“Always Riding With Us”: JR Motorsports Honors Michael Annett with Emotional Garage Tribute

In NASCAR, the roar of engines rarely leaves room for silence. Yet inside the JR Motorsports (JRM) garage this week, a deep, meaningful quiet hangs in the air—one that speaks of grief, gratitude, and the legacy of a teammate gone too soon.

Michael Annett, the former driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet and a beloved part of JRM from 2017 to 2021, passed away unexpectedly, leaving the organization and its fans in shock. Now, the team he once called family has created a powerful tribute to ensure his presence remains felt every single race weekend.

A Garage Stall Left Empty — “This One’s for Mike”

For the rest of the season, JRM has decided that one particular stall in their garage will remain intentionally empty.
This is the home of the former No. 1 team—Annett’s space.

No backup car will roll inside.
No toolboxes will be parked there.
No crew will set up shop.

Instead, the empty stall serves as a silent memorial, a reminder of the void Annett leaves behind and a symbol that his place in the JRM family is eternal.

“Michael was the definition of a teammate,” JRM said in an official statement. “Leaving this stall empty is our way of saying: as long as we’re racing, he is still here with us.”

The Firesuit That Still Watches Over the Team

Above the garage floor, where mechanics grind through long hours and drivers walk from hauler to pit road, hangs a striking tribute:
Michael Annett’s Pilot Flying J firesuit, mounted proudly on the memorial wall.

It’s not just any firesuit.
It is the firesuit—
the one Annett wore during his unforgettable 2019 Daytona victory, the biggest win of his career.

Displayed facing outward toward the racetrack, the suit creates the powerful illusion that “Diesel Mike” is still on the pit box, still keeping watch, still cheering on his teammates as they chase checkered flags in his honor.

Crew members have reported pausing beneath the display before heading to work each morning—a moment of reflection, respect, and quiet motivation.

A Team Culture Forever Shaped by “Diesel Mike”

Michael Annett wasn’t a loud presence in the garage; he was a steady one.
Hard-working. Level-headed. Loyal.
That was the man behind the wheel of the No. 1.

His consistency, humility, and heart were woven into the fabric of JR Motorsports long before this tragedy—and now, those qualities feel even more permanent.

For the rest of the season, every driver and crew member walking past that empty stall is confronted with a message that needs no words:

Cars may change. Seasons may end.
But the impact of a true teammate never fades.

Racing for More Than a Trophy

As JRM competes through the remainder of the year, their motivation has taken on new meaning. Racing isn’t just about standings, strategy, or speed. This season is about honoring a man who left behind far more than race results.

Every lap turned.
Every pit stop completed.
Every finish celebrated.

All of it carries a little more weight now.

They’re not just racing for points.
They’re racing for Michael.

And for those who knew him—or simply admired him from the stands—this tribute stands as a beautiful reminder:

Heroes aren’t always the ones in Victory Lane.
Sometimes, they’re the ones who made their teams better simply by being there.