Dover II: Michael Annett race report

Michael Annett Finishes 15th after Qualifying 11th at the Monster Mile

Dover, Del. (September 27, 2010) -- Michael Annett jump started his weekend at Dover International Speedway by securing an 11th place starting position for Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series Dover 200. Looking to earn another respectable finish to add to his 19th, 15th and 13th place finishes in his three previous starts at Dover International Speedway, Annett and his team began Saturday's 200 lap race with confidence from their 11th place starting position.

With 70 laps of caution-free racing, Annett battled a race car that was loose in the turns and tight off before the first yellow flag came out on lap 70. To help alleviate the cars handling condition, crew chief Ryan Fugle called for four tires, fuel, track bar and air pressure adjustments on the No. 15 Germain.com Toyota Camry's first visit to pit road. Annett was clocked in to start 12th, but was forced to fall back to the end of the longest line for a pit road speeding penalty which positioned him 15th for the restart.

The second caution was called on lap 112, and Annett reported that his Toyota Camry was still loose on entry and that the tight condition on exit had slightly improved. Coming to pit road for four sticker tires, fuel, wedge and air pressure adjustments, he restarted 14th with 83 laps to go.

The Dover 200 was red flagged on lap 134 for a hard crash that produced large amounts of fluid and debris on the track. Opting to improve track position, Fugle made the call for two tires and fuel with a major air pressure adjustment to improve on developing front end handling conditions. The No. 15 pit crew gained six positions on pit road, moving Annett to seventh for the restart on lap 141.

Annett was hoping for a long green flag run to improve on the car's ill handling front end, when another caution came out on lap 160. At the beginning of a run, Annett reported that the car felt like it was running on ice, but those conditions improved as the run continued. Returning to pit road for one last stop, Annett returned to the field to restart 13th. With no yield to his front end issue, the second year Germain Racing driver drove through the checkered flag 15th.

Next week Annett will make his 65th career Nationwide Series start in the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway.

-source: michael annett PR