Michael Annett’s DUI Arrest Highlights ‘Daddy’s Cash’ Drivers

February 9, 2011 15 Comments »

Okay folks, time for multiple choice.

You get to ride shotgun with one of two people.

A) Randy LaJoie driving a golf cart around after sucking on a doobie.

or…

B) Michael Annett doing his best Mel Tillis/Terry Bradshaw “Cannonball Run” impersonation (6:37 mark).

If too many Michael Annetts are part of NASCAR’s future, the sport may be in some trouble. Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images for NASCAR

Say all you want about banned substances, but Nationwide driver Annett’s DUI offense early Sunday morning was much worse than two-time Nationwide champ-turned-broadcaster LaJoie accepting a joint while shuttling patrons around at last year’s Coca-Cola 600. Alcohol is a regulated substance, which means when used improperly it becomes just as illegal as Mary Jane.

Let’s consider for a moment Annett’s judgment. I just plugged his weight, 165, into www.bloodalcoholcalculator.org. Gang, let’s say he was drinking for eight hours. If he downed 26 LIGHT beers over that time period, his blood-alcohol level would have been 0.313.

Annett blew a 0.32.

If he had killed somebody on Long Island, where I live, he’d probably get second degree murder for such depraved indifference. LaJoie had, by all accounts, a momentary lapse of judgment.

LaJoie was suspended for just a hair more than two months while completing a mandated treatment program. If Annett gets anything less from NASCAR it’ll be a travesty. This is one time I’m glad Daytona Beach is as totalitarian as Cairo. No matter what the substance abuse policy says, at .32 they can park him under “conduct detrimental to NASCAR.” BALs between .35 and .40 can be fatal, so NASCAR can likely suspend him indefinitely and win any Jeremy Mayfield-esque court appeal by saying they’re acting in the driver’s best interest.

But the only thing more offensive than Annett’s conduct is Rusty Wallace’s. The former champ quickly announced a punishment for Annett that must have been inspired by Nicole Ritchie’s 82-minute stint in the clink. No suspension? Community service?

It’s not surprising, since Rusty’s been running a “bring Daddy’s cash, you’re allowed to crash” operation at his shop. Exit Brendan Gaughan and his pop’s casino, enter Annett and his father’s trucking company. Rusty’s not allowed to really discipline anybody. And let’s not even start about Rusty’s son Steve.

You know what, let’s do. There’s been a lot of kid gloves treatment of Steve out of deference to his dad. But Bob Dillner couldn’t ignore reality when he said on Tuesday’s “NASCAR Race Hub” that whispers are growing about Rusty buying Steve a spot in the Daytona 500 when the youngster is clearly out of his league.

The volume of undeserving drivers that have a ride robs the sport of credibility. And the increase of entitlement all but guarantees the kind of off-track issues that have permeated other sports. NASCAR’s days of drivers appreciating what they have because of their tough paths are certainly declining.

Even recent Sprint Cup castoffs like Scott Speed, whose stock car career was largely fueled by his painted toe nails, and Elliott Sadler, whose most successful performance driving a vehicle in recent years happened helping Blake Shelton escape prison in the “Ol’ Red” video, have much more to offer than some of the prospects coming up.

If NASCAR is worried about its next generation, it has every right.

  • Kim

    Thank you. This needed to be said. Big Time.

  • John Delby

    Amen! Let’s blow a drunker-than-drunk, but by all means still play in this Big Weekend. I mean let’s face it, picking up trash on the side of the road will erase any negatives in a heartbeat. And let’s go to local high schools to talk about the dangers of drinking whilst one blew one out of the park. Didn’t anyone learn from WaltripGate or WimmerWhimper? Driving under the influence is WRONG any dam time, but a professional racer!? Gezzuzchrist. Thought he had the world by the balls before last Sad-dey night, huh? Make mistakes? Everyone does. Sometimes as big as this one. Tiger Mom would say he would be banned for life and banished to playing the flute for 8 hours a day for 30 years. RWI says a few little litter duties will do then ‘tighten en belts…boggity boogity boogity!…I saw his punishment lies somewhere in between. Let him miss Daytona and about 3-6 months more for his indiscretions. If he is a racer that will be harsh punishment. RWI can put Scott Speed or Ken Schraeder or Mike Skinner or a host of unemployed NASCAR drivers in there for a while instead of whacking Annett on the wrist.

    Awe but Mo-ney (the big (MO) is the life blood of the sport and RWI needs Annetts’ MO! And for that most crimes are dismissed.

  • Andy Denardi

    NASCAR is lucky not to have another situation like Robby Moroso’s. The sport is sagging enough as it is.

