Michael Annett, the former NASCAR driver, died at the age 39, on December 5. The cause of death has not been disclosed to the public. He had only retired from racing four years ago.
NASCAR, for whom Annett made 436 combined starts across the series' three national touring divisions, released a statement mourning the loss, describing him as a "respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage."
Annett’s career highlight was winning the series' season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in 2019.
Indeed, the life of an athlete can be fast and furious. They typically start young and quickly prove themselves at a national, and even international, level. While sometimes this leads to fame and an impressive career, unfortunately not all athletes make it that far.
Many athletes who have shown immense dedication to their sport have had their lives fatefully cut short. Click through this gallery to discover other sports stars who died too young.