Fan4Racing News Now: For the Week of January 4th, 2016

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Introducing a new feature for the 2016 season – Fan4Racing News Now – highlighting breaking news for each week leading up to NASCAR season openers at Daytona International Speedway in February.

Check back throughout the week for new updates.

South Boston Speedway Announces $1 Million Capital Improvement Plan

Three-Year Plan Includes Track Repaving, Upgrade To Lighting

South Boston Speedway officials announced a three-year, $1 million capital improvement plan Saturday night that will include repaving the 4/10ths mile oval and the renovation of grandstands.

The paving and grandstand renovations will be completed in the first year of the three-year project. The grandstand improvements will be finished in time for the 2016 season while repaving will begin immediately after the 2016 season in September and be completed in time for the 2017 season.

“Every year there is speculation that my family will sell the track. And every year I say we are committed to South Boston Speedway, the town of South Boston and the tremendous fans of our beloved SoBo and NASCAR,” said Nick Igdalsky, senior vice president of South Boston Speedway and chief operating officer of Pocono Raceway, which owns South Boston.

“So tonight I am overjoyed to make that commitment concrete with a $1 million renovation of South Boston Speedway.”

The announcement was made at South Boston Speedway’s annual awards ceremony and Virginia Motorsports Hall of Fame induction Saturday night.

It will be the first time the 4/10ths mile track has been repaved since 1993.

In years two and three of the plan, the lighting and sound system will be upgraded along with the addition of fan amenities and conveniences, which will include a picnic area and kids’ playground.

“I have served as general manager at South Boston Speedway for many years and I’m very happy to say Halifax County and South Boston is very fortunate to have a venue of this kind,” said Cathy Rice. “We are blessed to have the Mattioli and Igdalsky families (owners of Pocono Raceway) to invest in this historical track. I’m thrilled about all the renovations and changes that are taking place for fans and competitors.

“I want to personally thank the Pocono family for all they have done and are doing for the speedway and I’m honored to be called the little sister track of Pocono Raceway.”

Igdalsky said in addition to improving the race track itself, that he and the South Boston staff are focused on improving the on-track product.

“We are committed to giving the fans and teams what they want … better racing and lower costs,” said Igdalsky. “Aggressive rule changes for the 2016 season have been adopted. Some have already been announced like the tire rule and $500 to start each night of racing.”

Joe Gibbs Racing Announces Crew Chief Changes for 2016 XFINITY Series

Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced today its crew chief lineup for the 2016 NASCAR XFINITY Series.

Chris Gabehart will move from the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series to the XFINITY Series to lead Rookie of the Year Contender Erik Jones in the No. 20 Toyota Camry. Gabehart most recently served as a race engineer on the No. 11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team with Denny Hamlin.

Scott Graves joins Joe Gibbs Racing from Roush Fenway Racing and will lead 2015 Rookie of the Year Daniel Suarez in the No. 19 Toyota Camry. Graves won the 2015 XFINITY Series championship with Chris Buescher.

Chris Gayle will return for his fourth season as a crew chief at JGR and lead the No. 18 Toyota Camry team with Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and others.

Sponsorship announcements for the teams will be made at a later date.


Brad Keselowski Racing Announces Partnership with Seiki TV Brand 

Brad Keselowski Racing today announced a partnership with Seiki, a leading television brand in HD and the emerging 4K Ultra HD display market. Seiki markets a full range of high-definition LED televisions that feature 4K Ultra HD and HD resolutions.  The company and brand offers straightforward, reliable digital entertainment experience that is affordably priced and backed by a comprehensive customer support.

“It’s awesome for BKR to partner with a brand like Seiki,” said Keselowski.  “I’ve been really impressed with their products and we hope this is the beginning of a long and successful partnership.”

“We’re excited to announce our partnership with BKR,” said Sung Choi, vice president of marketing for Seiki.  “We are very impressed with the racing organization that Brad built and imagined the potential for both brands through a partnership. Seiki and BKR are rapidly growing within their respective industries and we are looking to build synergies and help each other gain visibility and grow.”

BKR began to utilize Seiki products during the 2015 season with timing and scoring monitors and was quickly impressed with the improved quality and screen images.  Seiki product are also used at the BKR racing facility to help the team prepare week in, week out.

Additional partnership details and co-marketing activities for 2016 will be announced closer to launch of the 2016 BKR racing season.

