Champion's Week kicks off in Vegas

Jimmie Johnson does a burnout on the Las Vegas Strip during last year's
Victory Lap in Las Vegas. (Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)

Johnson to be honored; schedule of events to start Wednesday

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The champion is crowned, the celebration awaits.

What a party it promises to be.

The 2010 edition of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week in Las Vegas will fete Hendrick Motorsports’ Jimmie Johnson, who earned an unprecedented fifth consecutive series title following the Nov. 21 season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

With events starting Wednesday, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week is full of fan-friendly activities that showcase the nation’s No. 1 form of motorsports while honoring its top driver and its loyal fan base.

Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

After a 28-year run in New York, the annual postseason celebration made its Las Vegas debut last year, capped, as always, by the champion’s Friday-night coronation. This year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony returns to one of the city’s premier resorts, Wynn Las Vegas, on Friday, Dec. 3.
SPEED will once again broadcast the event, live at 9 p.m. ET.

Comedian Frank Caliendo and country rockers Rascal Flatts will entertain during the awards ceremony. Joining them will be “Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil,” a special performance of dance, acrobatics and music celebrating the King of Rock ‘n Roll, Elvis Presley.

The ceremony culminates several days of whirlwind activity involving not only the series champion, but also the other 11 drivers in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup – NASCAR’s “playoffs.” Those drivers, together with Johnson, comprise the top 12 in the series’ final standings.

“It's just been an amazing experience, amazing for myself and the team,” Johnson said of his five-title run. “I think it's been great for our sport to see the comparisons drawn to other sports that have been able to link together multiple championships. It's been awesome, a ton of fun.”

For the second consecutive year, some of the thousands of fans who flock to catch a glimpse of stock car racing’s biggest stars will join drivers, team owners and industry leaders in celebrating Johnson at the awards ceremony. Approximately 300 tickets are available to fans, which are being distributed by tracks, NASCAR partners and teams through various promotions. Fan tickets offer the following experiences:

• NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon seats
• Access to “NASCAR After The Lap, Made Possible By Coca-Cola and Ford”
• Fan reception & Red Carpet walk prior to the awards ceremony
• Awards ceremony seats

Following is a complete rundown of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week activities.

Wednesday, Dec. 1:

• NASCAR Street Tour: Two tricked-out NASCAR interactive Ford vehicles are scheduled to appear all week throughout Las Vegas with dynamic street teams, interactive video games and free giveaways.
• NASCAR Pit Stop Tour: The Pit Stop Tour program will run from Dec. 1-3, consisting of Official Partner show cars placed in iconic locations throughout the Las Vegas Strip. Brand ambassadors at each location (locations TBD) will be on site from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. for all three days, engaging the fans.
• Chasers for Charity Event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Gates open at 10 a.m. The Richard Petty Driving Experience will offer rides with a percentage of the proceeds being donated to charity. The speedway will offer tours of the facility. There will be interactive displays throughout the track’s “Neon Garage” and live music on the main stage from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition, all 12 Chase drivers will participate in a Family Feud-style game show hosted by comedian Kevin Burke between 2 to 3:30 p.m. Admission to the Fanfest is free, and mass transportation will be available from the strip and downtown.

 Thursday, Dec. 2:

• NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards Luncheon: This annual industry/media event begins at 11 a.m. in the Bellagio Ballroom at the Bellagio and includes presentations to the Champion Crew Chief, Champion Sponsor, Raybestos Rookie of the Year and Most Popular Driver. Fans have the opportunity to attend for the first time. It is co-hosted by NASCAR and the National Motor Sports Press Association.
• Victory Lap: Set for 3:30 p.m., the top 12 drivers will motor down the famed Las Vegas Strip in their respective race cars. Expect an authentic pit stop along the route and two burn-out sections for drivers. Victory Lap begins in front of Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino and ends at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Prior to Victory Lap at 3 p.m., Johnson will receive the Key to the City of Las Vegas from Mayor Oscar Goodman and Commissioner Tom Collins. Commissioner Collins also will present a Proclamation recognizing Champion’s Week and Johnson’s accomplishments.
• NASCAR After The Lap: This free fan event starts at 4:30 p.m., at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and features a question-and-answer session with drivers and an interactive Coca-Cola Fan Zone experience. Select fans will win NASCAR-themed prizes, including a 2011 Ford Taurus SHO. The Coca-Cola Fan Zone opens at noon, with doors to NASCAR After The Lap opening at 3 p.m. General admission seats are free, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Register for tickets at nascarafterthelap.com.

Friday, Dec. 3:

• 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony: The big show starts at 6 p.m., crowning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion driver and owner and honoring the other drivers who finished in the top 10 in the final series standings.

Read More

Johnson achieves 'Drive for Five' as Edwards dominates Homestead

Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images for NASCAR

Johnson first driver in NASCAR history to win five straight Sprint Cup titles; Edwards wins second consecutive series race

By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (Nov. 21) — NASCAR has a rock star — and perhaps after a fifth straight championship for unsinkable Jimmie Johnson, the sport will realize it.