    They can’t uphold a strict drug policy and ignore DUI charges even though the chairman is more than familiar with those. Given that he was FOUR times over the limit, I’d put him on a two year suspension. Effective immediately.

    Rusty’s from St. Louis; big beer town. He’s been courting the brewers for sponsorship from some time now, and wouldn’t want to upset the applecart.

  • maynard sheaff

    You sir are a whiny New Yorker out of your league.I guess you’ve been watching Nascar for a year or two and think you know it all[most New Yorkers do]I do think Anett screwed up,but the RULEBOOK doesn’t say you have to have a current state drivers license.The RULEBOOK does say you can’t smoke pot.As for little Wallace being out of his league,I gotta feelin your gonna eat your words on Feb.20

  • http://J-ski Garry

    I had more then my share of cold beer but a .32 !! Maybe should be shown what happened to Rob Moroso. He paid the price. The kid needs to be in a rehab blowing numbers like that.

  • Matt

    Someone from the media FINALLY says what we’ve all been thinking all along.

    If Annett DOES get suspended, $5 says Rusty replaces him with John Wes Townley.

  • ed larrivee

    nascar should put annette out of action for at lease 3 months and rusty should agree. as for rusty son in the 500 at least we will have the big one.

  • madhat

    Thank you for finally telling it like it is. All week I have listen as people in the media have tried to spin this story in the best light and have yet to hear one of them be honest and tell it like it is. If I hear one more time that Micheal is a “great kid” and “he learned his lesson,” or was “momentary lapse in judgement” one more time I’m am going to puke. Really, a great kid, why? Because he drives in Nascar and everybody in Nascar is great. You would think that out of the hundreds of drivers, owners, crew chiefs, etc that there would be at least one jerk in the bunch, but I don’t think I have ever heard a negative word about anything or anybody connected with Nascar. At least the European media who cover F1 will call out guys once in a while and call a spade a spade, but not Nascar’s media. What this spoil kid did was criminal. He didnt forget to return a library book. What he did could have killed someone. Also, why does every guy in the media have to use the excuse “well I’m not a lawyer or your not guilty untill your convicted” nonsence, the guy admitted to what he did. If Nascar turns a blind eye and gives him probation (which is a joke) then those Beer sponsers really do have Brian France by the balls.

  • Jonathan

    All I have to say is why! WHY! WHHHHHHHHHY!!!!!

    Why do people with money drive drunk????? Why whats the point….. I make less than 30,000 a year and when I drink I make sure I dont drive and dont drive w someone whos been drinking! Its simple….

    He must have no common sense at all cause if I was a Nascar driver A.) when I drank I would make sure I have a limo or a cab or a sober friend who drives me around… B.) I would NEVER EVER drink and drive cause the little voice in my head would say he this can ruin your image and career!!!! SIMPLE!!!

    My point is this he should be banned from Nascar for a year…. let this idiot sit and think about what he has done and how stupid he is…. If you have money why in the world would you ever drive drunk???????? Dont you think his date in the passenger seat would be more impressed with a limo driving them around?

    DONT DRINK AND DRIVE PEOPLE WTF!!!!! Im an avid Nascar fan and I hope he looses his ride cause he proved to me that he is one dumb kid who shouldnt be driving in Nascar!!!!! Grow up boy! I love to party and get wasted but I dont care I will never drink and drive

  • headstone

    steven wallace getting a spot in the daytona 500 cause his daddy bought it is just one more way money has help ruin the sport. steven does not belong in a race car the boy simply cannot drive. rusty should be charged with child neglect for putting his son in a race car

  • sunfighter

    I only hope that Rusty doesn’t have to face what Kyle Petty faced years ago. To this day, I’m sure that Kyle regrets letting Adam get pushed into the big leagues just so nascar could have another generation of Petty’s. Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself.
    As for Annett, grow up boy. you did the dirty, stupid deed, now, someone, please forget them dollars for once and make the punishment fit.

  • Donn C. Irving

    Strict appliance of rules by NASCAR is a good thing. It protects the integrity of the organization and its participants. Also, it remains accountable the fans, the media and the advertisers.

  • admin

    Thanks for all the comments, folks, and thanks for mentioning Rob Moroso, something I was greatly remiss in omitting. A promising but entitled driver died in a traffic accident involving his own alcohol use more than 20 years ago, so this isn’t unheard of.

    • ElBobbo

      Lets not forget that Moroso was not the only fatality that night, Moroso, being the self centered jerk that he was killed a woman that had nothing to do with him, wrong place wrong time.

  • jeepr

    Could’nt agree more…. Young Steve belongs in the same class as other team owner sons, like Joe Gibbs two sons, the late Ricky Hendrick and other yellow flag causers, like all Sauters (except Jim) and Steve Park.