Keselowski, who captured the 2012 Sprint Cup Series title and was the 2010 XFINITY Series champion, formed BKR in 2008.

Petty’s Garage Launches Off-Road Division

Since 2008, Petty’s Garage, a high-performance automobile speed shop located on the grounds of the former Petty Enterprises, has been the premier facility for car and truck enthusiasts to restore, modify or purchase their vehicles.  Today, Petty’s Garage announces its expansion of an Off-Road Division to maximize any and all off-road machines.

With a history of over 65 years, Petty’s Garage has an unmatched staff in the country. The company has restored, modified and built hundreds of cars, including exclusive specialty builds of 2015 and 2016 Ford GT Mustangs. Under the leadership of owner “The King” Richard Petty, they are expanding into Off-Road vehicles where customers looking for more capabilities and great looks can have a purpose built machine to fulfill their off road dreams.

Petty's Garage, located in Level Cross, N.C., is a premier high-performance automobile shop. Today, the business announced a new Off-Road Division. - Photo - Courtesy of Petty's Garage

Petty’s Garage, located in Level Cross, N.C., is a premier high-performance automobile shop.
Today, the business announced a new Off-Road Division. – Photo – Courtesy of Petty’s Garage

“We have taken a serious look at off-road vehicles for a long time now,” stated Jeff Whaley, Chief Operating Officer, of Petty’s Garage. “We totally understand how the consumer wants to add performance and modify their off road vehicles. We will apply our same principle’s we have used to build the highest quality performance cars to the off road market.”

“In addition to any customer builds, Petty’s Garage is currently in discussion with manufacturers about modifying the latest models to develop unique and one-of-a-kind vehicles.

“We are in the business of making dreams a reality,” continued Whaley. “We are excited about our current discussions with manufacturers to help us launch our Off-Road Division. As we have done with our other specific builds, we know that we can make concept vehicles a reality and deliver superior performance.”

Petty himself is also eager to start seeing the off-road builds.

“You can’t drive too far without seeing modifications on Jeeps,Trucks and any other off-road vehicle you can imagine. We’ve always had our own ideas how to modify them, and after our success that we’ve had with our performance cars, we know that we can deliver the same quality and performance with off-road machines.” says Richard Petty

NASCAR Star Kasey Kahne Attends Phoenix Suns Game

Driver exchanges jerseys with P.J. Tucker, participates in “Twitter Takeover” to promote Good Sam 500

NASCAR star Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 5 Great Clips Chevy SS for Hendrick Motorsports, attended Wednesday’s Phoenix Suns home game versus the Charlotte Hornets at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Kahne was in the Phoenix area to promote the start of the 2016 NASCAR season, the Daytona 500, and the Good Sam 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, which is scheduled for Sunday, March 13.

Jersey Swap PIR

“I grew up playing basketball,” said Kahne. “I played through high school. When I was growing up, the Seattle Sonics played the Suns a good bit and the Suns were pretty tough, so I remember the Suns beating us in the playoffs and things, but I’m glad to be back in Phoenix at the game tonight promoting the Good Sam 500 in March. I’m looking forward to it.”

Prior to the game, Kahne traded jerseys, or in his case, an official fire suit, with Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker.

“I had a Great Clips suit from last year and brought it to give to P.J. Tucker, and he gave me a Suns jersey with ‘Kahne’ and a No. 5 on it, so it was a cool exchange,” Kahne said.

Following an appearance on the FOX Sports Arizona pre-game show with former Sonics and Suns forward Tom Chambers, Kahne took his seats courtside taking in the Suns as the team defeated the Hornets. After a featured recognition on the video board, he also participated in a ‘Twitter Takeover’ answering questions from PIR fans.

“One thing about Phoenix is that we always get great crowds out here,” said Kahne. “It’s a great fan base in Phoenix, so it’s a neat track to come to because it’s just filled up with people enjoying the race. It’s fun to come out here and promote it and remind people it’s coming up in March and get ready for it.”

Kahne, a native of Enumclaw, Wash., has won 17 races in his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career, including a victory in the November 2011 Kobalt Tools 500 at PIR. He has earned a total of 23 starts in Phoenix, including five top-5 performances and eight top-10 finishes.

Tickets for the Good Sam 500 start at just $25, and 2016 season tickets are available beginning at $99. Individual tickets and season tickets are available online at PhoenixRaceway.com, by phone at 1-866-408-RACE (7223) or in person at the PIR ticket office.

