CONCORD, N.C. – Jimmie Johnson is ready to take on a brand-new challenge this April.
The seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion is preparing to take part in the Boston Marathon for the very first time.
“It just seemed like something I should do,” Johnson said in a video posted on Twitter, “and let’s see if my body can handle it all.”
The driver recalled the emotional time surrounding the bombing that occurred at the Boston Marathon in 2013, when he set a goal to one day participate in the 26.2-mile race.
“Right then and there, I said, ‘I’ve got to run,’” he shared. “I want to be a part of that energy and that emotion that was #BostonStrong.”
Last Sunday, Johnson ran the Daytona Beach Half-Marathon, finishing 14th overall in the 13.1-mile event before winning The Clash just a few hours later.
Hear more from the driver on the decision to run – and what he’ll do to prepare for the April marathon just two days after a Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway – in the video above.