes to follow in Wallace’s footsteps and make a strong mark in this weekend’s Nationwide Series Scott’s EZ Seed 300.
For the latest updates on Michael Annett, please visit www.michaelannett.com.
From the Cockpit:
Annett on Bristol Motor Speedway
“Bristol Motor Speedway is both a special place for my team owner, Rusty Wallace, and my sponsor, Pilot Flying J, so bringing home a respectable finish there is very important to our team. When it comes to NASCAR tracks, Pilot Flying J calls Bristol Motor Speedway home. You couldn’t ask for a more exciting track to race on. I’m really looking forward to seeing all the Pilot Flying J folks this weekend and giving them the finish they deserve.”
The Machines:
Team 62 Primary: RWR-051 – Rusty Wallace Racing competed with this car in 2010 Nationwide Series events at Daytona International Speedway (July) and Michigan International Speedway. RWR-051 was driven to an 11th place finish by former Rusty Wallace Racing driver Brendan Gaughan at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October.
Team 62 Backup: RWR-055 – The No. 62 team raced with this car at Phoenix International Raceway in February.
Pilot Flying J Locations on your Way:
Pilot Flying J provides 63 Pilot Travel Centers and Flying J locations along the roads of the state of Tennessee. Six of these locations are conveniently positioned near Bristol Motor Speedway. For more information on Pilot Flying J and to map their nearest locations along your route, please visit www.pilotflyingj.com.
Pilot Travel Center
I-81 Exit 36
11190 Baileyton Road
Greenville, TN 37745
Flying J
I-77 and I-81 Exit 77
3249 Chapman Road
Wytheville, VA 24382
Pilot Travel Center
I-81 Exit 4
3624 Roy Messer Highway
White Pine, TN 37890
Pilot Travel Center
I-40 and NC 209 Exit 24
3712 Crabtree Road
Waynesville, NC 28786
Flying J
I-81 and I-77 Exit 80
Fort Chiswell, VA 24360
Pilot Travel Center
I-40 Exit 417
505 Patriot Drive
Dandridge, TN 37725
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.
Broadcast Info:
Practice
Fri., March 18, 2011
1:40 p.m. ET
SPEED
Final Practice
Fri., March 18, 2011
5 p.m. ET
SPEED
Qualifying
Sat., March 19, 2011
9:30 a.m. ET
SPEED
Scott’s EZ Seed 300
Sat., March 19, 2011
2 p.m. ET
ESPN
