ANNETT TMC TRANSPORTATION LOOK TO CONTINUE ARCA FAST TRACK AT GATEWAY
Contact: Michelle Petroff, TMC Racing

DES MOINES, IA (Aug 29) - ASA Late Model Series’ sophomore driver Michael Annett has supplemented his busy 2007 Challenge Division schedule with a handful of ARCA RE/MAX Series’ events. So far, the career leap has seemed more like a smooth stride as the twenty-one year-old Hawkeye native excelled in his pair of series’ starts and is poised for a fast track to victory lane.

Annett, driving the TMC Transportation Dodge Charger fielded by Country Joe Racing, shined at his hometown ARCA RE/MAX Series debut for Iowa Speedway’s “Prairie Meadows 250”. The young Iowan earned the SIM Factory Pole award and netted a podium finish. The potent duo recently reunited for Annett’s speedway debut at the Nashville Superspeedway “Toyota ARCA 150” and once again impressed with a third place qualifying effort and Top-10 finish. Once again aligned with Country Joe Racing for this week’s “Gateway ARCA 150”, Annett is optimistic in his team’s capabilities of continuing their noteworthy performances.

“This will be my third start in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and I gain confidence each time I get in the seat,” noted Annett. “We had two strong performances so far and the Country Joe Racing team always provide a car that is capable of qualifying and running up front. That is essential when a newcomer like myself is trying to break ranks because the competition level in ARCA is very high.”

In spite of their strong performances thus far, Annett is keenly aware of the challenges that the uniquely configured, 1.25-mi Gateway International Raceway poses.

“Nashville was my ARCA speedway debut and we had a really good test at Gateway so I have a lot of confidence going into this weekend’s race but this track presents some new challenges,” Annett added when discussing the tricky paved oval. “Gateway is very unique because you need a lot of horsepower like speedway racing but the turns are so tight and very unique so it also has some elements of shorttrack racing. It is a test for a driver and especially when combined with new challenges for me like downshifting in the corners. But, I have a great team behind me with the Country Joe Racing team and great sponsors including TMC Transportation who will be our primary sponsor yet again for this event. I'm looking forward to this race and hope that we have a great performance."

“We are very excited to have Michael back with us for this weekend at Gateway,” added Country Joe Racing's Director of Operations Nate Thiesse. “He did a superb job at the Gateway test. He has never been to the track, but his smooth driving style would have led anyone to believe that he’s a veteran at the facility. His concentration and desire has awarded him with two top-10 finishes and there’s no doubt that he’ll only continue to shine under the lights on Friday night.”

This Friday night’s “Gateway ARCA 150” will mark Annett’s first night race with the historic series. The TMC Transportation “Black Chrome” No. 32 Dodge Charger will take to the track for SIM Factory Pole Qualifying at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 31st, 2007. The green flag for the 120-lap event is scheduled to drop at 8 p.m. and the cameras of SPEED will broadcast live coverage of the race in a two-hour telecast.