Vincent Publishing - Index

Vincent Publishing - 2008 Wachovia Championship - Index

JIMMIE JOHNSON
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“It’s amazing what they do. The mental focus that’s
required, especially considering how long a game of
golf is,” he said. “It’s a lot like NASCAR racing. Our
shortest race is three and a half hours and most races
are up in the five-hour neighborhood. It’s one of
those few sports where you have to be on for a long,
long time. I have a lot of respect for these guys and
their abilities. I can’t believe how far some of these
guys hit the ball. Tiger probably hits a four- or a fiveiron
as far as I can hit my driver. It’s just so amazing.”
So how good of a golfer is the best driver on the
NASCAR circuit for the past two seasons?
“It’s kind of a dangerous question, because I have a
high handicap and I keep forgetting to do this. I really
need to get a real handicap because everybody
keeps giving me a 25, and now everybody is telling
me I’m a 20. I’m still trying to negotiate for the 25 on
the first tee, but my friends aren’t paying attention
anymore and won’t give it to me,” he said. “I play a lot
of golf with Casey Mears, my crew chief, Chad Knaus,
and Jeff’s [Gordon] crew chief Seve Letarte. We like to
get out during the summer after practice and squeeze
in at least nine or sometimes 18 at a course near the
track, wherever we are.”
Although Johnson is getting a little more serious about
his golf game, there are still times where goofing off is
still the way to play. Case in point was during a celebrity
charity pro-am in Florida in December 2006.
The good-natured Johnson decided it would be fun to
ride in a golf cart. Make that, on top of a golf cart. The
ride became more dangerous than running 190 mph
around the steep banks of Daytona.
“Horsing around on a golf cart is not a good thing to
do. Earlier in the day, I jumped on the top of one and
everyone got a chuckle out of it,” he said. “So I tried
it later in the day and I found out that plastic cleats
and plastic golf cart roofs don’t really work too well
together and I fell off and broke my wrist.”
The injury healed before the beginning of the ’07 season
and once again, golf taught Johnson a life lesson.
“If you’re going to be stupid, you better be strong.”
Strong is a prominent characteristic of Johnson’s personality.
In early 2006, he formed his foundation in
Charlotte that is dedicated to assisting children, families
and communities in need, including the
American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity,
Hendrick Marrow Program, Make-a-Wish Program
and Victory Junction Gang Camp.
His most recent charity golf event was when he cohosted
the Super Skins Celebrity Golf Classic in
Scottsdale, Arizona with singer and good friend, Nick
Lachey. The event was held in conjunction with the
Super Bowl and raised more than $500,000 for 14
charities. The duo is committed to the event for the
next two years.
Even though Lachey quipped the two would play
chicken standing on top of golf carts, experience prevailed.
Johnson said no.
That’s strong.
2008 Wachovia Championship Official Event Program