Johnson ran second to Carl Edwards in Sunday’s season-ending Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway to secure the first come-from-behind title in his skein of five championships.

Edwards’ victory was perfection. He led 190 of 267 laps in winning his second straight Sprint Cup race and the 18th of his career.

“Why didn’t you set the cars up like this before, Bob?” Edwards joked with crew chief Bob Osborne after the race. “That was the best performance down the straightaway I’ve had in a long time.”

The race for the championship was anything but perfection. And it wasn’t the high drama fans had anticipated from the closest Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup since the introduction of NASCAR’s playoff format in 2004.

An early spin on the part of Denny Hamlin, the Chase leader by 15 points entering the final race, ultimately proved decisive. A pit road speeding penalty knocked Kevin Harvick (third in points) to the rear of the field just when he appeared ready to contend for the victory. Hamlin finished 14th; Harvick rallied to finish third.

Sloppy work in the pits on the part of Johnson’s “substitute” crew—borrowed from Jeff Gordon’s No. 24 team in the middle of the eighth Chase race (at Texas) and bound to Johnson thereafter—repeatedly cost the champion track position.

To call the final race a comedy of errors on the part of the title contenders may be harsh, but championship team owner Rick Hendrick did precisely that.

“It was like, ‘Who’s going to screw up the most?’ ” Hendrick said after claiming his 10th Cup title (five with Johnson, four with Gordon and one with Terry Labonte).

Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR

In the afterglow of a fifth straight title, however, the flaws in the process didn’t matter.

“Jimmie, you are a rock star, my friend,” Chad Knaus radioed after Johnson crossed the finished line 1.608 seconds behind Edwards. “You have proven it time and time again. And you damn did it today, my friend.”

Johnson finished 39 points ahead of Hamlin and 41 ahead of Harvick.

Before the race was 25 laps old, Hamlin made a tough job much more difficult. His No. 11 Toyota, which had started the race 37th but had gained 18 positions in the first 23 laps, touched the No. 16 Ford of Greg Biffle as the cars sped through Turn 2 on Lap 24. Hamlin spun through the infield grass, damaging the front splitter and knocking the toe angle of the tires out of position.

Though his crew worked feverishly to repair the damage, the incident affected the handling just enough to keep Hamlin from making an aggressive run to the front. His troubles were compounded when he was trapped a lap down during a cycle of pit stops and had to take a wave-around to the tail end of the lead lap. At that point Hamlin was fighting Harvick for second in the final standings, not battling Johnson for the championship.

“I felt like, as soon as we dropped the green, I thought we could win the race,” Hamlin said. “Our car was really fast at the beginning—I mean, just unbelievably fast at the beginning—and I knew we had a car that could contend for a win, and obviously when we got in that incident on the back straightaway, it tore up the front and knocked the toe out, and obviously the car did not drive as well for the rest of the day.

“We just tried to patch it and work on it the best we could, but it just wasn't the car that it was at the beginning. It's just part of racing.”

Johnson restarted second on Lap 251 after Harvick dumped Kyle Busch, Hamlin’s teammate, into the inside frontstretch wall to cause the 10th and final caution on Lap 244. Johnson couldn’t catch Edwards over the final 17 laps, but he pulled away from Harvick to secure the title.

“I’m just beside myself,” Johnson said in Victory Lane. “Four was amazing. Now I have to figure out what the hell to say about winning five of these things, because everybody is going to want to know what it means. I don't know. It is pretty damn awesome — I can tell you that.”

Fast facts:

• With his fifth Sprint Cup championship, Johnson passes teammate Jeff Gordon (four titles) to take third on the all-time list of drivers with the most championships. Johnson follows Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Sr. with seven each.
• Johnson's fifth title comes in his ninth full-time season of Sprint Cup competition. Dale Earnhardt Sr. claimed his fifth in his 13th season and Richard Petty in his 16th.
• Johnson won his fifth championship in 327 starts. Dale Earnhardt Sr. won his fifth title in 390 starts and Richard Petty in 655 starts.
• Johnson gave Hendrick Motorsports their 10th Sprint Cup owner's championship, breaking a tie with Petty Motorsports (9) to become the all-time leading team.
• Johnson is the first driver in Chase history to overcome a points deficit going into the season's final race and win the title. 
• He is only the third driver to overcome a points deficit in the last race and win the championship since 1975.
• Johnson joins the New York Yankees, Boston Celtics and Montreal Canadiens in winning five or more consecutive championships. He also joins Michael Schumacher, who claimed five straight F1 titles. 
• All five of Johnson's championship have come under the Chase.
• Johnson is the only driver to have made the Chase all seven seasons.

__________________________________
Reid Spencer's story from NASCAR Media

Fast Facts compiled by Rebecca Kivak

Read More

Pole Report: Jimmie Johnson Leads Field for AAA 400

Four time defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson the driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Impala Chevrolet tames the Monster Mile of Dover International Speedway with a lap of 23.116 (155.736 mph.).  But the real drama had to be the real surprise from the qualifying rounds today has to be Mark Martin's right-rear shock had a problem in qualifying...failed post-qualifying inspection. Dropped from 3rd to 42nd, which moves everyone up on the grid for Sunday’s afternoon race.

