Friday, March 29, 2024
Miles from the Mainstream
D. R. ZUKERMAN, proprietor
NASCAR in New York

FEBRUARY 26, 2006 --

Jimmie Johnson has finished second twice and fifth twice in his four bids for NASCAR's Nextel Cup. He drives for the Hendrick Motorsports team, which has
facilities on 62 acres in Charlotte, North Carolina.

On February 19, Johnson won the Daytona 500 -- the prestigious opening race of the Nextel Cup Chase, and was in Manhattan, February 21,on his way to the next Nextel race in Fontana California.

Reports of Johnson's win included comment on the suspension, several days earlier of his crew chief Chad Knaus, for
NASCAR rules violations. The actions of Knaus had no impact, however, on Johnson's Daytona victory, which
gave him a very good start towards his goal of winning the Nextel Cup, this season.

LPR thanks NASCAR's Eastern Media rep Laz Benitez for the invitation to meet and photograph Jimmie Johnson at an informal lunch as Times Square's ESPN Zone.

And this writer thanks the very knowledgeable auto sports writer Lewis
Franck for joining him in a brief chat with the Daytona 500 champion.

LPR was impressed by Johnson's friendly, relaxed manner and readiness -- and patience -- to answer all questions.

This writer was interested to be told by Johnson that there should be a NASCAR race in New York City, who added that NASCAR needed a race in New York
City.

Johnson indicated a New York race makes sense, in part because many of the corporations that sponsor NASCAR teams have their headquarters in New York City.

LPR was also interested to see Johnson's car -- No. 48 -- and name on a Sunoco poster at a Sunoco gas station in Westchester County, two days after meeting him and taking some photos, including one of the Daytona 500 champ outside ESPN Zone -- on Broadway.

Johnson finished second to Matt Kenseth at Fontana in a race carried on Fox television. So far, then, he has 1-2 finishes in the first two of the 26 races that determine the top ten drivers who compete in the ten Nextel Cup Chase races.

NASCAR Daytona 500 Champ Jimmy Johnson outside of ESPN Zone on Broadway.


Jimmy Johnson relaxing inside ESPN Zone, waiting for questions.


Jimmy Johnson honored a Sunoco poster.


LPR spotted this Jimmy Johnson poster at a Sunoco station in Westchester.