President Barack Obama will welcome three-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson to the White House on Monday (August 3rd). Obama, the 44th president, will also honor other former NASCAR champions and other drivers who qualified for the 2008 Chase for the championship. Johnson’s #48 Lowe’s Chevy also will be parked at the White House.(Associated Press)
UPDATE: Today’s scheduled appearance of Jimmie Johnson and other drivers at the White House has been postponed. Other invitees were last year’s drivers in the Chase; Mark Martin and Juan Pablo Montoya, who are in this year’s top 12 in points; and former champions Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Jarrett, Rusty Wallace and Bobby and Terry Labonte.(Philadelphia Daily News)
AND: NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said the date of a future visit was being discussed with White House officials.(Associated Press)(8-2-2009)
UPDATE: White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says the meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House has been rescheduled for Wednesday, August 19th: “Today’s previously scheduled event to honor NASCAR champion had to be rescheduled because the race yesterday was rained out. That event will now be August 19, here at the White House.”(Whitehouse.gov)(8-4-2009)
