ANNETT OVERCOMES TIRE TROUBLE TO NOTCH THIRD TOP-10 FINISH
Contact: Michelle Petroff, TMC Racing

DES MOINES, IA (Sept 5) – Following an impressive ARCA RE/MAX Series’ speedway debut at Nashville Superspeedway, Michael Annett and the No. 32 Country Joe Racing team reunited with TMC Transportation looking for another successful run in their third series’ start scheduled to take place at Gateway International Raceway.

Annett, 21, regularly competes in the Challenge Division of the ASA Late Model Series and has garnered a lot of positive attention in his first two crossover events with the ARS, which included SIM Factory Pole honors and third place finish at his hometown Iowa Speedway debut as well as a solid eighth place at Nashville.

While the Hawkeye native never competed at the 1.25-mi unique venue, he familiarized himself with the long straightaways and tight turns that Gateway is renowned for during the ARCA RE/MAX Series’ test. The ARS newcomer showed confidence and skill as he was near the top of the speed chart during the practice session. Annett then posted a strong qualifying time of 33.714 seconds, which ranked him third for his first series’ start under the lights.

After the green flag dropped over the forty-car field for the “Gateway ARCA 150”, Annett remained confident in his No. 32 TMC Transportation Dodge that was fielded by Country Joe Racing. Unfortunately, the young Iowa native would be plagued by a flat right front tire while poised in third place and the team was forced to pit under green flag conditions.

“We unloaded with a really fast car and the Country Joe Racing team only made some minor changes before qualifying since it was an impound race to make sure we had a car that would be strong during race conditions,” commented Annett. "It was nice to qualify well and have the TMC Transportation Dodge start towards the front. We were running comfortably in third when the right front tire went flat and we went a lap down in the pits but I knew that I had a car that could get the lap back and still be in contention for a win.”

Annett’s team performed well on the unscheduled stop and used a bit of strategy to restart at the front of the inside line. That move allowed the fast No. 32 to return to a blistering pace and pass the leader and regain his lost lap when the next caution fell.

Rejoining the field at the end of the longest line would test both the handling of Annett’s Dodge Charger and the patience of the driver. As laps clicked down, Annett passed several competitors but the team faced yet another pit stop that would require a four tire change and another slalom through the field.

“As laps were winding down, we still had a lot of track position to make up and the team felt it was best to pit for four fresh tires that would hopefully help us get back to the front,” added Annett. “Several cars stayed out but the Country Joe Racing team deserves all of the credit for consistently giving me a car that can run up front and they have lot of experience at venues that are new for me. I’ve had a blast driving for them and I am looking forward to future events in the ARCA RE/MAX Series.”

The TMC Transportation Dodge Charger lived up to its name and mounted an assault in the final circuits of the 120-lap event and returned to the top-10 in the closing laps. Annett never dealt with compromised handling as the race wound to a close and shocked onlookers with a dramatic pass of two competitors in the final yards of the “Gateway ARCA 150” en route to a strong sixth place finish.