There are a lot of good things going on for the five-time champion at the track, including a special paint scheme touting the new animated movie “Monsters University,” a scheme he says his daughter Evie is looking forward to. He’s not too bad getting around the concrete mile oval, either. He is currently the winningest active driver at the track and has a shot at becoming the all-time winningest driver with a victory Sunday. But fun paint schemes and historic records pale in comparison to what Johnson will do Thursday when he is scheduled to visit tornado-ravaged Oklahoma to distribute relief supplies at the Lowe’s store in Moore.
Suddenly those lyrics take on a whole meaning because, when it comes to helping those in need, truly “nothing else matters.”
- As part of the $1 million pledge, Lowe’s donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross and matched the earnings of Johnson from Sunday’s NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway with an additional donation to the Red Cross. Lowe’s will use the remainder of its $1 million commitment to fund local projects in areas of greatest need as identified by its national nonprofit partners.
- Johnson and his wife, Chandra, who is from Muskogee, Okla., have pledged Johnson’s winnings from Sunday’s race to go to disaster relief as well. That amount totaled nearly $148,000.
Johnson’s Dover and Season Quick Stats:
- Seven wins (June and September 2002, September 2005, June and September 2009, September 2010 and June 2012).
- Three poles (September 2009 and 2010, June 2011).
- 11 top-five finishes (50 percent) and 16 top-10s (72.7 percent) in 22 starts.
- Two DNFs (did not finish – June 2003 and 2004).
- Average start of 9.7 and average finish of 8.6.
- Completed 8,619 of 8,804 laps (97.9 percent) and led 2,318.
- Sprint Cup’s best driver rating (120.6 average of a possible 150 points).
- Sprint Cup’s best average running position (7.0).
- Sprint Cup’s best in fastest laps run (878).
- Sprint Cup’s most laps in the top-15 with 5,570 (87 percent).
- Sprint Cup’s best average green-flag speed – 143.988 mph.
- In 12 Sprint Cup races run this season, Johnson has finished in the top-five six times.
- With a win Sunday, Johnson would surpass Richard Petty and Bobby Allison on the all-time win list at Dover. The three are currently tied with seven victories each. Johnson is the only active driver with seven wins at the Monster Mile.
Driver, Team and Sponsor Notes
- Johnson will drive the No. 48 Lowe’s Monsters University Chevrolet SS Sunday at Dover. In addition, Johnson will make a special race day appearance at 10:15 a.m. EDT Sunday. The five-time champion will help kids in attendance assemble the “Monsters University” Build and Grow cars and host a kids-oriented question-and-answer session. All children are welcome.
Ø Characters from Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University,” which opens in theatres June 21 in 3D, will grace the hood of Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS at Dover. The familiar characters of Mike and Sulley will be riding with Johnson in a special paint scheme to help kick off Lowe’s special Disney-themed Build and Grow clinics, which will be offered at Lowe’s stores throughout the summer.
Ø Kids attending the Dover races Friday through Sunday will have an opportunity to get involved by visiting the Monsters University Admissions Tent. Kids will get a Monsters University Student ID badge for an opportunity to assemble a special-edition Lowe’s Build and Grow project of Johnson’s “Monsters University” racecar. The display will be located in the Dover Fan Zone.
Ø As part of Lowe’s Build and Grow program, Disney and Lowe’s have teamed up to offer families a summer of do-it-yourself fun.Beginning June 8, Lowe’s stores nationwide will hold free movie-themed Build and Grow clinics, featuring projects from Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University,” Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story” and Disney’s “Planes.”
Ø For more information and to register for the Disney-themed clinics, visit Lowe’s Build and Grow page atwww.lowes.com/buildandgrow.
- Johnson drew the final two charities for the Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope program Saturday at Charlotte. Humane Society of Charlotte and Encompass join Against Abuse, Inc., Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Chelsea’s Hope, Me Fine Foundation, Denver Kids, Inc., Miracle League of Pensacola, International FOP Association, Inc., Ruth’s Reusable Resources, Peach’s Neet Feet and MISS Foundation
Ø This year’s campaign began April 12 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth and culminated last weekend at Charlotte. Johnson has drawn two charities each week for a total of 13 charities. At the kickoff announcement,Make-A-Wish Iowa was selected.
Ø The Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope program, which began in 2008, allows fans, consumers and media members across the country to nominate their favorite charity to receive a $10,000 grant, a Blue Bunny ice cream party, and special recognition on Johnson’s race helmet.
Ø To date, the program has contributed more than $430,000 to 61 different charities.
JIMMIE JOHNSON, Driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s “Monsters University” Chevrolet SS for Hendrick Motorsports:
www.twitter.com/jimmiejohnson, www.twitter.com/lowesracing and www.twitter.com/teamhendrick
You have a special paint scheme this weekend that you will be running at Dover. What are your thoughts about it?
“We have the Monsters University movie, we’re promoting the movie, and it will be on our racecar this weekend at the Monster Mile. So excited to have a fun car. I know my daughter has enjoyed the rendering of the car and my helmet and all that goes with it. We had a lot of good luck last year with Madagascar on the car, and I hope that this one will bring us some more luck, as well.”
You are tied for all‑time wins at seven tracks on the Sprint Cup schedule. Are those records on your radar at all?
“They are now. When you said seven, I had no idea I had that opportunity or that honor taking place. That’s mind‑boggling to me. I knew of the Charlotte stuff and I knew about Dover and Martinsville, but I didn’t know about the others. I’m extremely proud of that. I’ve worked hard to put myself in this position and so does the team, and we’ve been able to capitalize on those opportunities and hard work and get stuff done, so I’m really excited about that.”
Do you feel as good about things right now as your points lead would indicate your team is that good?
“No, I mean, I feel good about things. We’ve got a huge points lead and we’ve had the wins and there have been tracks that we’ve been really hot at. But I feel like our mile‑and‑a‑half stuff we’ve been really a top-five car. Our short-track stuff and superspeedway stuff we’ve been a winning car. With the mile-and-a-half tracks occupying so much of the year, and especially the Chase, we have a little bit of room for improvement there. I do feel very good about our cars and don’t want to undermine that. But the points lead is huge, and I’d love to keep it that way and roll into Richmond or the races before Richmond with that kind of points lead so we can lock in.”
Source: True Speed Communication for Team Lowe’s Racing
The article Jimmie Johnson – Nothing Else Matters is from Catchfence.
Source: http://www.catchfence.com/2013/sprintcup/05/29/jimmie-johnson-nothing-else-matters/
Emmanuel de Graffenried Lucas di Grassi Cecil Green Keith Greene
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