Michael Annett. Matthew OHaren-Imagn Images

Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett dies at 39

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Dec 6, 2025 9:11 AM ET

JR Motorsports announced on Friday that former NASCAR driver Michael Annett died. He was 39 years old.

Annett spent the final five years of his driving career with JR Motorsports.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett," the team said in a statement. "Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today."

A cause of death for Annett has yet to be announced.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett. Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today. https://t.co/oZdMymjBz6 pic.twitter.com/PUsCZHkXEg
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) December 6, 2025

Michael Annett's career at a glance

Annett, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, was most famous for his lengthy NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series (formerly the NASCAR Xfinity Series) career. Annett made 321 starts in NASCAR's second-tier series, scoring his only career win at Daytona International Speedway in 2019.

Annett scored 19 top-five finishes and 95 top-10 results over his NORAPS career. He retired from full-time competition at the conclusion of the 2021 season.

While most of Annett's success came in NASCAR's second-tier division, he did make 106 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series. Annett's Cup Series debut came in the 2014 Daytona 500, where he finished 37th, driving for Tommy Baldwin Racing. Annett drove for HScott Motorsports in 2015 and 2016, with his final Cup Series start coming in the 2016 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. His career-best Cup Series finish was a 13th-place effort in the 2015 Daytona 500.

Annett also made nine starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and 10 in the ARCA Menards Series. He won two races in ARCA competition.

I remember watching Michael Annett finally getting that first career Xfinity win that was long over due and it was special to do it at Daytona, God speed Michael Annett you'll be missed dearly by the whole NASCAR community ❤️ pic.twitter.com/pxidTb1XQ9
— Trevor Bailey (@trevorsports_98) December 6, 2025

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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