NASCAR driver was drunk 4 times over
NASCAR driver Michael Annett has been charged with driving while impaired, texting while driving and resisting an officer after he ran into another car in Mooresville early Sunday.
According to a police report, Annett – who drives for Rusty Wallace Inc. in NASCAR's second-tier Nationwide Series – rear-ended a car stopped at a red light at the intersection of N.C. 150 and Williamson Road about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. No injuries were reported.
Mooresville Police Capt. Phil Blocker said Annett, 24, told police he was texting as he drove, and that's what caused the wreck. "He said when he looked up, he wasn't able to stop in time," Blocker said.
"On the cell phone" and "could not stop in time" are the same words used on a DMV crash report with Annett's name on it from July 2010 on the Brookshire Freeway near Graham Street in Charlotte. The report says Annett rear-ended a car, then that car rear-ended the car in front of it.
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02/08/11 According to a police report, Annett – who drives for Rusty Wallace Inc. in NASCAR's second-tier Nationwide Series – rear-ended a car stopped at a red light at the intersection of N.C. 150 and Williamson Road about 1:30 a.m. Sunday. No injuries were reported.
Mooresville Police Capt. Phil Blocker said Annett, 24, told police he was texting as he drove, and that's what caused the wreck. "He said when he looked up, he wasn't able to stop in time," Blocker said.
Mooresville Police Officer J.J. Sasso saw the accident and immediately checked on the occupants of both cars. In his report, Sasso said he saw Annett "shoving breath mints into his mouth as I approached the car."
The officer then requested that another officer administer a breath alcohol test on Annett. According to the report, Annett had an alcohol level of 0.32 – four times the N.C. legal limit of 0.08.
"That's a very dangerous level to attain," Blocker said.
02/07/11 Rusty Wallace Racing is aware of a traffic incident over the weekend involving Michael Annett, driver of our team's No. 62 car. We have been in contact with both the authorities and NASCAR and are finishing our internal investigation into the facts.
Rusty Wallace Racing does not condone, nor tolerate, substance abuse by any of its employees. In line with this, RWR is currently working with Michael to develop a package of sanctions which will address this issue. Among these will be successful completion of a comprehensive alcohol awareness program, a zero tolerance policy towards alcohol use, a year-long community service program and additional internal sanctions.
Stated Annett, "I am deeply remorseful for my actions and my extreme lack of judgment. I let down my team, my sponsors, my fans and my family; I sincerely apologize to everyone that I hurt. This was truly a life-changing moment for me. Despite all of the negativity that will undoubtedly arise from it, I'm going to strive to use this incident as the impetus to make a lot of positive changes in my life."