Martinsville Speedway Promotes 2016 Season With ‘It’s Time’

Clocks tell time and Martinsville Speedway is known for clocks. After all, for more than 50 years race winners at the historic half-mile speedway have received a grandfather clock as the trophy.

This year the track will promote the race season with the phrase ‘It’s Time;.

Obviously the clock is one of the first things people associate with Martinsville Speedway, so that was the start of it. But there is so much more to

‘It’s Time,’ Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said.

“It’s time for short-track racing. It’s time for family. It’s time for excitement. It’s time for hot dogs. It’s time for Martinsville.

“It’s like we started the sentence, but the fans can finish it.”

The track’s slogan remains “The Half-Mile of Mayhem” and “It’s Time” will be used to compliment that.

“We’ve certainly seen our share of mayhem through the years and last year ranks right at the top of the list,” Campbell said. “We don’t want to get away from that, as our fans can truly identify with it. What we want to do is give fans the opportunity to feel even more a part of Martinsville Speedway than they already do.”

It will be present in materials printed for event weekends, used in commercials and on social media.

“We’re going to start incorporating it a lot of places,” Campbell said. “We’re going to start using it on Facebook and Twitter as a hashtag and encourage fans to do the same.”

On social media the hashtag will be #ItsTime.

NASCAR returns to Martinsville Speedway April 1-3 for the STP 500 race weekend.

The weekend starts on Friday, April 1, with Virginia Lottery Pole Day and the Camping World Truck Series will return on April 2.

The STP 500 Sprint Cup Series race is on April 3.

The race will mark the first short-track on the schedule and is the first race back on the east coast after the “west-coast” swing.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.

TaxAct Launches Race to Your Refund Sweepstakes

Leading DIY Online Tax Preparation Company Builds Excitement for 2016 NASCAR Season with

Opportunity for Race Fans to Win an Exclusive VIP Race Experience with Danica Patrick

As Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) prepares for the start of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, TaxAct, the official tax preparation software partner of SHR and driver Danica Patrick, has launched the Race to Your Refund Sweepstakes. Race fans can now enter the Race to Your Refund Sweepstakes for a chance to win a number of prizes, including an exclusive 2017 VIP Daytona race experience featuring Patrick and SHR co-owner Tony Stewart.

“TaxAct does a great job of engaging NASCAR fans and the Race to Your Refund program is another strong example of their efforts,” Patrick said. “The sweepstakes provides an opportunity for our fans to have some fun and connect with TaxAct, all while helping them to get the best deal when they file their own income tax return.”

The Race to Your Refund Sweepstakes runs through Nov. 20, 2016 and U.S. residents can visit www.RaceToYourRefund.com to enter. The sweepstakes consists of 46 entry periods with winners selected at random for prizes at the end of each period. As part of the sweepstakes, individuals have the opportunity to complete their own NASCAR bracket by selecting Patrick’s finishing position in upcoming races. Throughout the interactive game, entrants can guess where Patrick will place in each race, accumulating points to see how their bracket compares to other NASCAR fans.

Entrants will have the chance to win everything from a variety of Patrick-autographed merchandise, TaxAct-branded apparel and NASCAR tickets, which will be awarded monthly and weekly starting in March. In November, one lucky winner will be selected for the ultimate grand prize: a 2017 Daytona race weekend VIP experience for the biggest race of the NASCAR season, featuring both Patrick and Stewart. TaxAct will notify winners by e-mail shortly after the date of each drawing.

“Teaming with Danica gives us the valuable opportunity to connect with a loyal fan base of NASCAR enthusiasts who share the same ‘You Got This’ spirit as TaxAct,” said TaxAct President JoAnn Kintzel. “This new sweepstakes is a fun and interactive way to give back to our customers, as well as fans of Danica, while continuing to make do-it-yourself tax filing fast, easy and affordable.”

As the leading provider of affordable digital and download tax preparation solutions, TaxAct continues to empower Americans to take charge of their taxes. With a comprehensive suite of federal and state products, TaxAct customers have everything they need to file their own returns at a fraction of the cost of other major providers of similar DIY tax software. TaxAct’s 2015 Consumer Editions – TaxAct Online Free, Basic, Plus and Premium – are all available now for the 2016 tax season.

