Former Waterloo Black Hawk and Des Moines native, Michael Annett, has a new ride in the Nationwide series thanks to Richard Petty Motorsports.

Annett was released from Rusty Wallace Incorporated earlier this month when they decided to not field any cars for the 2012 season.

Richard Petty Motorsports announced on Thursday that they will form a new Nationwide series team for 2012 with Annett driving the 43 Ford sponsored by his longtime partner, Pilot Flying J.  The team will be based out of RPM's Concord, North Carolina shop.

Annett has posted 13 top-10 finishes in 105 Nationwide Series starts and finished ninth in the Nationwide series points standings last season.

"They say that when one door closes, another door opens, and that is most definitely true," Annett said in a written statement. "We were left scrambling a bit because of the situation with RWI and were unsure what the future held, but I couldn't be happier with the way things have turned out. To have the chance to race for Richard Petty and to be under the RPM umbrella is amazing. It has all come together really quickly, but together with Pilot Flying J and Ford, this is the best opportunity I have ever had to race a Nationwide Series car. There's a lot to be done before we get to Daytona in a few weeks and I can't wait to dive in and get started."

"This has been an exciting couple of months for Richard Petty Motorsports," Richard Petty said in a written statement. "We are looking forward to getting back into the Nationwide Series full time and seeing what Michael Annett can do in an RPM Ford Mustang. Michael has improved every season he has raced in the Nationwide Series and has the dedication and drive to be a success."

Annett was a part of the Waterloo Black Hawks Clark Cup championship team in 2004. He also played 59 regular season games in 2004-2005. In all, Annett played in 100 regular season games during his USHL career, racking up eight career assists and 89 penalty minutes.

He began his racing career in 2007 competing in the ARCA Series. In his fourth start, Annett drove to victory lane at Talladega Superspeedway.  In the next season, at Daytona International Speedway, Annett drove to victory lane for a second time.  He also drove in eight events in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series that season.

In 2009, Annett moved to the Nationwide Series driving for Germain Racing.  He had four top-10 finishes and finished in 10th-place in the point standings. He stayed with Germain through the 2010 season before moving to RWI in 2011.