Michael Annett prepares to head out to the Jennerstown (PA) Speedway on Benson International Championship Night in the Laurel Highlands.
By Rising Star Driver Development/M.P.H. Promotions

Des Moines, Iowa (09/14/2006): Des Moines, Iowa rookie competitor, Michael Annett is heading East this weekend with a road trip to the beautiful Jennerstown (PA) Speedway in Jennerstown, Pennsylvania.

Despite the cancellation of the ASA Late Model Series Northern Division event at the Laurel Highlands oval in Western Pennsylvania on Saturday September 16, 2006, Annett and crew are still heading over to the .522 mile semi-banked paved oval to run in the tracks weekly super late model division.

Annett will be making the long haul East on Benson International Championship Night at the .522 mile semi-banked paved oval. The 2006 track champions will be crowned on Annett's sponsors' night at the races.

"We're extremely proud to be able to partner with the Jennerstown Speedway, Rising Star Driver Development and the TMC car driven by Michael Annett.  This race offers us a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate the craftsmanship Benson has come to be known for and our status as the leader in quality and excellence," said Melissa Moss, Director of Marketing for Benson International.

Kurt Smith, a founder of RSDD, is thrilled to have Benson International as a sponsor for their drivers.  "Benson International has been a strong partner for us and having a strong, supportive sponsor is what the motor sports industry is all about," Smith stated.

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, West Virginia, Cadiz, Kentucky, Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, and Oneida, Tennessee.

For more information, please call Benson International at; 1 (877) 489-9020, or visit them on the web at; www.bensonintl.com
 
Then after the Jennerstown show, the next event on the schedule for Annett and his Rising Star Driver Development program will be in Annett's primary focus in 2006; The ASA Late Model Series Northern Division, where he is a contender for the Appleton Rack and Pinions Rookie of the Year title.

Annett will be back at the track where his ASALMS 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.

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 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.