(PHOENIX, Ariz.) – Phoenix International Raceway President Bryan Sperber today announced a partnership with the Jimmie Johnson Foundation for the April 10 NASCAR Camping World Series West race at PIR, to be named the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150.
The Jimmie Johnson Foundation joins Phoenix International Raceway as the final piece to the track’s opening weekend of the 2008 season. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150 is scheduled as the first of three races during the SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 event weekend, with the green flag dropping under PIR’s bright lights at 7:15 p.m. on April 10.
“Our goal in this partnership is to give local families the opportunity to experience racing,” said Johnson, who started the Jimmie Johnson Foundation with wife Chandra in 2006. “We really appreciate this opportunity with PIR and Bryan, who reached out to us with the idea. Hopefully, we are able to generate some awareness for the foundation and other worthy causes in the process.”
The Jimmie Johnson Foundation is dedicated to assisting children, families and communities in need. The foundation’s partner programs include: American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Hendrick Marrow Program, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and Victory Junction Gang Camp.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and the charities that Jimmie and I are passionate about helping,” said Chandra Johnson, co-founder of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. “I’m obviously pretty familiar with pre-race ceremonies but this is the first time I will be a part of them. I am excited that some special friends of the foundation are going to help me with the command to start engines.”
The two-time reigning Sprint Cup champion also will participate in pre-race ceremonies, and the Jimmie Johnson Foundation will host a special reception during the race in one of PIR’s luxury suites. Tickets for the reception have been donated to the Jimmie Johnson Foundation’s partner program organizations as well as PIR’s charitable partner, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix.
“We are truly excited about partnering with Jimmie Johnson on this unique project,” said Sperber. “By changing the race name to the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150, we will be able to bring regional and national attention to the foundation’s wonderful efforts and the programs they support.”
General race tickets for the April 10 Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150 and all other events throughout the NASCAR event weekend at PIR are available for purchase at www.racetickets.com.
Johnson will be available to the media on Thursday, April 10 in the PIR Media Center at a time to be determined.
CONTACT:
Paul Corliss, Director of Communications
(623) 463-5613
pcorliss@phoenixinternationalraceway.com
PIR
125 S. Avondale Blvd. Suite 200
Avondale, AZ 85323