Mason Mitchell Motorsports Signs 15-year-old Logan Jones as Development Driver

Logan & Mason

2014 ARCA Racing Series championship team Mason Mitchell Motorsports (MMM) has signed 15-year-old Logan Jones as a development driver beginning with the 2016 season.

Jones will compete in two short track tests early in the 2016 season with MMM. After the tests the team will check his progress. If Jones and the team feel the tests went well, Jones could run all the Calypso Lemonade Short Track races with the ARCA Racing Series for 2016.

Jones finished runner-up in the AMCS (Affordable Controlled Micro Sprint Series) in 2015 and has earned nine sprint car wins over the last two seasons. Jones also competed in USAC Quarter Midgets from 2008-2013.

“We feel blessed for this opportunity,” Jones said. “It comes to very few racers around the circuit and we know that. My whole family is excited to see me develop as a racer. They have devoted much of their time and hard earned dollars to get me to where I am now. I am excited to be working with MMM to develop not only as a driver but to develop good relationships within the ARCA series in the future.”

“We are working towards running the Short Track Challenge with the ARCA Racing Series, as well as some other test sessions. Once I have settled in I want to run as many races as I can and develop a strong relationship with MMM to compete for the overall ARCA series championship.”

“MMM consists of great people, they are welcoming and generous people. The strongest thing that I can see in them is confidence in me as well as my family and that is why I want to be involved with MMM for quite some time, and potentially move into bigger and better things with MMM.”

In their second year as a team in ARCA MMM captured three wins (Winchester, Iowa and Kansas) with two different drivers (AWS & Mason Mitchell).

“This is a huge step in the right direction for MMM,” Owner Mason Mitchell stated. “We want to develop the stars of tomorrow here in the ARCA Racing Series.”

“After the tests we will all work the evaluation process together. With Logan’s track record, I have no doubt we will see him compete in 2016.”

In two years in the Series MMM’s earned four wins, 22 top-five finishes, 35 top-ten’s, five Menards pole awards along with capturing the 2014 ARCA championship.

MMM has great opportunities available for the ARCA test in January as well as the 2016 season in the ARCA Racing Series and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series. Funded drivers can contact Mason Mitchell at mason@masonmitchellmotorsports.com

The ARCA Racing Series test at the Daytona International Speedway (DIS) is January 15th and 16th in preparation for the opening event of the 2016 season at DIS on Saturday February 13th.

About Logan Jones: – United States Auto Club (USAC) Quarter Midget Driver (2008 – 2013)

  • Hagerstown Quarter Midget Association (HQMA) (2008 – 2013)
  • 37 A-main Feature Wins
  • Two Time Points Champion – HQMA – 2011, 2012
  • ACMS Sprint Series Rookie of the Year – 2014
  • ACMS Sprint Series Runner-up Points – 2015
  • (9) Sprint car wins at 4 different tracks 2014 – 2015 (Shippensburg Speedway, Trail-Ways Speedway, Pathvalley Speedway, and Susquehanna Speedway)

Follow MMM on Social Media: To keep up-to-date with the latest, news, information and race updates,       follow MMM racing’s twitter page @MMM_Race and “like” their facebook page at Mason Mitchell Motorsports. Also, follow Mason on his personal Twitter page @TheMasonRacin

Hendrick Motorsports Names Darian Grubb Vehicle Production Director

grubb_cropped

Hendrick Motorsports has named Darian Grubb to the newly created role of vehicle production director, where he will oversee every aspect of race car manufacturing for the 11-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champions, effective immediately.

Grubb, 40, assumes responsibility for production operations in the Hendrick Motorsports chassis and body groups. He will work alongside vehicle technical director Kenny Francis to support and grow the company’s overall car development capabilities while collaborating across vehicle engineering, vehicle production and four Sprint Cup teams. Both Grubb and Francis report to general manager Doug Duchardt.

“We’re excited to welcome Darian back to Hendrick Motorsports,” Duchardt said. “His résumé speaks for itself, and he already has a deep understanding of our people, processes and culture. Teaming him with Kenny on our vehicle efforts mirrors the management structure of our engine operation, which has been very effective, and it adds more depth to the organization as a whole. Darian brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, and we know he will make us stronger.”

