NASCAR driver Michael Annett dies 4 years after retiring, team says. He was 39
Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett has died just four years after retiring from full-time competition, according to his former team, JR Motorsports.
A cause of death for 39-year-old Annett was not released.
“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,” JR Motorsports wrote in a Dec. 5 social media post.
Annett had 430 starts across NASCAR’s top three series, “including a three-year stint racing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series from 2014-2016,” NASCAR.com reported.
The Iowa native began his sports career as a player in the United States Hockey League, but transitioned to racing in 2007, in part due to his late father’s role as a team owner for sprint car legend Sammy Swindell, according to Michaelannett.com.
Annett’s father, Harrold, was also the CEO of TMC Transportation which continues to sponsor JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series through driver Sammy Smith in the No. 8 car.
“Very sad to lose someone who meant so much to me and my family,” Smith posted on X Friday. “Michael was a great person to so many, and we’ll miss him a lot.”
Annett’s earliest victories came in the ARCA Racing Series, and he advanced up the ranks into the NASCAR Cup Series in 2014.
He spent five years at JR Motorsports, “earning 61 top-10s, 12 top 5-s, 1 pole and a win at Daytona International Speedway in the 2019 season opener,” his website reports.
Annett’s retirement came due to “a stress fracture in his right femur” that caused him to miss several races, NASCAR.com reported.
“Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage,” NASCAR officials said in a statement.
“Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”
Another former teammate at JRM, current Cup Series driver Noah Gragson also shared condolences.
“Heartbroken,” Gragson wrote on Instagram. “Going to miss you man. Love you Diesel Mike.”
Annett played hockey for the Waterloo Black Hawks from 2003 to 2005, and the team noted he finished his USHL career with 100 regular season appearances.
“Although his career diverged from his hockey-playing peers, Annett remained a proud Waterloo Black Hawk alum,” the team said in a statement. “In 2012, he made the largest individual donation to help fund Waterloo’s trip to the Junior Club World Cup in Omsk, Russia. That winter, he brought his race car to Young Arena.”
This story was originally published December 8, 2025 at 11:05 AM with the headline "NASCAR driver Michael Annett dies 4 years after retiring, team says. He was 39."