Pilot Flying J, which has been a major sponsor in NASCAR since 2008 when Michael Annett competed part time in the Camping World Truck Series, will not return to JR Motorsports for the 2022 season, a team spokesperson confirmed to Jayski.com.
In early October, Annett announced he would be retiring from full-time NASCAR competition following the 2021 Xfinity Series season. Most would assume Pilot Flying J, which has backed Annett for the majority of his career — even during a three-year Cup Series stint between 2014 and 2016 — would depart the team, as well.
The sponsor visited victory lane twice in its five-year tenure at JRM. Annett kicked off the 2019 season with a bang, winning the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Most recently, Josh Berry, who filled in for an injured Annett, was victorious with the Pilot Flying J colors at Las Vegas Motor Speedway to kick off the 2021 Xfinity Series playoffs.
Annett ended his full-time NASCAR career with the lone win at Daytona, contributing 18 additional top-five finishes in the Xfinity Series. He earned 95 top-10 finishes, including a career-high 22 in 2020, in 321 starts.
Sam Mayer will take over the No. 1 car for JRM in 2022. JRM confirmed his sponsors will be announced over the next couple of weeks.