A native of Floyd, Virginia, with a mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Tech, Grubb originally joined Hendrick Motorsports from Petty Enterprises in January 2003. He served as lead race engineer for the No. 48 Sprint Cup team from 2003-2006 and was interim crew chief during the first four races of its 2006 championship-winning campaign, leading Jimmie Johnson to a pair of victories, including the Daytona 500.

Grubb earned one win as crew chief for driver Casey Mears in 2007 before being named engineering manager for the Nos. 5 and 88 Hendrick Motorsports teams for 2008. In 2009, he moved into a crew chief role at Stewart-Haas Racing, where in three seasons he won 11 races and the 2011 Sprint Cup championship with Tony Stewart. Grubb then joined Joe Gibbs Racing, winning nine races with multiple drivers from 2012-2015. As a crew chief, he has 23 career Sprint Cup victories.

“It means a lot to come back to Hendrick Motorsports,” Grubb said. “This is a role that will allow me to contribute to the success of the entire organization, which was very important to me. Kenny is someone I greatly respect, so the chance to work side-by-side with him was a big factor. Everything is familiar, and I think that will make for a smooth transition. The more we talked about the opportunity, the more it felt right. I’m ready to get started.”

Opportunities Available with Mason Mitchell Motorsports for 2016 ARCA Season

2014 ARCA championship team Mason Mitchell Motorsports (MMM) has immediate opportunities available for the upcoming ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards season opener at Daytona International Speedway on February 13th, as well as seats available throughout the 2016 season.

The 2016 race at the ‘World Center of Racing’ marks the 53rd event at the historic track for ARCA.

MMM has enjoyed success at the 2.5-mile track earning two top-ten finishes in three starts, with a best effort of sixth last February.

MMM has the ability to field up to three cars for the 200 mile event. The team fielded three entries in the 2015 ARCA season finale at Kansas Speedway. The race was a success for the organization, as all three automobiles finished inside the top-12. Two of the cars finished inside the top-five, including capturing the team’s third win of the season.

In their second year as a team, Mason Mitchell Motorsports captured three wins (Winchester, Iowa and Kansas) with two different drivers Mason Mitchell and Austin Wayne Self.

Full-time driver Self finished second in the championship standings this past season. In its two years of operation, MMM has earned four wins, 22 top-fives, 35 top-10 runs, five Menards pole awards, along with capturing the 2014 ARCA championship.

Next up for MMM is the annual test at Daytona from Jan. 15 – 16, 2016 in preparation for the running of the Daytona ARCA 200 on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016. MMM still has opportunities available for the test and race.

Team Penske to Celebrate 50th Anniversary in 2016

NASCAR Hall of Fame Exhibit Will Launch Exciting Year in January 

Team Penske unveiled its plans today for the year-long celebration of its 50th Anniversary in motorsports during 2016. The team will wave the green flag on the commemorative activities via their exhibition at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC in January. ‘Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Team Penske’ will be a multi-faceted program that will reach into retail and merchandise, media and fan engagement, sponsor partnerships and special events. Team Penske’s Media Tour at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on January 20 and an employee and partner celebration featuring current and past Team Penske drivers that same evening will serve as the official start of the historic year.

The January 20th date will coincide with the début of their exhibition at the NASCAR Hall of Fame dedicated to celebrating the team’s history. The special show will not only focus on Team Penske’s successful NASCAR program, but will showcase cars spanning multiple racing disciplines from 1966 to the present and will include never seen artifacts and trophies from the Team Penske archives. An additional exhibit focused on Team Penske will debut in February at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum 100 days before the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 in May. That display will not only feature cars representing each Team Penske driver’s first win at the speedway, but will also include vehicles, artifacts and trophies from Penske’s rich 50-year history.

The team will also announce the inaugural inductions into the Team Penske Hall of Fame, a yearly honor that is for eligible current and former drivers and employees, who make a meaningful impact on the team and its history.

On January 18,  a feature of Team Penske will be in a special pull-out section of the Sports Business Journal, a publication that selected the team as a finalist for its prestigious “Sports Team of the Year” award in 2014. Roger Penske will also be featured as one of the six annual Sports Business Champions in the publication.

“We are very proud of all Team Penske has accomplished over the last 50 years. The celebration of our 50th Anniversary is truly a credit to the hard work, preparation and execution of our teams over the years,” said Roger Penske. “The 2016 season will be a special one in our history as we have the opportunity to reflect back on our heritage while continuing to produce and win at a high level each week on the race track.”

