Michael Annett Zippo 200 Race Preview

Annett has three career starts in the Nationwide Series at Watkins Glen

Annett enters this weekend’s event in sixth-place in the Nationwide point standings

Annett’s fourth-place finish last weekend marked his fourth top-five in the last six races

Michael Annett on Going to Watkins Glen: “The Glen is a fast road course and I enjoy racing there. I haven’t had the best results in the past, but I’m looking to turn that around this weekend and come home with a good solid finish at the end of the day on Saturday. My Pilot Flying J crew has done a great job giving me fast race cars the last month, and I know they have prepared another great car for me this weekend. There is talk about possible rain showers on Friday, so that might throw a kink into our strategy if we have to bring the rain tires out. We’ve had a streak of top-5 finishes the last month, and I’m hopeful we can continue that success this weekend in Watkins Glen”

Crew Chief Philippe Lopez’s Thoughts on Watkins Glen: “Watkins Glen for the most part is a typical road course, however it is extremely fast. The forward bite issues that are usually associated with other road courses won’t happen at Watkins Glen. It will be all about stability and braking. The biggest challenge we will face this weekend is the possibility of rain. There is a 60 percent chance of rain on Friday and that’s going to lead to some precarious practice conditions. Since the Nationwide Series can run on rain tires, we will have to do some evaluating. If it rains on Friday and looks like it is going to be dry on Saturday it doesn’t make sense to practice in those conditions if that’s not what we are going to race in. This weekend is going to be all about monitoring the weather and making decisions based on the radar.

“Watkins Glen is a two-stop race, everyone is going to have to come into the pits at least twice for fuel. If we are coming in for fuel, then we are going to get four tires. The driver that can come in first is going to be the driver that is rewarded if a caution comes out. Fuel mileage will pay off this weekend, not to eliminate a stop, but for track position. I think our Pilot Flying J team can finish top-10 in this weekend’s race, but we’ve got a lot of hard work ahead of us. This race track is completely different than the oval tracks we have been doing so well at as of late.”

Chassis History: The No. 43 RPM NASCAR Nationwide Series team has prepared chassis No. 597 for the 82-lap race in Watkins Glen. This Pilot Flying J Ford Mustang was run previously this season at Road America.

Notes: Annett has three NASCAR Nationwide Series starts at Watkins Glen. His best finish (19th) came in both 2010 and 2011 and his best start started (24th) came in 2010 at the 2.4-mile road course. Annett heads to Watkins Glen in the sixth position in the NASCAR Nationwide Series driver point standings. The Iowa native has completed 247 of 249 laps attempted at the track. His average start is 28.7 and his average finish is 19.3.

Don’t miss your chance to see Annett this weekend at “The Glen”. Michael will be visiting the SPEED stage for Trackside Live on Friday. Come out and watch him live or tune into SPEED at 6:30 p.m. ET to listen to him talk about his racing season to-date, as well as play some games and talk trivia with the hosts.