Michael Annett hopes good finish in Pennsylvania with his new TMC Racing team transfers over to the I-70 (MO) Speedway this weekend!

By Rising Star Driver Development/M.P.H. Promotions

Des Moines, Iowa (09/19/2006):

With the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division Presented by GM Performance Parts taking a couple of weekends off before the big North VS South All-Star Shootout/World Cup 200 on Saturday and Sunday, September 23-24, 2006 at the I-70 (MO) Speedway, Michael Annett hasn't been resting by any means.

Despite the cancellation of the ASALMS North event at the Jennerstown (PA) Speedway on Saturday September 16, 2006, Annett and the new TMC Racing crew made their way over to the .522 mile semi-banked paved oval anyway to run in the Laurel Highlands weekly Super Late Models division on Benson International’s Night of Champions!

Benson International was the title sponsor of Jennerstown's Night of Champions as their 2006 track champions were crowned on this night. "I know we at Benson were very appreciative of the all the effort that Rising Star put into this event, for me it was a great day for everyone involved," Randy Scott, Benson International’s Northeast Region Dump Body Product Specialist stated.

" It was a great opportunity for us to thank all of our wonderful customers and it made it special. Michael performed great and did well for his first time in a new car," Scott added. "We knew Michael and the new TMC Racing team made a giant effort to make it out for the Jennerstown event and it was great to see him run here."

" I was real excited because you could see the new TMC Racing team has a real focus for Michael and the goals he has set for the rest of this year," ended Scott. Running a brand new TMC Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Annett started 15th in the field and worked his way through the pack en route to a solid sixth place showing!

" It was great to have the people from Benson International at the race. The hospitality we did with them was a lot of fun and it gave me a chance to talk to some of the employees and customers of Benson International," stated Annett.

Everything about race day in Jennerstown, Pennsylvania wasn't the norm for Annett who runs primarily in the ASALMS Northern Division. "It was a change for me to run a heat race, but it was also a lot of fun to try some different things before the feature," continued the Hawkeye State freshman.

Another factor was that the Feature was a 40-lap affair, Annett is used to running 100-lap Feature events in the ASALMS, so that was something else to get used too and he knew that time wasn't going to be his friend in the Feature.

" Right from the green flag I knew that the car was going to work well on the top. I was able to get a lot of bite off the corners and pass cars that were protecting the bottom," stated Annett.
The 20-year-old didn't have as much time as he's accustomed to in the relatively short 40-lap Feature, but he still came home with a solid sixth place finish. "I thought it was pretty good since it was our first night out with the new car," he added.

" I really enjoyed having the Benson people at the race. They are a great group of people to be involved with and I am proud to have their name on our car," Annett remarked.

Now Annett and the crew turn their attention to one of the biggest events of the 2006 season and back at the track where Annett's ASALMS Northern Division career started; the wicked fast high-banked of the I-70 (MO) Speedway in Odessa, Missouri on Saturday and Sunday September 23-24, 2006.

The ASALMS Northern and Southern Divisions will go head to head in the running of the North VS South Shootout/World Cup 200. The 11th race of the 2006 season for the ASALMS Northern Division and the first ever combined event with the North's companions in the ASALMS Southern Division.

Annett's first ever appearance in the ASALMS Northern Division resulted in a strong fourth place showing in the Missouri 100 Presented by Midwest Diesel Performance in the North's inaugural event at I-70 on May 6, 2006. "We're going to I-70 next! I can't wait! I had a good run there in May, so I hope we can turn our luck around in the ASALMS North and get a good finish," ended Annett.

So far in his first season of ASALMS Northern Division competition, The Hawkeye State driver has recorded three Top Five finishes with two of those being runner-up showings. His first podium finish came back on July 14, 2006 at the Motordrome (PA) Speedway during the NAPA Auto Parts 100.
The Des Moines, Iowa freshman still sits third in the chase for the Appleton Rack and Pinions Rookie of the Year title and is seventh overall behind brothers; Derek and Nick Neville in the freshman title chase. Annett stands 104 points out of the Rookie Points lead as well as an overall Top Five in the season long points chase.

This is Annett's first season behind the wheel of a race car! Prior to beginning his racing career this year, Annett was an accomplished Minor League Hockey Player. Annett began his hockey career at six years old and retired at the end of the 2004-2005 season after completing the season with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League (USHL).

In his last two seasons of his hockey career, the now 20-year-old Annett played on two Clark Cup Championship teams for Waterloo. Prior to his career in Waterloo, Annett played for Team Illinois that won the 2002 Calgary Mac's AAA Hockey Tournament.

In addition to Annett's chase for the Appleton Rack and Pinions Rookie of the Year title in the ASALMS Northern Division, Annett will also be running a select schedule at the South Boston (VA) Speedway in a car provided by Barry Beggarly in the tracks NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series.
For the remainder of the 2006 season, Annett will carry sponsorship on the side of his Ford Fusion from; TMC Transportation as well as Benson International, Allstate Peterbilt Group, Rising Star Driver Development, Pilot Travel Centers, Northland Motor Oil and Lubricants and ASI Adhesive Systems.
To learn more about Michael Annett, log onto to his website at www.michaelannett.com.

About RSDD
Rising Star Driver Development™ was formed to create the most highly trained, marketable and successful race car drivers in the USA and around the world. Their innovative program offers amateur and professional drivers the sort of one-stop comprehensive training and marketing resource that is sure to increase their likelihood of winning on the track. The drivers are hand selected and provided dedicated resources to elevate their status among sponsors, fans and teams – ultimately enabling their transition to the highest ranks of professional racing. The founders have over 40 years of experience in motorsports and sports marketing.

About TMC
The largest privately-held provider of open-freight transportation in the U.S, TMC was founded in 1972 and provides expert transportation service and supply-chain management solutions throughout the 48 contiguous states. TMC is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, and is known for its integrity, innovation, superior safety record and unwavering dedication to quality and customer service. TMC’s claim-free, on-time delivery record is the best in the business and is consistently recognized by its customers.

About Benson International
Benson International is a manufacturer of class 6, 7, & 8 specialty trailers and bodies that has served the transportation industry for over 40 years with four locations in Mineral Wells, W.Va.; Cadiz, Ky.; Meyersdale, Pa. and Oneida, Tenn. For more information contact Benson International at 877-489-9020, or visit www.bensonintl.com

About Allstate Peterbilt Group
W.D. Larson Companies LTD., Inc., owner of Allstate Peterbilt Group, was established in 1971 and has grown into the second largest Peterbilt dealership group in North America. With dealership locations in Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Ohio, we are committed to providing the very best in sales, leasing, financing, service and parts support to our customers. We provide a wide range of medium and heavy-duty trucks, trailers and accessories to a diverse customer base.

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