The Headlines:
Welcome Home: Des Moines, Iowa’s Michael Annett returns to his home track this weekend for Iowa Speedway’s second Nationwide Series event of 2011. Competing under the Rusty Wallace Racing banner this season, Annett’s ties to Iowa Speedway grow even deeper as his team owner Rusty Wallace designed the signature .875 mile oval. In his three previous Nationwide Series races at Iowa Speedway, the native Hawkeye claimed 11th, seventh and 13th place finishes respectively.
$100,000 Cash Up for Grabs: With a $100,000 bonus courtesy of Nationwide Insurance on the line, Annett is geared up for this weekend’s Dash 4 Cash event at Iowa Speedway. The 25-year-old’s sixth place finish in Nationwide Insurance’s first Dash 4 Cash race at Daytona International Speedway in July qualified him as one of only four contenders for the second Dash 4 Cash payout. Reed Sorenson, Justin Allgaier and Jason Leffler are also eligible for the $100,000 bonus. The highest finisher of those four competitors in Saturday’s race will take home the bonus and qualify for the next Dash 4 Cash event at Richmond International Speedway in September. With the Iowa Speedway grandstands filled with Annett’s hometown crowd, he’s hoping to win big in Saturday’s 250 lap Dash 4 Cash showdown.
Annett Contributes to Third Annual Helmet Raffle: This weekend marks Annett’s third year of supporting the Team WillyK fundraising team in their efforts to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) with an annual helmet raffle. Annett’s initial interest in organizing the race-related raffle started when close family friend, Will Krueger, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia three years ago. Since Annett and Will’s fundraising group teamed together to start the raffle at Iowa Speedway’s inaugural Nationwide Series race in 2009, they have raised $25,000 for LLS. The Team WillyK fundraising team will be on-site at Iowa Speedway this weekend in teal Team WillyK shirts selling raffle tickets. The cost of the tickets is $5 per ticket or five tickets for $20. The raffle winner will receive a commemorative helmet signed by all 43 drivers slated to compete in Saturday’s race. All proceeds benefit LLS.
Back to his Roots: Recognizing the state’s agricultural heritage, Iowa Speedway and Nationwide Insurance will host a “Farm-a-thon” at Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa on Friday at 9 a.m. CT. The four Dash 4 Cash drivers will be participating in three farm-related contests at Living History Farms including a horse-drawn carriage showdown, cow milking race and corn shelling battle. The winning driver will receive a $4,000 gift to their charity of choice. Annett hopes to claim the victory and donate to Team WillyK’s Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Team in Training and Pilot Flying J’s charity of choice, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Home Track History: Hometown favorite Annett’s combined 10.3 average finish in his three most recent races at Iowa Speedway proves his knack for the track. Growing up just miles from the Newton, Iowa oval, Annett gained experience there competing in the ARCA Racing Series as well as the ASA Late Model Series Challenge Division events. Annett made his debut in the ARCA Racing Series at Iowa Speedway in June 2007, where the young driver won the SIM Factory Pole Award, led eight laps of the 250 lap race, and came home with a third place finish as he made his first start in the series.
Walk with RWR Stars in Support of Iowa Speedway Foundation: In addition to piloting his racecar at Iowa Speedway this weekend, Annett will also make treads around the .875 mile track in Saturday’s Inaugural Iowa Speedway Foundation Track Walk. Annett will join his team owner, Rusty Wallace, as well as his teammate, Steve Wallace, to walk with fans in support of the Iowa Speedway Foundation. Saturday’s track walk begins at 11 a.m. CT. and fans can participate with a $25 donation that benefits the Iowa Speedway Foundation and Marion County Humane Society. Register online at www.iowaspeedway.com or in person at Iowa Speedway this weekend.
Meet Michael: Annett and several of his fellow Nationwide Series drivers will be signing autographs on Saturday from 2-3 p.m. CT behind the Manatt Grandstands.
For the latest updates on Michael Annett, visit www.michaelannett.com.