The second race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship from Dover International Speedway airs live on ESPN 1 p.m. EST/ 12 CST with the NASCAR Now Pre-Race show at Noon.  So what will people be looking at during the race this week?  The answer is simple, they will be looking to see what will happen with the different cars in the Chase, once the race is over.  Will anymore teams be getting penalties from NASCAR like the No. 33 Cheerios Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing? 

Enjoy the race and remember for the most up to date NASCAR coverage, keep your mouse here at Skirts and Scuffs.

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. A,J, Allmendinger
3. Martin Truex, Jr.
4. Denny Hamlin
5. Juan Pablo Montoya
6. Greg Biffle
7. Jamie McMurray
8. Kurt Busch
9. Paul Menard
10. Carl Edwards
11. Kyle Busch
12. Reed Sorensen
13. Ryan Newman
14. Matt Kenseth
15. Jeff Gordon
16. Kasey Kahne
17. David Reutimann
18. Regan Smith
19. Joey Logano
20. Scott Speed
21. Sam Hornish Jr.
22. Elliott Sadler
23. Marcos Ambrose
24. Clint Bowyer
25. Tony Stewart
26. Casey Mears
27. Jeff Burton
28. Joe Nemechek
29. David Ragan
30. Travis Kvapil
31. Brad Keselowski
32. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
33. Kevin Harvick
34. Bobby Labonte
35. David Gilliland
36. J.J. Yeley
37. Dave Blaney
38. Mike Bliss
39. Landon Cassill
40. Kevin Conway
41. Tony Raines
42. Mark Martin
43. Michael McDowell

Read More

Johnson wins battle to the finish at New Hampshire (NSCS) - Lenox Industrial Tools 301)

LOUDON, N. H. – One of these days, people will stop doubting Jimmie Johnson.
 
The four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion can lose a race, or two, and folks automatically write him off as a contender.
 
Sunday, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Johnson played second fiddle, as he sometimes does, for most of the LENOX Industrial Tools 301 before putting a payback bump-and-run on Kurt Busch.


Busch had nudged Johnson aside with seven laps remaining with a bumper-tag finesse usually associated with ballet, but this high-speed dance was sheer poetry in motion. Johnson repaid the favor with just a few laps to go, providing high-end drama to a race that had only four caution flags.
 
Tony Stewart slipped past Busch for second place on the last lap. Busch was third. Jeff Gordon was fourth and NASCAR Sprint Cup points leader Kevin Harvick finished fifth.
 
Rounding out the top 10 were Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Joey Logano and A. J. Allmendinger. Kyle Busch, one of the leaders and a contender all day, wound up 11th after colliding with Jeff Burton and spinning during one of the late restarts. Burton, who led 89 laps, was a definite factor before the spin. Kyle Busch led 46 laps.
 
Sunday’s victory was the 52nd of Johnson's career and his fifth of this season.
 
Pole winner Juan Pablo Montoya and fellow front-row starter Kasey Kahne led laps before problems sidelined both drivers late in the race. Kahne, who led a race-high 110 laps, lost an engine. Montoya, who led 36 laps, was wrecked by Reed Sorensen.
  
Montoya jumped off to a good start when the green flag fell, pulling ahead of second-place Kurt Busch by a little more than a second. The top 10 at Lap 25 were Montoya, Busch, Kahne, Newman, Bowyer, Johnson, Newman, Mark Martin, David Reutimann and Gordon.
 
Debris in Turn 3 brought out the first caution at Lap 35. Kahne beat everyone out of the pits, followed by Martin. Montoya quickly advanced from fifth place to second. Kahne pretty much controlled things during this part of the race. Kyle Busch had moved to second, dropping Montoya to third with Burton on his bumper and Gordon running fifth.  
  
Kyle passed Kahne for the lead shortly before the halfway mark.

Lenox Industrial Tools 301 results:
1. Jimmie Johnson       
2. Tony Stewart   
3. Kurt Busch   
4. Jeff Gordon   
5. Kevin Harvick   
6. Ryan Newman   
7. Clint Bowyer   
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr.   
9. Joey Logano   
10. A.J. Allmendinger   
11. Kyle Busch   
12. Jeff Burton   
13. Marcos Ambrose   
14. Denny Hamlin   
15. David Reutimann   
16. Greg Biffle   
17. Matt Kenseth   
18. Jamie McMurray   
19. Elliott Sadler   
20. David Ragan   
21. Mark Martin       
22. Martin Truex Jr.   
23. Sam Hornish Jr.   
24. Reed Sorenson   
25. Carl Edwards   
26. Brad Keselowski   
27. Scott Speed   
28. Paul Menard   
29. Casey Mears   
30. Bobby Labonte
31. David Stremme       
32. Kevin Conway   
33. Regan Smith   
34. Juan Montoya   
35. David Gilliland   
36. Kasey Kahne   
37. Andy Lally   
38. J.J. Yeley   
39. Joe Nemechek   
40. Todd Bodine   
41. Michael McDowell   
42. Dave Blaney   
43. Max Papis

