Stewart-Marchman to Honor Johnson

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 2, 2003) – The Stewart-Marchman Foundation will honor NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Jimmie Johnson during its annual Daytona Club gala at Daytona International Speedway on July 2 at 6:30 p.m. EDT. Johnson is coming off of a superb rookie season in 2002 when he tied the modern-day rookie record with three wins and swept both events at Dover International Speedway. This season, he is continuing where he left off in Winston Cup competition by winning The Winston, NASCAR's all-star event, on his home track -- Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. The win netted Johnson the largest purse in the 19-year history of the event -- a cool $1 million. He followed that with another victory at LMS in the “600” over Memorial Day weekend. In addition to his racing prowess, Johnson has demonstrated concern for others, both as a friend and mentor to young race-car drivers. He has volunteered for the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet and teamed up with Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse to help support U.S. troops by raising money for Operation United Service Organizations (USO) Care Packages. Money raised through donations at local Lowe's stores will be sent to the USO and used to create care packages that troops will receive around the world. Joining Johnson at the gala will be former NASCAR driver and broadcast personality Benny Parsons, who will emcee the event. Title sponsor for the fundraiser is The Johnson Group, Inc.-- one of Central Florida's most prominent builder-developers. The Stewart-Marchman Foundation, Inc., was created in 1997 to support the work of the Stewart-Marchman Center for Chemical Independence, a non-profit, community-based corporation that provides treatment and related inpatient/outpatient services to people in Volusia and Flagler counties who suffer from some kind of chemical addiction. The foundation’s mission is to raise public awareness of the center's residential programs and to encourage planned giving in support of the Stewart-Marchman Center's work with addicted persons in our communities. Tickets for the event may be purchased from the Stewart-Marchman Foundation, Inc. For reservations and contributions, call (386) 947-1416.