From the Cockpit:
Michael Annett on Nationwide Insurance’s Dash 4 Cash Race at Iowa Speedway:
“I’m extremely excited about being one of the four drivers eligible for this weekend’s $100,000 Dash 4 Cash payout. There are a lot of elements that make this week special including Nationwide Insurance’s bonus incentive. We’re racing on my home track, a track that was designed by my team owner, Rusty Wallace, and we’ve really been on top of our game with four top-10s in the last six races. Winning the Dash 4 Cash bonus on my home track would just be the icing on the cake.”
“It’s really exciting that Nationwide provides us with this opportunity, because Saturday’s Dash 4 Cash is a race within a race. Iowa Speedway always puts on a great show, but there are four of us that are racing for that $100,000, and that will make the show even better. It’s another reward that Nationwide Insurance does for us Nationwide-only drivers. They’ve been doing unique things like this ever since they came on board as the sponsor of our series. It’s just really going to make Saturday even more exciting not only for the drivers, but for all the fans as well.”
Michael Annett on Returning to his Home Track:
“I’m really looking forward to racing at my home track this weekend. Being the premier racing series that comes to Iowa Speedway combined with the fact that it’s just down the road from home and I get to be a part of the race is just a dream come true for me. I’m spending the week in Iowa making appearances throughout the area and catching up with those who have been there for me since the start of my racing career. My family, friends, fan base and our primary sponsor this week, Northland Oil, are here in my hometown, so I’m really excited about returning to Iowa Speedway this weekend. I’m very appreciative to the track for all they’ve done for me. Iowa Speedway has played a big role in helping me and Team WillyK to get our third annual helmet raffle organized, and they’ve always been a valued partner.”
Michael Annett on Northland Oil’s Support for Saturday’s Race:
“Northland Oil, a longtime supporter of my racing career, will be featured as the primary sponsor on our Toyota Camry this weekend. We also ran the Northland Oil scheme at Texas in April, and I can’t think of a better place than Iowa Speedway to get a strong finish with their brand on the hood. We’ve really shown our team’s strength since Rick Viers came on board as crew chief in Charlotte, and we’re prepped and ready for running up front all night with our No. 62 Northland Oil Camry at Iowa.”
Talking Shop:
Crew Chief Rick Viers on the Iowa Speedway Race:
“We’ve got Iowa-based Northland Oil on the car this weekend, and their black, red and gold paint scheme looks sharp on the No. 62 Toyota. We’ve got a pretty blue spoiler worth $100,000 on our car this weekend too. I know this weekend is special to Michael with it being his home track, and especially with the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus on the line. We’re going into Iowa this week with a really good plan for Saturday’s race. We’re taking a new car and I think we’ve got a good chance for a solid top-five. We feel good about what we’ve accomplished so far as a team and we’ll take that confidence with us to Iowa looking for another top-notch performance.”
The Machines:
Team 62 Primary: RWR-063 – This car is a brand new chassis from the RWR stables.
Team 62 Back-Up: RWR-051 – The No. 62 Pilot Flying J team’s last race competing with this chassis was at Bristol Motor Speedway in March.
About Northland Oil:
Northland Products Company, headquartered in Waterloo, Iowa, formulates, manufactures, markets and distributes premium quality engine oil, lubricants, engine coolants and associated fluids throughout North America. Since 1908, Northland’s superior products and customer-driven service are provided to trucking fleets, OEM factory-fill, industrial, automotive and agriculture markets.
Northland has enjoyed continued customer growth due to a staff of experienced and talented employees, advanced lubricant technology, a customer focused service strategy and premium quality products. Uncompromising quality, professional service and superior customer support is the foundation of Northland’s success. Northland Products Company is certified to the ISO 9001 and the ISO 14001 standards.
Broadcast Info:
For live coverage of Saturday’s Nationwide Series U.S. Cellular 250 presented by Enlist Weed Control System, tune to ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