Text from NASCAR Media. Photo: Rusty Jarrett / Getty Images for NASCAR

Read More

Through fan vote, Jimmie Johnson's idea wins $100,000 grant for Be the Match Foundation

PURCHASE, N.Y. (June 25, 2010) -- After three weeks of intense campaigning and more than 500,000 votes, racing fans have let their voice be heard – Jimmie Johnson's idea to provide financial relief to pediatric bone marrow transplant patients as part of Be The Match Foundation has taken the checkered flag and will receive a $100,000 grant as part of the Pepsi Refresh Project.


"I'm thrilled that $100,000 will be going to Be The Match Foundation," said Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet. "This Pepsi Refresh grant will help kids and their families with the overwhelming costs that come with a bone marrow transplant. I'd like to thank everyone who voted -- the support that all of us have seen has been incredible."

The drivers' passion for their individual ideas was evident and although they didn't receive the most votes, Pepsi will donate a $25,000 Pepsi Refresh Grant to each Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to aid in implementing their projects.

In addition to the $25,000 grant, Gordon announced he will make up the difference himself through a donation to the new Child Life Program at The Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital. The purpose of the program is to help physically and sexually abused youth.

"Because I truly believe in this worthwhile project, I am personally contributing $75,000 so we can do everything possible to help these innocent children," Gordon said.

The Pepsi Refresh Project is a groundbreaking effort to foster innovation in social good that will award more than $20 million this year to fund great ideas that help impact the world. Throughout 2010, Pepsi will fund ideas that will move the world forward in six categories: Health, Arts & Culture, Food & Shelter, The Planet, Neighborhoods and Education. The Pepsi Refresh Project, which launched Jan. 13, features significant social engagement around people and the power of ideas. People are encouraged to submit their ideas and to cast a vote for their favorite ideas at www.refresheverything.com.

Press releases courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports, JeffGordon.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF NASCAR MEDIA

Read More

Johnson, Busch, Hornaday nominated for ESPYS

Three NASCAR drivers will bring the competition from the track to the 2010 ESPYS as they square off against one another in the Best Driver category, with one vying for the elite honor of Best Male Athlete.

The winners of these and other categories will be announced at the 18th annual performance sports awards ceremony in Los Angeles on July 14.

Four-time consecutive Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson received a pair of nods for Best Male Athlete and Best Driver. In the latter category, Johnson is a back-to-back winner, looking for his third straight win. But Johnson faces competition this year from reigning Nationwide Series champion Kyle Busch and four-time Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday. The trio of stockcar drivers will compete against two-time IZOD IndyCar Series champion and former NASCAR driver Dario Franchitti and six-time NHRA champion Tony Schumacher.

In the Best Male Athlete category, Johnson, a repeat nominee, is up against Drew Brees, Super Bowl-winning quarterback of the New Orleans Saints; basketball players Kobe Bryant of the L.A. Lakers and LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers; and baseball player Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Voting for the 2010 ESPYS started today, June 24, and will continue through July 10. Fans can vote by logging onto espn.go.com/espys/#/home or on the awards' Facebook page.

The 2010 ESPYS will be televised live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, July 14, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. Seth Meyers from "Saturday Night Live" will host.

PHOTOS FROM NASCAR MEDIA

Read More

Johnson to make debut at Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen

Jimmie Johnson will challenge the 3.4-mile Grand Prix course at WGI for the first time ever during the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen on June 5.

Over the course of its history, the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen has featured some of the top names in all of motorsports and this year another illustrious driver will add his name to the list - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star Jimmie Johnson.

The four-time defending Sprint Cup Series champion will make his Sahlen’s Six Hours debut with GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing and team of two-time champion drivers Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty. The green flag will drop on the 29th Running of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 5.

“It is fantastic news for our fans and the Rolex Series to have Jimmie Johnson competing in this year’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen,” said Michael Printup, president of Watkins Glen International. “The Daytona Prototypes put on a great show here and I think his willingness to take time away from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on a race weekend speaks directly to the prestige of the Sahlen’s Six Hours event and the attraction of adding one’s name to the list of great champions that have won here. I have no doubt that Jimmie, Jon, and Alex will be in the hunt for a trip to Gatorade Victory Lane come the end of the race on Saturday, June 5.”

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen marks the first time Johnson has made more than one start in a season with the GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing team and just his second time running multiple GRAND-AM Rolex Series races in a year. The Sahlen’s Six Hour will also be Johnson’s first start in any series on the traditional 3.4-mile Grand Prix road course that has played host to some of the greatest racecar drivers of all time since opening in 1957. The six-hour sports car race has been an international fixture on The Glen’s annual schedule since 1968.

