Pilot Flying J not returning to JR Motorsports for 2022

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

    Pilot Flying J, a chain of North American truck stops recently revealed that they will not return to JR Motorsports in 2022, following the retirement of Michael Annett. The No. 1 car which was piloted by Michael Annett for several seasons will be piloted by rookie driver Sam Mayer in 2022, and as their driver of choice departs from the team, Pilot Flying J will also say they’re goodbyes.

Pilot Flying J first entered the sport in 2008 when Michael Annett began a part-time run in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 22 for Bill Davis Racing. Since then the company has been a loyal sponsor following Annett through all aspects of his career, including a three-year attempt at the NASCAR Cup Series (2014-2016).

Although Annett’s career has not been incredibly competitive, he has brought many decent finishes for the Knoxville, Tennessee based company. During arguably his most competitive years in the sport, competing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Annett scored a whopping 95 top-10 finishes, 19 top-five finishes, and a lone victory. The one victory happens to be the only victory Annett ever scored in NASCAR’s top-three series. During the 2019 “Daytona” 500, Annett came out victorious for the first, and last time in his NASCAR career, making Pilot Flying J victorious as well. For one final time in 2021, Pilot Flying J won a race, once again in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. At Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the first race of the Xfinity Series Playoffs, Josh Berry would wheel the Pilot Flying J No. 1 Camaro to a victory as he filled in for the (frequently) re-inured Michael Annett.

As a middle aged Michael Annett moves on to new ventures outside of NASCAR, teenage Sam Mayer will take his place. Now it is confirmed that Mayer will not have Pilot Flying J as a sponsor in 2022, although Tire Pros, and other sponsors are expected to be onboard the No. 1 team this upcoming season. More sponsorship information for Sam Mayer will be revealed in the coming weeks and months. Follow Stock Car Media as well cover all sorts of NASCAR news including news that concerns Sam Mayer, JR Motorsports, and sometimes even retired drivers like Michael Annett.

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