NASCAR on Friday announced it has placed Nationwide Series driver Michael Annett on probation for the entire year as a result of his drunk driving arrest early Sunday morning in Mooresville, N.C.
According to a NASCAR release, in addition to steps already undertaken by Annett’s team, Rusty Wallace Inc., Annett will be evaluated by a certified substance abuse professional at NASCAR’s discretion and will be subject to random alcohol and drug testing.
Annett was charged with DUI, failure to reduce speed, texting while driving and resisting an officer last week. The car he was driving rear-ended another car, which was stopped at a traffic light.
According to the police report, Annett had a blood-alcohol level of .32 – four times the N.C. legal limit of .08.
In the past, NASCAR has placed drivers involved in such incidents on probation. In 2009, NASCAR forced driver AJ Allmendinger to take a breathalyzer test before allowing him on the track following a DUI arrest.
Annett’s team said it was instituting several sanctions of its own, including a zero-tolerance alcohol policy, completion of a comprehensive alcohol awareness program and a yearlong community service program.
Annett’s first court date is March 18 in Iredell County, N.C.
