Five- time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson was ‘shocked and floored” by the devastation he witnessed during a visit Thursday to tornado-ravaged Moore, Okla. Johnson, who said he will donate his winnings from Sundays race at Dover to recovery efforts, visited the town to distribute supplies to victims of the May 19-20 Oklahoma tornadoes in which two schools were destroyed and 24 lives were lost. The trip was made in conjunction with Lowes, the primary sponsor on Johnsons #48 Chevy, and the Feed the Children initiative. Johnson was joined by his wife, Chani, who grew up in Muskogee, about 160 miles from Moore. ‘[I] had to leave yesterday and get out of there as fast as we could because storms were coming’ Johnson said. ‘It was odd, because Im getting on a plane to fly out and Im leaving my family behind. Theyre staying there with Chanis parents this weekend. Im, ‘Oh, my God. Im so torn. Im rushing out of here because something bad is coming, but Im leaving my girls behind.'” Johnson had to leave for Dover, where hes been extremely successful over the years, so his donated winnings to Moore could be substantial. Since the start of 2009, Johnson has led 1,681 laps at the Monster Mile, more than half the total laps run there in that time, and 1,201 more than any other driver. Johnson is the defending champion, taking home more than $319,000 a year ago, a seven-time winner at the one-mile track and winner of four of the eight races held there since 2009.( ESPN )