Beginning as Roger Penske Racing in 1966, competing in sports car and endurance events, Team Penske has grown into one of the most successful racing teams – and sports teams – in the world. The team won its class in the 24 Hours of Daytona in its first start and since then Team Penske has produced a joint effort of 424 wins, 487 pole positions and 28 national championships. Those totals include a historic 16 Indianapolis 500 victories, two Daytona 500 wins and the distinct honor of being the last American constructor to win a Formula One race, coming in 1976 with driver John Watson.

Noted automotive website Jalopnik recently named Team Penske the greatest American racing team of all time.

Team Penske is implementing an extensive media plan in 2016 and will bring many of the historic races, drivers, team members and pivotal moments of Team Penske’s past back to the forefront through interviews and features that will target broadcast, print and online media. Already, more than 70 in-depth interviews with current and former drivers, employees, sponsors and other influencers in motorsports are ready for distribution throughout the year.

Team Penske will celebrate the 50th Anniversary all year-long on its social media channels as well, utilizing the #Penske50 hashtag. Over the course of the season, Team Penske will feature current and former driver biographies, historic photographs and videos and will closely look at some of the events that have shaped the team over the years. Team Penske will also partner with Ford and Shell to crown ‘Team Penske’s Ultimate Fan’ in a sweepstakes that will award some unique prizing. Expect details on the contest in the coming days.

Current partners will use the newly created Team Penske 50th Anniversary logo and team history into point of sale and advertising throughout the 2016 season. Many Team Penske sponsors have been a crucial part of the success of the organization and several partners enjoy their joint efforts with the team for 25 years or longer. To further enhance the celebration, many partners will use special paint schemes, displayed at both NASCAR and INDYCAR events throughout the coming season.

A special line of 50th Anniversary merchandise will also début early in the year, including exclusive Puma apparel, collectibles, novelties and die-casts.

A special Team Penske ‘Fan Day’ will help fans share in all the 50th Anniversary excitement at the team’s headquarters in May. An unveiling of specific plans for the family friendly event is forthcoming in the near future, Fan Day will feature current and past Team Penske drivers, live entertainment, local food trucks, partner displays, interactive areas and special giveaways.

The Jimmie Johnson Foundation Announces Plans

for Third Annual Wellness Challenge 

The Jimmie Johnson Foundation Kicks Off 10th Anniversary Campaign

with the Return of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Wellness Challenge, presented by Penn Mutual 

Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson and his wife, Chandra announced today that the Jimmie Johnson Foundation (JJF) Wellness Challenge, presented by Penn Mutual, will return in 2016.  The JJF Wellness Challenge is a series of four athletic events that attract a range of participants, from beginners to advance.  Three of the four events are in and around Charlotte, North Carolina. New to the JJF Wellness Challenge in 2016 is the ‘JJF Virtual Triathlon’ an event that allows anyone living in the United States to take part by registering and completing 2.4 miles swim, 112 miles bike and 26.2 miles run (in their own time), during the month of October.

“This marks the 10th anniversary of the Foundation and during that time, we have supported some great projects and non-profit organizations,” said Johnson, co-founder of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. “The JJF Wellness Challenge is one of the many ways we raise money for programs that support public education.”

Since its inception, the JJF Wellness Challenge has raised more than $400,000 for K-12 public education.

“Chandra and I can hardly believe that it has been ten years since we began the Foundation,” Johnson added. “We are so grateful for the support of the community and partners, especially Lowe’s, Penn Mutual and Blue Bunny.”

“Penn Mutual is delighted to again support the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Wellness Challenge,” said Dave O’Malley, President & Chief Operating Officer of Penn Mutual. “Our associates are not only proud of our sponsorship, but are also proud to have participated in the events in 2015, and we look to build on that together this year.”

The Wellness Challenge consists of three events in and around the Charlotte, North Carolina area and one virtual event:

  • Jimmie Johnson Foundation 5K on Sunday, May 22 (Huntersville, North Carolina)
  • Jimmie Johnson Foundation Cane Creek Sprint Triathlon on Tuesday, July 26 (Waxhaw, North Carolina)
  • Jimmie Johnson Foundation Lake Davidson Sprint Triathlon on Sunday, Sept. 11 (Davidson, North Carolina)
  • Jimmie Johnson Foundation Virtual Triathlon during the month of October 2016


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