Indy ORP: Michael Annett preview

Michael Annett Primed for Short Track Racing at O'Reilly Raceway Park as Iowa Speedway Homecoming Nears

Indianapolis, Ind. (July 21, 2010) -- With his homecoming to Iowa Speedway just one week away, NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Michael Annett is gearing up for two consecutive weeks of short track racing. This week the Nationwide Series circuit will compete on O'Reilly Raceway Park's .686 mile oval before its second ever appearance on Iowa Speedway's .875 track.

Sitting just miles from historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway, O'Reilly Raceway Park will host the Nationwide Series Kroger 200 benefiting Riley Hospital for Children on Saturday, making it a two-in-a-row combination weekend for the Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series after both series competed at Gateway International Raceway last week.

Entering his 20th race of the 2010 season, Annett stands 13th in the Nationwide Series championship point standings with only 115 points separating him from the top-10. With one race before his return to his home track, Iowa Speedway, and a steady trio of respectable finishes (12th at Daytona International Speedway, 14th at Chicagoland Speedway, 11th at Gateway International Raceway), Annett hopes to tighten his gap between the top-10 point race with his run at O'Reilly Raceway Park on Saturday.

As this weekend's race falls third in a four week stretch of races in the Midwest, not only does Des Moines, Iowa native Annett enjoy visiting America's Heartland, but so does mechanic and front tire carrier of the No. 15 Germain.com Toyota Camry, Ben Runge, who hails from Crawfordsville, Indiana. Considering O'Reilly Raceway Park his home track on the Nationwide Series circuit, Runge, who has been working in motorsports for over 14 years, takes pride in being part of Germain Racing's No. 15 Germain.com team as they compete in the Hoosier State.

-source: germain racing