Annett Finishes 26th at Phoenix
Date: February 10, 2014
AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 10, 2014) - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Michael Annett finished 26th, despite breaking a drive flange with six laps to go in Sunday's race at Phoenix International Raceway.
After starting 30th, Annett passed his way to 27th in time for the first caution-flag pit stop of the day on lap 32. Crew chief Kevin "Bono" Manion elected to make tire pressure adjustments in addition to the usual tires and fuel. On the ensuing green-flag run, Annett found a comfortable line around the track and passed one more car to place himself in the 26th-place running spot.
Over the course of the next 100-lap stretch, Annett pitted two times -- once as the leader during the pit cycle -- as his Tommy Baldwin Racing crew took care of a tight handling condition, emanating from chatter in the front tires. The tight condition continued beyond that as Annett indicated on lap 159 that his Accell Construction Chevrolet SS got tight when he pressed the throttle on the turns' exits. Eventually this condition subsided with tire wear and Annett was able to maintain his running position.
Running 26th on lap 202, Annett pitted for a round of tires, fuel and adjustments. Shortly thereafter, he turned his quickest lap to that point in the race and radioed that his car was the most comfortable it had been when entering turns. The fast laps continued -- he eventually turned his fastest lap of the race on lap 260 and passed his way to the 24th-place position -- until he felt something break with six laps to go.
He nursed the car with what was later diagnosed as a broken drive flange to a 26th-place finish.
MICHAEL ANNETT QUOTE:
"That broken drive flange cost us about two positions there at the end, but overall I thought it was good effort all weekend from the TBR guys. It was an improvement over when we were here back in March, so I take it as a sign of progress. We're continuing to head in the right direction as a team."
NEXT RACE:
Annett and the No. 7 Tommy Baldwin Racing team will conclude the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season next weekend at Homestead Miami Speedway. That race will air live Sunday, Nov. 19 at 3:15 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.
To Learn More About Michael Annett Please visit: www.michaelannett.com
Follow Michael on Twitter: @michaelannett
ABOUT TOMMY BALDWIN RACING:
Founded in 2009, Tommy Baldwin Racing is a NASCAR organization that fields two full-time Chevrolet teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Baldwin, a native of Long Island, New York, is a Daytona 500-winning crew chief going into his sixth season as a full-time Cup Series car owner.
For more information on Tommy Baldwin Racing, please visit them on Facebook,Twitter or their website.
ABOUT ACCELL CONSTRUCTION:
Accell Construction, Inc. operates as a full service site civil contractor for the petroleum terminal and bulk storage industries and specializes in tank farm construction, tank foundations and other related site civil construction. Accell Construction's clients know they can expect excellent safety, reliability and top-notch job performance. Accell, whose projects are always in budget and completed early, enjoys a 20-year reputation that is second to none.
Oklahoma based Accell Construction operates civil construction projects in numerous states across the U.S. and has constructed some of the largest petroleum storage facilities built in the U.S. in the last 15 years.
Accell benefits from a team of employees who bring decades of civil experience. The Accell team, many of whom have been with the company since inception, is committed to excellence and safety. All field personnel are also required to be TWIC certified. Accell has a well-known reputation in the petroleum storage industry for performing the highest quality work-always in an expedient, but safe manner.