Remembering Michael Annett: How fellow Iowa native Sammy Smith honors former driver

Michael Annett once envisioned a future on the ice as a professional hockey player. Instead, the Iowa native carved out a successful 13-year NASCAR career, all while satisfying his competitive edge away from the race track, training in the weight room and on the beach volleyball court. "I don't know if he could have gone pro at hockey, but listening to some of the stories, there was some potential there," Justin Allgaier, 34-time NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series winner and teammate of Annett for seven years, said. "He was insanely fit. He would get on a Peloton bike and ride for hours." Travis Mack, current crew chief for John Hunter Nemechek in the NASCAR Cup Series, took over as crew chief for Annett midway through the 2018 season at JR Motorsports. He remembers the same sentiment. Every morning, the duo hit the gym at 7 a.m. while they were paired together. "Bros in the gym, that's like the best time you can have friendship with a guy and really get to know that person," Mack said. "We enjoyed it, and he got in incredible shape during that time. We worked out together for those two years we were together. That's the best memories I have with Michael." RELATED: Annett, former O'Reilly driver, dies at age 39 Those training sessions helped Annett clear his mind. He was coming off two-and-a-half seasons of faltering performances with JR Motorsports, dipping back down after three years chasing his Cup dream. Mack was relieved of his duties as Kasey Kahne's crew chief at Leavine Family Racing and got a call from Dale Earnhardt Jr., for whom he was previously a crew chief. That conversation changed Mack's direction. He set out to bring Annett back into the spotlight and help the veteran driver regain his confidence. They even scored a victory together in the 2019 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series season-opener at Daytona International Speedway. [caption id="attachment_520694" align="aligncenter" width="1300"]Jerry Markland | Getty Images[/caption] "I think he just doubted himself and his abilities," said Mack, who reflected on his moments with Annett. "He saw all of his teammates run well and he didn't have that self-confidence. We talked to each other, this is a whole team of misfits here. Everybody has turned their backs on us, we're going to build the nicest cars we can. We're going to show up every single week, and we're going to be that team and have that strut about yourself. "When he went into Daytona that year we won the race, he was like flying through the air of the amount of pride and work he put into it, and the confidence he had was something awesome." Mack can recall the hooting and hollering in the Winner's Circle vividly. Despite the quality gym time, that singular day was his favorite moment with Annett, seeing him bask in the glory. "That win and seeing how proud he was," Mack said. "His dad was there; his whole family was in Victory Lane with us." Annett was relieved to score the victory, but ultimately glad to deliver for his No. 1 team. "It was seeing the guys there and how happy they were," Annett said in his winning post-race press conference. "They had seen the guys in [the JR Motorsports race shop] come back with race wins and the [Victory Lane] hats, ringing the bell and getting their [champagne] toast in the shop, and I just looked at my guys, at their faces, and wanted to bring this to them. We finally get to do it." That 2019 season turned out to be the best season of Annett's career. He ended the season with a career-high six top-five finishes, 94 laps led and a 10.0 average finish. It took time, but Mack earned Annett's confidence as the crew chief utilized bold strategy calls to put Annett on offense throughout the season. "Him making some of those calls, it's like, 'Man, I'd really like to take these four or five stage points and get a decent day out of this,' and he tries setting up stage wins and you might be behind the eight ball for the next stage," Annett said in a 2020 interview. "He's got my 100% trust. I agree with everything he calls because I know it's calculated and methodical." That decision process was simple for Mack. "The best part of Michael, and he knew it too, he wasn't expected to win or run top five," Mack said. "It wasn't expected, so I said, we're going to do off-the-wall things and put you in an advantage." *** Sammy Smith, who was a rising short-track star and had just concluded his first Speedweeks racing a Pro Late Model at New Smyrna Speedway, celebrated the triumph at Daytona with Annett. The Annetts and Smiths go way back, growing up on the outskirts of Des Moines, Iowa, less than 40 miles from Iowa Speedway. Annett was asked to be Smith's sister's godfather, and Smith recalls spending multiple holidays with the Annetts. Smith's dad, Kurt, began working for Annett's father, Harold, at TMC Transportation as a youngster. Kurt idolized Harold, almost as a second father figure. Kurt flipped to the management side and became Annett's business manager throughout his career. It was Harold who got Smith into racing at 8 years old, first as a hobby before falling in love with it. The first memory Smith has at a NASCAR venue is when Annett drove the No. 43 O'Reilly car for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2012. "Growing up in racing, it's cool to be around," Smith said. "Once I realized I wanted to race, that was it. Not only did [Harold] push me to get into the car, but financially, he put me in a position where I could race." To this day, the Annett brand supports Smith's racing career with common sponsors Pilot, TMC Transportation and Allstate Peterbilt. On Aug. 8 at Iowa (5 p.m. ET, The CW, ESPN Unlimited, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), Smith will run a 2017 Pilot throwback scheme from Annett’s first campaign with JRM. "We saw it through his ARCA career that [Smith] has everything it takes," Annett said in a 2022 conversation. When Annett retired on his own terms following the 2021 season, he remained in Smith's corner. Despite Smith beginning his O'Reilly tenure with Joe Gibbs Racing, Annett reached out to Allgaier to provide the newbie with pointers. "[Annett] was always there if I needed to call him," Smith said. "I would say in 2022, when I started making my first couple of starts and he also helped me connect with a lot of veterans that he might have an answer for, but maybe someone he thought could give a better perspective on it. I think that was special not only for him to go out and talk to other people and say, 'Hey, do you have time to talk to Sammy?' " Annett died on December 2, 2025. He was 39 years old. MORE: Iowa weekend schedule | First look at Smith's Pilot throwback scheme Annett's impact was felt around the racing world. Smith has honored him throughout the 2026 season, with a four-leaf clover adorned on his gloves, helmet and No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. The throwback scheme, to Smith, will help continue to pay homage to the icon. "A lot of people probably expected us to do something at Darlington or something like that, but I didn't want to do that because it's not that special," Smith said. "I wanted to try to do something with Iowa. That's where I'm from, and he's from. Luckily, Pilot was very appreciative and fortunate to do something not current and going back to their past colors. "I've got a helmet and a suit, just like him, and everything was going to be just like he was in 2017." [caption id="attachment_520695" align="alignnone" width="1300"]Meg Oliphant | Getty Images[/caption] While Annett will be remembered at Iowa, ample stories have been shared in the eight months since his passing. Each one honors his life and legacy. "[Michael] cared about a lot of people, was an awesome teammate to all of his teammates at JRM," Mike Bumgarner, director of competition at JRM and Annett's crew chief for his retirement tour in 2021, said. "I think that's what I always missed about Michael when he stopped racing was just the person that he is. A lot of guys, over the years, have stayed in contact and he made a few appearances at the race track. There was always a laugh, always a smile -- that's what made Michael special." "One of the things I will give him credit for, I don't think folks that watch the sport of NASCAR realize the effort, time, energy, giving-ness," Allgaier said. "Outside of the race track -- his love for people and crew -- he was probably the best example of how to take care of your team of anybody that I've been around." But that compassion went beyond the race track. It was simply who Annett was. "He was always super happy going, very easy to talk to," Smith said. "He would be the first person to do something for anybody, really. If someone needed something done, he would be there for you. He was always happy, easygoing and super positive." Gaining that admiration from his competitors was all that mattered for Annett. "I'm going out with a smile on my face," he said a few weeks before retiring from full-time competition. "I don't necessarily look at results; I look at gauge of respect from your peers, the guys that work with you. That's what matters the most to me, and I think I've earned that."