“I always look forward to racing with Alex, Jon and the GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing team,” said Johnson, who drives the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. “We’ve tried to make some things come together for other races and it’s just never worked out so I’m very excited that we were able to make this happen. I think most people know how much I want to win on a road course and also in a GRAND-AM car. It would be pretty cool if we could pull it off. I know Alex and John have won this race before and I hope we’re able to do it again.”

Johnson co-drove the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Chevrolet Riley at the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona the last three years, scoring a second-place overall finish with Gurney, Fogarty and Jimmy Vasser in their debut race together in 2008. Team owner Bob Stallings has always looked to expand Johnson’s races with the team beyond the Rolex 24 and the circumstances were right for this year’s Sahlen’s Six Hours. Johnson will compete at both Watkins Glen, which is a Saturday race, and in the Cup race activities at Pocono Raceway on the same weekend.

“We are very motivated to win another Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and for our first race there with Jimmie,” Alex Gurney said. “This isn’t a guest driver situation and never really has been as Jimmie has been a key part of this team since we first raced with him in 2008. I know Jimmie will have no problem getting up to speed, as he has proven that to us each year at Daytona. I think he’ll also really love The Glen long course. Those particular sections in the “The Boot” are some of the best parts of the track and Jimmie should really shine there.”

Gurney and Fogarty have been one of the most competitive driver combinations in the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen over the last four years.  The co-drivers have two Top-5 and three Top-10 finishes in the event including a runner up finish in 2006 and win in 2007.  Their only finish outside the Top-10 came in 2009 and was the result of a late race incident with 2009 Rolex 24 champion David Donohue as he and Fogarty battled for fifth place.

“We are ready to get back to our winning form at Watkins Glen and Jimmie is just the guy to help us do that,” Fogarty said. “I say this every time we announce that Jimmie is going to drive with us, but he is a great guy to have around not only as a driver but as a friend and teammate as well. The only bummer is that we will not get to see him as much as we normally do at the Rolex 24 because of his split racing schedule, but that is a small price to pay. It is great to have him back.”

Tickets for the entire 2010 season including the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at The Glen, August 5-8, and Camping World Grand Prix at The Glen, July 2-4, weekends are on sale now!  Fans can purchase tickets by calling the Watkins Glen International ticket office at 866-461-RACE (7223) or logging on to the official website, www.TheGlen.com. Tickets, gift certificates and track merchandise can all be purchased at The Shop located at 2 North Franklin Street in downtown Watkins Glen.  The Shop is open Monday-Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 9-4.

Release courtesy of Watkins Glen International

PHOTO FROM NASCAR MEDIA

Read More

Jimmie Johnson to join Oprah against distracted driving

We know Jimmie Johnson is on a mission to win his fifth straight Sprint Cup championship. But on Friday, the NASCAR driver will join one of the most influential women in the world in her mission to end distracted driving.

Johnson will appear on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on May 14 to join the talk show host's "No Phone Zone" campaign, the driver's Facebook page announced Wednesday. A pre-taped clip of Johnson will be shown on the "Oprah Fridays Live" episode with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz.

Winfrey started the "No Phone Zone" movement against distracted driving in January. Distracted driving occurs when drivers text, e-mail or talk on their phones while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. According to "The Oprah Winfrey Show" website, a recent survey shows 71 percent of people 18-49 years of age admit to engaging in these behaviors while on the road. Tragically, distracted driving results in injuring nearly 500,000 people - and killing 6,000 - every year.

"Until we as a nation decide we're going to change that, those numbers are only going to go up," Winfrey says on her show's site.

This is where the pledge comes in. Winfrey is encouraging viewers to sign a pledge on the website vowing to designate their vehicle as a "no phone zone." Participants can choose one of the following options:

• "I will not text while I am driving."
• "I will not text while driving and will use only handsfree calling if I need to speak on the phone while I am driving."
• "I will not text or use my phone while I am driving. If I need to use my phone, I will pull over to a secure location."
  

As of Wednesday night, more than 320,000 pledges had been submitted.

To learn more about Winfrey's "No Phone Zone campaign, visit http://www.oprah.com/packages/no-phone-zone.html.

To see Johnson on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," check your local listings.

PHOTO FROM NASCAR MEDIA

Read More

Jimmie Johnson adds Personal Touch to Hall of Fame

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (April 28, 2010) –  With 13 days until opening, the NASCAR Hall of Fame today announced four prominent historic items to be on display at the 150,000-square-foot interactive, entertainment attraction – Jimmie Johnson’s four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Trophies. The reigning four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion has loaned his four personal trophies to the venue for six months.

"The NASCAR Hall of Fame is going to have so many cool things, showing the history of our sport. I was definitely humbled that they asked for something of mine to display,” said Johnson. “It’s an honor for me and the whole 48 Lowe’s team. I hope fans appreciate seeing the trophies up close. I know how special they are to me, and I’ve certainly enjoyed seeing them the past four years.”

While the NASCAR Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR, a current item such as Johnson’s trophies recognizes the importance of history in the making. Eight years ago today, Johnson captured his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series win on April 28, 2002 at California Speedway, and since then, he has earned a spot in the record books as the only driver to win four consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championships (2006-2009).

