Johnson visits Oklahoma tornado victims, pledges donations
Jimmie Johnson spent Thursday in Moore, Okla., to help distribute supplies to tornado victims.
He was accompanied by his wife, Chani, a native of Muskogee, Okla. The visit was in conjunction with Johnson’s sponsor, Lowe’s, and the Feed the Children initiative.
Johnson, who leads NASCAR’s Sprint Cup standings, filmed a public service announcement for a benefit concert hosted by country star Blake Shelton. Johnson pledged to donate his winnings from Sunday’s race at Dover, Del., to tornado recovery efforts. He also donated his All-Star race winnings – about $1 million – to relief efforts.
Busch wins trucks race
Kyle Busch pulled away in the final laps to win the NASCAR Truck Series race at Dover International Speedway.
Busch won in the series for the second straight race following his victory at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Matt Crafton was second and Ryan Blaney third. Chase Elliott and Brendan Gaughan rounded out the top five.
Hamlin takes pole
Denny Hamlin turned a lap of 157.978 mph to win the pole for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Dover International Speedway.
Hamlin followed up his pole last week at Charlotte Motor Speedway with the top speed on Friday and his 15th career pole.
Martin Truex Jr., who won his only career Cup race at Dover, joins Hamlin on the front row. Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth and Ryan Newman round out the top five.
Points leader Jimmie Johnson starts 24th.
Franchitti docked
Dario Franchitti has won the pole for the first of two IndyCar races at the Detroit Grand Prix.
Franchitti, though, will start 11th today because of a 10-grid-spot penalty for making an unapproved engine change at Indianapolis.
The Chip Ganassi Racing driver earned the top spot in qualifying Friday with a lap of 1:19.3311 on Belle Isle’s 2.36-mile street course. It was the 31st pole of his career and second this season.
E.J. Viso, who qualified second, will start up front followed by Mike Conway, James Jakes and defending IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay.