NASCAR drivers participate in Jimmie Johnson Foundation 5K race
The 2016 edition of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Wellness Challenge presented by PennMutual kicked off Sunday morning with a 5K race in Huntersville, North Carolina.
FOXSports.com's Tom Jensen with Jimmie Johnson at the 5K race in Huntersville, North Carolina.
The event, the first of three Johnson has planned for the year, drew a huge crowd of runners, including many in the NASCAR community Matt Kenseth and wife Katie participated, as did NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Trevor Bayne and Josh Wise, and NASCAR Camping Truck Series regular Ben Kennedy.
The late night everyone put in during Saturday night's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race didn't dampen the spirits of the participants, and perfect spring weather made for great running conditions
"NASCAR Race Hub" reporter Alan Cavanna (right) celebrates with Jimmie Johnson (left) after completing 5K race.
"When I started competing in triathlons and 5Ks, I was just floored by the community that comes and supports these events," Johnson told FOXSports.com. "And I just felt like it would be a great way to raise awareness and help raise funds for our thoughts and our causes.
"And it certainly has been that," he said. "Not only have we had great support from participants, some great corporate dollars have come to support our cause."
The NASCAR contingent acquitted themselves well: Katie Kenseth was second overall in the women's competition, while Bayne and Kennedy each won his respective age class.
The overall winners were Anthony Famiglietti of Davidson, N.C., who ran the hilly 5K course in 14 minutes, 8.555 seconds, while the women's class winner at 19:24.846 seconds was Michelle Hazelton of Charlotte.
Most importantly, a good time was had by all and money was raised for Johnson's Foundation, which does a lot of great work for worthy causes.
Good time at @TeamJJF this morning for the 5k great to see so many people and everyone taking the wellness challenge pic.twitter.com/udSpSZ3spr
— Ben Kennedy (@BenKennedy33) May 22, 2016
Killed it bro! https://t.co/zu0e7asOqd
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) May 22, 2016
Not a PR today but so much fun. Thanks to all that support @TeamJJF. pic.twitter.com/2YfMz7O7gz
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) May 22, 2016
Solid effort @ThePostman68 @JimmieJohnson @CopaCavanna @mikehembree @tomjensen100 #TeamJJF pic.twitter.com/mNjlEYTNNA
— Amy Walsh (@Aim_Walsh) May 22, 2016
