Lowe’s and the No. 48 team rev up 'Racing for Relief' in July

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (July 11, 2008) -- Jimmie Johnson will be representing his sponsor Lowe’s during the “Racing for Relief” event this month in Chicago and Indianapolis. Funds raised are donated to the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of the recent tornadoes and floods in the Central U.S. As part of “Racing for Relief,” the Red Cross logo will be displayed on the deck lid of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet during the July races. Also, Lowe's will donate $48 for each lap Johnson completes in the Chicagoland 400 at the Chicagoland Speedway on July 12 and the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27. To top it all off, if Johnson wins either race, Lowe's will donate an additional $4,800 per victory. The program has special meaning for Chad Knaus, crew chief of the No. 48 Lowe’s Impala SS. "I grew up just a couple of hours from Chicagoland Speedway," said Chad Knaus, crew chief for the No. 48 Lowe's Impala SS. "It's amazing the damage that has been done by floods in the Midwest and I really feel fortunate to be associated with a sponsor like Lowe's, who is going out of their way to help those affected by it the most. We're going to do our best to get to Victory Lane the next couple of weeks so we can help as many people as we can." “Racing for Relief” isn’t the only program Lowe’s has implemented to help raise money for tornadoes and flood victims. Nine Lowe’s stores across the Midwest, are serving as official cash donation sites for the Midwest Flood Recovery which benefits the Red Cross for immediate relief and the United Way for long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts. Also, through July 21, Lowe’s will match in-store customer donations up to a total of $100,000. "It's great that Lowe's is willing to provide some assistance for the flood victims," Johnson said. "We've partnered with the American Red Cross before to help provide relief for the wildfires in California and other initiatives. So many lives have been affected, and it's nice to give back to the people in those areas and let them know that we're thinking of them and are willing to help." Anyone interested in making a donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund may visit participating Lowe's stores in the Midwest, donate online at www.redcross.org, or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.