“To showcase all four of Jimmie’s personal trophies emphasizes the importance of the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the veterans of the sport and the history-makers of today,” said Winston Kelley, executive director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “These trophies represent his back-to-back championships and are iconic to this new era of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series racing. We are honored to show these to the public. We initially requested Jimmie’s 2009 championship trophy to display, and Jimmie graciously offered to loan us all four.  Of course we were thrilled.  His offer really illustrates how supportive the sport has been of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.  We sincerely appreciate Jimmie and all the other members of the NASCAR community for their generosity and support.”

The driver of the No. 48 Lowes Chevrolet began his storied run to four championships in 2006. Since that time, Johnson and team have recorded 32 wins, 69 top-five finishes and 100 top 10s, most notably winning the Daytona 500, Brickyard 400 and NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

In total, Johnson has tallied 50 wins, 122 top-five finishes and 186 top-10 finishes. Among active drivers, he is second in total wins, 32 wins behind car owner Jeff Gordon (82). Johnson has won at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at all but five (Michigan, Infineon, Chicago, Watkins Glen and Homestead) of the 22 tracks on which the series competes.

The El Cajon, Calif.-native is currently tied with two-time NASCAR Champion Ned Jarrett and NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Junior Johnson for 10^th on NASCAR’s all-time win list. In addition, the four-consecutive wins scored by the No. 48 team in the 2007 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup ties a modern-era NASCAR record.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series trophy was crafted by world-renowned jeweler and silversmith Tiffany & Co. Weighing in at 27 pounds and 24 inches tall, the sterling silver trophy debuted in 2004 with the entry of NEXTEL as NASCAR’s premier series sponsor. It features flowing checkered flags and a perpetual base listing the names of each NASCAR Champion since 1948, four of those spots dedicated to Johnson.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame opens to the public May 11 at 10 a.m. EDT. The opening ceremony for the high-tech, interactive attraction begins at 9 a.m. EDT. The one-hour ceremony will culminate with NASCAR celebrities, elected officials and other dignitaries officially opening the venue. The opening ceremony will be followed by free outdoor activities from 10 a.m. through the late evening. Activities will include NASCAR celebrities, question-and-answer sessions, strolling entertainment, food vendors, and free concerts by country music artists Lee Brice, Bomshel and Love And Theft.

Tickets for the NASCAR Hall of Fame are on sale now and can be purchased at www.NASCARHall.com or by calling 877-231-2010. Tickets are $19.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors and military, $12.95 for children 5-12, and free for children younger than 5. Memberships provide unlimited entry for one year and start at $25 for children and $50 for adults. Group discounts, facility rentals and sponsorships also are available by calling 704-654-4400.


About NASCAR Hall of Fame
Opening May 11, 2010 in uptown Charlotte, N.C., the 150,000-square-foot NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR. The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, includes artifacts, interactive exhibits, 275-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor, Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant, NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop and NASCAR Media Group-operated broadcast studio. The five-acre site also includes a privately developed 19-story office tower and 102,000-square-foot expansion to the Charlotte Convention Center, highlighted by a 40,000 square-foot ballroom. The NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.www.NASCARHall.com

Read More

The Lugnut Report: Johnson Loses Horseshoe, Has Rough Day in 'Dega

After their run in down in Texas, Jimmie Johnson and teammate Jeff Gordon spent the week leading up to Talladega fending off spectulation that a feud was brewing in the Hendrick Motorsports shop.

After Talladega, there seems to be no doubt that there is.

Johnson entered 'Dega 108 points ahead of second place Matt Kenseth and two wins already in the books for the 2010 season. Rain cancelled qualifying, putting Johnson on the pole for the Aaron's 499.

Luck, it seemed, was on Double J's side. Karma, it would prove, was certainly not.

Johnson led just nine laps on the day, but in doing so collected those all important five bonus points. He spent most of the day running in the midst of the front pack, but made little noise otherwise.

It didn't stay that way long, though.

Five laps from the finish, Gordon and Johnson made contact after the No. 48 went to jump in line ahead of his teammate. The No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet would eventually fall back into the field, get caught up in a wreck, and ended his day 22nd.

And, if any consolation to Gordon, Johnson got his, too.

On lap 196, in one of the "Overdrive" green-white-checkers, Johnson and Biffle got together sending the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet into the inside wall. He would finish 31st.

"The 48 is testing my patience, I can tell you that. It takes a lot to make me mad-- and I am pissed right now," Gordon said after the race. Johnson would later take the blame for the incident.

Gordon last went to Victory Lane last season in the spring Texas race. Johnson has won ten races since then. And after this latest incident, will the tension continue to rise between the top two HMS drivers?

While he keeps the points lead, Harvick's win now has him within 26 points of the defending champion, and his points lead may be in even more trouble. With a field seemingly deteremined to take four time down and a pissed off teammate, Johnson and company enter Richmond International Raceway, where tempers are sure to be short.

