And now, on to Las Vegas. #48-Jimmie Johnson completed his Southern California Champions Week visits on Tuesday. The four-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion readies for three days of festivities that begin with Wednesdays Chasers for the Charity Fanfest and roast beginning at 10:00am/pt in the Neon Garage at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Johnson is slated to be the guest of honor or, better said, the one on the hot seat when stand-up comic Kevin Burke, who currently stars in the Broadway hit Defending the Caveman, along with the champions fellow competitors turn up the heat by roasting Johnson in the name of charity at 1:30pm/pt. You couldnt have scripted it any better, Johnson said of this years Champions Week, being held for the first time in Las Vegas and offering fans and media in two states the opportunity to celebrate with the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup champion. Ive definitely been able to work in a little more sleep, said Johnson comparing this years event with his 2006-08 Champions Week trips to New York City. Of course, when we get to Vegas that may change. Its neat to hit different areas of the country and get the opportunity to visit with all of our great fans, which have supported me on this journey all along.
On that note, Mayor Randy Voepel and the City Council of Santee, Calif., proclaimed Monday Jimmie Johnson Day as the champions latest accomplishments were celebrated at a homecoming party at a Lowes store in the San Diego suburb. The event attracted nearly 3,000 fans, Johnsons family and former motocross and off-road legends Rick Johnson and Ivan Ironman Stewart. Johnson, who grew up in nearby El Cajon, suggested that the communitys speed limits, currently 45 mph, be raised to 48. Voepel responded well work on that tomorrow.
Day 2 of Champions Week consisted of an appearance at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana where Johnson had breakfast with and conducted a Q&A with 700 of the tracks invited guests. He also participated in several media functions. Johnson has won four NASCAR Sprint Cup races at the track including the last three runnings of its Pepsi 500. #20-Joey Logano, meanwhile, made the rounds of Las Vegas print, affiliate and broadcast media on Tuesday. His interviewers included the Las Vegas Review-Journal, a KNTV (ABC) morning show and KVVU (FOX) news. For Logano, the 2009 season was his one opportunity to make a good first impression. Its really an honor to be the Raybestos Rookie of the Year. It was one of our goals this year and Im glad I did it since I dont get a second shot at it, said the 19-year-old Connecticut native, who joined NASCAR Sprint Cup superstars Richard Petty, David Pearson, Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace and Jeff Gordon among winners of the freshman title. It was the opportunity of a lifetime to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing, said Logano, who won once in 2009 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It was really cool to jump into a car with a team that had success. The No. 20 team won championships in 2002 and 2005 with Tony Stewart behind the wheel. Logano also offered congratulations to Johnson on his fourth consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup title. Its impressive to accomplish something like that. It makes me want to keep digging so I can try and beat him, he said. Logano has a date Wednesday to fly with the U.S. Air Forces famed Thunderbirds.(NASCAR)(12-2-2009)
