DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 7, 2014) –Â A delayed, crash-filled and rain-shortened race at Daytona saw NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Michael Annett emerge with his fourth finish of 21st or better in the last five races.
Originally scheduled for a Saturday night start, the race was postponed until Sunday morning because of inclement weather. Starting 32nd in his Pilot Flying J Chevrolet SS, Annett was up to 19th by lap 6 when rain started to fall on the 2.5-mile facility. Racing resumed shortly thereafter, until a red flag on lap 11 when the rain continued.
Following a lengthy delay, racing resumed until a lap-21 caution for a wreck involving 16 cars. Annett veered onto pit road to avoid the incident — it took place in the frontstretch tri-oval — and found himself in 13th place after ensuing pit stops.
Annett captured the lead prior to pitting on lap 43. Following the stop, he encountered a handling problem in the form of a vibration taking place in the turns. He fought the issue until a lap-86 pit stop under green-flag conditions allowed crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion and the Tommy Baldwin Racing pit crew to change all four tires and make air pressure adjustments. He left pit road in 19th place as another rainstorm loomed, prompting drivers and teams to jostle for position earlier than expected in a restrictor plate race.
Unfortunately, the vibration persisted but it didn’t deter Annett’s ability to maintain position. He was running in 19th when caught in a crash involving 25 other cars. He sustained minimal damage, but an issue with the transmission prompted the No. 7 car to be towed to the garage. After some repair work, Annett returned to the track, albeit eight laps down.
The caution flag waved once again for rain on lap 112. The rain didn’t relent and the race was called with 48 laps remaining. Annett was registered with a 21st-place finish.
MICHAEL ANNETT QUOTE:
“It was a tough weekend. I think everyone raced with a sense of urgency because of the weather, and that made it a little crazier than usual out there. I’m proud of the team, though. We had a good car. I was able to get to the front, but like half the drivers out here that last wreck bit us.”
NEXT RACE:
Annett and his Pilot Flying J Chevrolet SS team travel to New England next weekend for the first of two races this year at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The race airs live on TNT on Sunday, July 13 at 1 pm Eastern.
To Learn More About Michael Annett Please visit: www.michaelannett.com
Follow Michael on Twitter: @michaelannett
ABOUT TOMMY BALDWIN RACING:
Founded in 2009, Tommy Baldwin Racing is a NASCAR organization that fields two full-time Chevrolet teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Baldwin, a native of Long Island, New York, is a Daytona 500-winning crew chief in his sixth season as a full-time Cup Series car owner.
For more information on Tommy Baldwin Racing, please visit them on Facebook,Twitter or their website.
ABOUT PILOT FLYING J:
Pilot Flying J, the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America, is committed to making life better for professional drivers.Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., Pilot Flying J has more than 650 retail locations. The Pilot Flying J network provides drivers with access to more than 65,000 parking spaces for trucks, 4,400 showers and 4,000 diesel lanes, with more than 3,900 offering DEF at the pump. Pilot Flying J subsidiary Pilot Logistics Services is one of the fastest growing independent energy logistics companies in North America. Together, Pilot Flying J and Pilot Logistic Services employ more than 24,000 people. Pilot Flying J is currently ranked No. 7 on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies.
Visit www.pilotflyingj.com for more information.
Follow Pilot Flying J Racing on Twitter: @pfjracing
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PFJRacing
