Annett finds a new home with Richard Petty Motorsports

NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Michael Annett has found a new racing home with Richard Petty Motorsports. Annett was released from his previous ride, the No. 62 Rusty Wallace Inc. Toyota, when that organization announced earlier this month that it was suspending racing operations.

“They say that when one door closes, another door opens, and that is most definitely true,” Annett said. “We were left scrambling a bit because of the situation with RWI and were unsure what the future held, but together with Pilot Flying J and Ford, this is the best opportunity I have ever had to race a Nationwide Series car.”

He joins a new Nationwide program at RPM to drive a No. 43 Ford, with sponsorship backing from Pilot Flying J, his sponsor when he was with RWI.

“This has been an exciting couple of months for Richard Petty Motorsports,” car owner Richard Petty said. “We are looking forward to getting back into the Nationwide Series full-time and seeing what Michael Annett can do in an RPM Ford Mustang. Michael has improved every season he has raced in the Nationwide Series and has the dedication and drive to be a success.”

Annett had his best Nationwide season, to date, in 2011, finishing out the year ninth in points after posting seven top-10 finishes. He has been racing full-time in the series since 2009 after making a single start in 2008. In 105 career starts, Annett has a total of 13 top-10 race finishes and has finished seasons in the top-10 in points twice, finishing 10th in 2009 with Germain Racing and ninth last year with Rusty Wallace Inc.

Michael Annett

Photo by: Action Sports Photography