Seven-time NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson will highlight the Jimmie Johnson Foundation this weekend during the Hollywood Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City. Johnson will wear the Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope, which honors five charities working to improve K-12 public education during the race. In addition to the Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope, a number of Cup competitors and Xfinity drivers will help raise awareness for the Foundation by sporting a specially designed TeamJJF strip on the visors of their respective helmets.
In support of the Foundation’s efforts, the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet will feature a special decal to recognize the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and Ally Fueling Futures. The “Ally Fueling Futures” program introduces teens to motorsports careers and money basics and debuted at Michigan International Speedway in August.
“It’s really exciting to be able to promote the Jimmie Johnson Foundation this weekend,” said Johnson. “Chandra (wife) and I are so grateful to Ally for allowing us to highlight the foundation, to Blue Bunny for sponsoring the Helmet of Hope program for the 8th time, and all of the drivers participating in the TeamJJF visor campaign. Thanks to the generosity of our partners and the NASCAR community, we are able to provide much needed financial support to some outstanding non-profits and schools through Foundation programs.”
The Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope program allows fans and consumers across the country to nominate and vote on not-for-profit (501c3) organizations that support K-12 public education. Each of the recipients was also awarded a $25,000 grant and a Blue Bunny Ice Cream party.
The 5 recipient charities are:
● Art With a Heart in Indianapolis
● High Mountain Youth Project in Ruidoso, New Mexico
● Immigrant Family Services Institute in Roslindale, Massachusetts
● Lakeshore Elementary School PTA in San Francisco
● Pilot Light in Chicago
At the conclusion of Sunday’s 400-mile race at Kansas, participating drivers will sign their TeamJJF branded visors. The signed visors will be available in an online auction to raise funds to support K-12 public education. Participating drivers include:
Cup Drivers:
Aric Almirola
Alex Bowman
Clint Bowyer
Chris Buescher
Kurt Busch
Kyle Busch
William Byron
Landon Cassill
Matt DiBenedetto
Chase Elliott
Erik Jones
Corey LaJoie
B.J. McLeod
Michael McDowell
Ryan Preece
David Ragan
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Daniel Suarez
Matt Tifft
Martin Truex Jr.
Bubba Wallace
Xfinity Drivers:
Christopher Bell
Chase Briscoe
Joey Gase
Gray Gaulding
B.J. McLeod
Vinnie Miller
Matt Mills
Garrett Smithley
Drivers Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, and Ryan Newman will donate visors for the auction.
In addition to the Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope program, the Foundation operates the Champions Grant program, which provides cash grants to schools in the Johnson’s hometowns and where they currently live; and Team Up For Technology, a $48,000 technology makeover open to schools nationwide.