Thanks to NASCAR on FOX, SPEED, Racing Reference, LA Times and the Associated Press for the information, quotes and statistics used in this piece.

Read More

Johnson Among Greats with 50 or more Wins in Sprint Cup Series

Johnson gets his 50th checkered at Bristol – Photo Credit: Bristol Motor Speedway 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 21, 2010) – Jimmie Johnson won his 50th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race today at Bristol Motor Speedway, a rare accomplishment that further solidifies the four-time defending champion’s place among the all-time greats.

Only 11 other drivers have reached the milestone. Three are NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees, six were Hall of Fame nominees, and the other two – Jeff Gordon and Rusty Wallace – will surely join the Hall of Fame nominee list in the future.

Johnson needed only 296 starts to hit the 50 mark. Only three drivers have reached 50 victories quicker – Gordon (232), Darrell Waltrip (278) and David Pearson (293).

Here is the exclusive “50 Wins Club”:


All-Time NSCS Wins


Driver                      Wins   
Richard Petty             200
David Pearson            105
Bobby Allison              84
Darrell Waltrip              84
Cale Yarborough          83
Jeff Gordon                  82
Dale Earnhardt             76
Rusty Wallace             55
Lee Petty                    54
Ned Jarrett                  50
Junior Johnson            50
Jimmie Johnson          50

Below are some of Johnson’s milestone and historic wins on his way to 50:


1 – Johnson did not take long to nab his first victory. In only his 13th start, at his hometown track Auto Club Speedway on April 28, 2002, Johnson led 62 laps in the win. Among those in the top 10 of all-time victories, only Lee Petty needed fewer starts for his first win (five).
4 – In what would become customary, Johnson won NASCAR’s longest race – the Coca-Cola 600. He currently has three Coke 600 wins.
10 – In his 95th start, Johnson reached double digits. He won at Pocono for the second time in 2004, his third career season track sweep. Johnson currently has 11 career track sweeps.
14 – In 2004, Johnson took home one of NASCAR’s crown jewels – the Southern 500.
19 – His biggest race win to date, Johnson became a Daytona 500 champion on Feb. 19, 2006.
20 – Johnson won at Las Vegas for his 20th victory, but led only one lap – the last one. It was the only time in his series career that Johnson had only one lap led in a race win.
22 – No big stage daunts Johnson. That, of course, includes the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He won the Indy race in 2006, the first of three Brickyard wins thus far.
25 – Johnson hit the halfway point on March 18, 2007, in his 187th start. That means, statistically, he went on a winning rampage soon after. His last 25 wins took only 109 starts.
30 – Johnson’s 30th coincided with the beginning of a streak of four consecutive wins in 2007. The first was at Martinsville, followed by Atlanta, Texas and Phoenix.
40 – Win No. 40 came at Phoenix in race No. 35 of the 2008 season. He dominated, leading 217 of the 313 laps.

Johnson’s victories have come at 17 different tracks. His most prolific: Charlotte Motor Speedway and Martinsville Speedway, where he has won six times apiece.


Jimmie Johnson Wins By Track


Track                      Wins   
Charlotte                    6
Martinsville                 6
Auto Club                   5
Dover                         5
Las Vegas                 4
Phoenix                     4
Atlanta                       3
Indianapolis                3
Richmond                  3
New Hampshire          2
Pocono                      2
Darlington                  2
Texas                        1
Daytona                     1
Talladega                   1
Kansas                      1
Bristol                        1      

Read More

Shelby American Race Results

Here’s the way they finished in race 3 of the 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season:

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Kevin Harvick
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Mark Martin
5. Matt Kenseth
6. Joey Logano
7. Tony Stewart
8. Clint Bowyer
9. Kasey Kahne
10. Greg Biffle
11. Jeff Burton
12. Carl Edwards
13. David Reutimann
14. Marcos Ambrose
15. Kyle Busch
16. Dale Earnhardt Jr.
17. Paul Menard
18. Ryan Newman
19. Denny Hamlin
20. Martin Truex Jr.
21. Regan Smith
22. Scott Speed
23. David Ragan
24. Travis Kvapil
25. AJ Allmendinger
26. Brad Keselowski
27. Elliott Sadler
28. Sam Hornish Jr.
29. Dave Blaney
30. David Gilliland
31. Brian Vickers
32. Robby Gordon
33. Max Papis
34. Jamie McMurray
35. Kurt Busch
36. Kevin Conway
37. Juan Pablo Montoya
38. Bobby Labonte
39. Mike Bliss
40. Boris Said
41. Joe Nemechek
42. Michael McDowell
43. Aric Almirola

Top 12 Points

1. Kevin Harvick
2. Clint Bowyer
3. Mark Martin
4. Matt Kenseth
5. Jimmie Johnson
6. Greg Biffle
7. Jeff Burton
8. Joey Logano
9. David Reutimann
10. Carl Edwards
11. Tony Stewart
12. Kyle Busch

Photos via Getty Images for NASCAR

Read More

Jimmie Johnson Holds Off Gordon and Harvick for Second Win in 2010

In a race that saw broken caution lights, Kim Kardashian, and the two hometown boys fall back quickly, Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus made a great call during the last caution to help bring the No. 48 Lowe's Chevorlet team its 49th win and a second in a row after last week's win at Auto Club Speedway.

