Dale Earnhardt Jr Reacts to Michael Annett Announcing his Retirement from Full-Time Racing

Published 10/07/2021, 4:26 AM EDT

Recently, Michael Annett made headlines, announcing his retirement from full-time racing. The 35-year-old is electing to step away from the sport when the 2021 season concludes. In light of this, JR Motorsports team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. paid a small tribute to Michael. He acknowledged Annett’s contribution to the Xfinity team and wished him the very best in his future.

Reflecting upon his time behind the wheel, Annett said, “I’m just so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had. Being able to drive race cars for a living is honestly a dream come true for me. It’s been a privilege to work with some great teams and alongside some of the most talented folks in the garage. None of this would have been possible without the support of my partners, and I am happy to call them lifelong friends. It’s those relationships and friendships that are the most rewarding.”

Article continues below this ad

We appreciate everything @MichaelAnnett has done for @JRMotorsports and we are all wishing the best for him in his next chapter https://t.co/jdzjkpxoKu
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) October 6, 2021

At the moment, Michael Annett lies 17th in the Xfinity Series points standings and has one win to his name. That was when he triumphed at the Daytona International Speedway in 2019 during the season opener. In his final season, Annett is racing for JR Motorsports in the #1 car. Notably, he made his full-time Xfinity debut in 2009 with a best points finish of 5th in 2012.

Article continues below this ad

What prompted Michael Annett to retire?

It is highly probable that the injury he sustained earlier this year was a major factor. What made things worse was that he re-injured it, which side-lined him for a longer period. This ultimately cost him in the Playoffs, as he was in no position to race. Before the regular-season finale, he was right on the edge in 13th place.

Unfortunately, his injury meant that he could no longer participate. However, his absence meant good news for Josh Berry, who bagged his second Xfinity Series win. Later on, Berry would be rewarded with a full-time drive in the 2022 season with JR Motorsports. However, Michael Annett will surely be missed by many in the Xfinity Series paddock.

Article continues below this ad

JR Motorsports Recruits Josh Berry for 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series Season

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Dhruv George is a senior Formula One and NASCAR analyst for EssentiallySports, having authored nearly 12000 articles spanning different sports like F1, NASCAR, Tennis, NFL, and eSports. He graduated with a PG Diploma in Journalism from the Xavier Institute of Communications. Dhruv has also conducted interviews with F1 driver Pierre Gasly and Moto2 rider Tony Arbolino.