ON THE TRACKS Saturday’s auto racing roundup

Michael Annett wins Xfinity Series opener

Michael Annett stretched the Speedweeks streak of first-time winners to three with a victory Saturday in the Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway.

Annett won for the first time at NASCAR’s national level, a career that spans 345 races in three series. He gave JR Motorsports, owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., his sister and sister and Rick Hendrick, its fourth in five years at Daytona

“A lot of people have been down on Michael Annett for a while now,” Earnhardt said.

He likened Annett’s opportunity driving the No. 1 Chevrolet for JRM, a competitive Xfinity Series team, to when the late Dale Earnhardt gave Michael Waltrip a ride in 2001. It was Waltrip’s first ride in a car capable of winning and he ended an 462-losing streak by winning the Daytona 500 in his debut race for Dale Earnhardt Inc.

“It reminds me of an Earnhardt giving a Michael a chance years ago to show his potential,” Earnhardt Jr. said about Annett’s victory.

Annett followed Austin Hill, winner of the Truck Series opener, and Harrison Burton, winner of the ARCA opener, as first-time winners this week. The Daytona 500 is Sunday.

Allgaier finished second for a 1-2 Chevrolet finish but didn’t have an opportunity to pass Annett for the lead. The racing was largely single-file and strung out, the opposite of Friday night’s crash-marred Truck Series race.

Sam Bass, NASCAR’s artist, dies at 57

Sam Bass, a NASCAR artist who helped design paint schemes and program covers that illuminated an entire sport, has died. He was 57.

His wife, Denise, announced his death Saturday with a note on his official Twitter account. Bass suffered from kidney problems. Other details were not disclosed.

Bass was NASCAR’s first officially licensed artist. His work enlivened some of the racing’s top stars and marquee events. His NASCAR Cup Series background included paint scheme designs for drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart and others.

Born in Hopewell, Virginia, Bass became interested in racing at Southside Speedway in Richmond. After moving to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1984, he was commissioned to do the race program cover art for the 1985 Coca-Cola 600. He’s done every cover for Charlotte Motor Speedway since.

NASCAR said in a statement that “though he may have never turned a lap or a wrench, few captured the essence of our sport through his work more than Sam Bass.”

“He was a consistent presence in the NASCAR garage, and his ever-present smile and endearing personality welcomed all,” the racing series added. “Though we have lost a member of the NASCAR family, his legend will continue in his art — all of which illustrated the greatness of our sport and the talent of a true friend.”

Austin Hill earns Truck Series victory

Austin Hill blocked his way to his first career Truck Series victory in a crash-marred season-opener Friday night at Daytona International Speedway.

With only nine of the 32 trucks still running in the second overtime, Hill had to block Grant Enfinger for most of the final lap. He needed a last big, bold maneuver to hold off Enfinger as they rushed toward the checkered flag.

Hill won for Hattori Racing and solidified the team’s decision to release reigning series champion Brett Moffitt a month after Moffitt won the title. Hattori Racing struggled all last season with funding, but Moffitt won the final two races of the year to give the underdog team an unexpected championship.

Team owner Shige Hattori released Moffitt and signed Hill, who had some financial backing, in early January. The 24-year-old won for the first time in 52 career Truck Series starts and Hattori has won three straight dating to last season.

Enfinger finished second and Ross Chastain was third, followed by Spencer Boyd and Matt Crafton. Angela Ruch, the niece of 1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope, finished eighth. She and Natalie Decker both made the Truck Series opener and are the only two women racing at NASCAR’s national level on opening weekend.

Associated Press