The Shelby American GT 350 had many surprises.

Kurt Busch was on the pole, after breaking the qualifying record but ended the race in 35th place, eight laps down after the No. 1 of Jamie McMurray and the No. 42 of Juan Pablo Montoya got into each other and took Busch with them.

The other hometown hopeful, Kyle Busch, finished in 15th place and on the lead lap. He received a penalty after entering pit road too fast while he was in second place.

There were two cautions totaling eight laps for malfunctioning caution lights, which kept turning on despite there not being a caution.

At one point, there were only 12 cars on the lead lap but thanks to the “wave around” rule, it put 21 cars back on to the lead lap. In the end, 23 cars finished on the lead lap.

The race finally went head-to-head after the final caution, when Johnson and his teammate, Jeff Gordon, pulled ahead of the rest of the pack. However, the difference between the two was that Johnson was on four fresh tires while Gordon was only on two.

Gordon took over the lead from laps 237 to 251, when Johnson passed underneath him and sped away for the win. He had only led one lap previously while Gordon led a total of 219. Eventually, Kevin Harvick caught up with Gordon and took over second place.

The decision to take two tires was between Gordon and his crew chief, Steve Letarte. They thought more people would take two, but obviously, they were wrong.

“You know, if we won the race we'd look like geniuses—Steve would have,” he said of the choice. “The fact that we lost the race, now Chad looks like a genius. That's how it goes sometimes. When you're leading, that's the toughest position to be in—to make that call.”

Despite a lugnut issue on pit road, Johnson and his crew, led by Chad Knaus, overcame car issues and worked through traffic for the win.

Is he lucky? Some might think so.

But he can also drive a car.

After today's win, he becomes the all-time leader on 1.5 mile tracks.

When asked about making choices on the pit box, team owner Rick Hendrick said Knaus studies races and knows when and how to make the right calls. He said the duo of Johnson/Knaus seldom make a mistake.

Knaus was asked about making the two versus four tire call and the difference between his call and No. 24 crew chief Letarte; he praised Letarte for his efforts.

Knaus said he had a plan and assumed everyone else would take four tires as well.

“There wasn't a wrong call to make. They came in first, they wanted to maintain track position because it's so critical. The only way for us to beat them was for us to do something different,” Knaus said of his call from on top of the pit box. “I didn't know what he was doing. Steve is a fantastic crew chief, he is a great teammate...and he did not make the wrong call. He did what he thought was right to win the race.”

Does the team feel they're peaking too soon?

Johnson says no.

In the funny-numbers game the Hendrick team likes to play, Hendrick Motorsports led all but 48 laps.

Photo Courtesy: Farrah Kaye

This post also appears on bleacherreport.com and has been republished with permission from the author.

Read More

Title Count: Which NASCAR Star Will Complete The Drive For Five?

In 2001 when Jeff Gordon won his last championship, fans and the media began the mantra “Drive for Five”.

For years, Gordon’s fans spent the beginning of the season chanting the famous battle cry; hoping, praying, and wishing for their favorite driver to win the elusive fifth title.

That was until Jimmie Johnson came along and has gone on to win four championships in a row. Now Johnson fans are claiming their driver will complete the drive for five first.

Since then, Gordon has finished ahead of Johnson just once, in 2002.

“It’s a bittersweet thing because as an (owner), I’m proud of what the team has accomplished,” he says of the No. 48 team’s sustained success. “As a driver, we won the championship in ’01 when they ran their first race. (In) ’02, I finished ahead of Johnson in points.”

Gordon, who is listed as the co-owner on the No. 48, knows what the critics say and think but he also knows what his team is capable of.

Johnson, meanwhile, has won a historic four championships in a row and is showing no signs of slowing down.

All good things will come to an end. 2010 will and could be Johnson’s toughest challenge. Not only is he is going for five in a row, but the competition is the best this sport has ever seen.

In the NASCAR Sprint Cup series, the drive for five will officially begin on Sunday afternoon. Both Gordon and Johnson are hoping that another driver does not spoil their title runs.

In the Camping World Truck Series, there is another drive for five to be paying attention to.

Ron Hornaday is heading into Daytona as the defending series champion. He returns to the track on Friday night as the series champion.

After a dominating performance in 2009 that saw him win five races in a row and lead the series for most of the 2009 campaign, Hornaday is ready to defend his crown and continue to make history in the CWTS. Like Gordon and Johnson, Hornaday’s competition is just as tough.

All three of them are Hall of Fame drivers. All three of them are hoping one of them can complete the drive for five.

For Gordon, it’s the elusive title in what is a Hall of Fame career. For Johnson, it’s continuing his dominating run and rewriting the history books.

For Hornaday, it is continuing to set the bar in the CWTS higher and higher.

The best of NASCAR all battling for one title; the first to complete the “drive for five."

Read More