Johnson Waves Green Flag On ‘Chase Across America’ National Media Tour

NASCAR Cup Series News
Tuesday, Sep 11 5465
Five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson boasts a well-deserved reputation for finishing first. But this week, he started first, kicking off a four-day media blitz that will see all 12 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship contenders visit 12 different markets during the second-annual Chase Across America media tour.
 
Johnson navigated his second home today – New York City – on a multi-stop media tour that included appearances on LIVE! with Kelly and Michael, FOX Business Network, CNN Headline News, SiriusXM Satellite Radio and FOX News with Sheppard Smith.
 
Monday’s conversations started with a taped national television hit that paired a five-time NASCAR champion with a one-time NFL Super Bowl champion (Michael Strahan) and a three-time Emmy winner (Kelly Ripa). Johnson landed the quote of the morning, answering a question from former New York Giants defensive end and new “LIVE! with Kelly and Michael” co-host Strahan. Strahan asked which driver Johnson wanted to see get knocked out of the Chase. Johnson quipped: “The other 11 guys in it.” The interview will air on “LIVE!” on Thursday, Sept. 13.
 
Throughout the day, Johnson chatted about the 10-race Chase (which kicks of Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN), reclaiming glory a year after his five-consecutive title run ended, and the upcoming release of his new coffee table book “On The Road.”
 
“It’s something my wife [Chandra] and I published,” said Johnson, who owns an apartment in New York City. “We had a friend follow us around for 10 weeks and ended up with 15,000 photos.”
 
All Over The Map:Business heats up Tuesday, as 10 of the 12 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers will pepper all parts of the country, from Phoenix to Miami, and Texas to New Hampshire. Tomorrow’s lineup: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will head to ESPN headquarters; Brad Keselowski will hit Chicago, site of the Chase opener; Denny Hamlin visits New Hampshire, race No. 2 in the Chase; Kasey Kahne, the Chase’s No. 1 Wild Card, will travel to Philadelphia in advance of Dover’s Chase race; Kevin Harvick, a 2010 Talladega winner, will take part in an event at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ largest track; as for NASCAR’s smallest track, Martinsville Speedway will host Greg Biffle, a two-time winner this season; Martin Truex Jr., who made his first Chase since 2007, will be in Kansas; Clint Bowyer, who won the regular season finale at Richmond, will visit Texas; Four-time series champion Jeff Gordon will hit Phoenix, the site of the penultimate race in the Chase; and Matt Kenseth will fly his talents to South Beach in advance of the championship-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Charlotte Motor Speedway will hold its Chase Across America event next Tuesday, Sept. 18, with defending series champion Tony Stewart.
 
Annual Chase Media Day Set For Wednesday: All 12 drivers will congregate at downtown Chicago’s House of Blues on Wednesday for the annual 2012 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Media Day. Media availability will run from 11:15 a.m.-1 p.m. CT. Following media availability, the 12 drivers will take part in ‘NASCAR Contenders Live’ — the ultimate fan Q&A event, sponsored by Toyota and Sprint. At the event, contenders will share their strategies on how they plan to win the ultimate prize: the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship trophy.
 
NASCAR PR
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