CONCORD, N.C. – This weekend, Jimmie Johnson will pilot a paint scheme close to his heart.
Monday afternoon, the No. 48 Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 was unveiled. It will hit the track at Kentucky Speedway for Saturday night's race.
In the car, Johnson will also wear the Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope, which honors five charities working to improve K-12 public education.
As a show of support for Johnson’s efforts to raise funds for K-12 public education, a number of his NASCAR Cup Series competitors will join him in displaying JJF-branded decals on the visors of their helmets.
“I’m thrilled to be able to share and celebrate the work of the foundation this weekend,” Johnson said. “Chandra (wife) and I are so grateful to Lowe’s for allowing us to run the foundation paint scheme for the 13th time, Blue Bunny for sponsoring the Helmet of Hope program again this year, and all of the drivers participating in the visor campaign. Thanks to the overwhelming 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 Helmet of Hope program allows fans across the country to nominate and vote on not-for-profit organizations that support K-12 public education. Each of this year’s recipients was awarded a $25,000 grant and a Blue Bunny ice cream party.
The five charities are Hamilton Heights Educational Foundation in Arcadia, Indiana; Life Pieces to Masterpieces in Washington, D.C.; Read Better Be Better in Phoenix; Siouxland Ag in the Classroom in Moville, Iowa; and The Pencil Box in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
At the conclusion of Saturday night's race at Kentucky, the participating drivers – including Johnson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammates Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman – will sign their visors that sport a specially designed Jimmie Johnson Foundation strip.
The autographed visors will be available in an online auction to raise funds to support K-12 public education.
Check out a timelapse of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation paint scheme coming together.