Seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson doesn't just contest races behind the wheel of the #48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in NASCAR's top series, he also races on foot. In April, one of NASCAR's all-time greats plans to contest the 26.2-mile Boston Marathon.
“Away from the car, there are plenty of goals that occupy my free time,” Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson told NBC Sports. “Endurance sports is a big part of that.”
The 2019 edition of the Boston Marathon will be Johnson's first marathon. Entry in one of the US's most popular marathons normally requires the achievement of standard times in other marathons. Johnson, though, will be racing with an exemption from sports dring company Gatorade.
“I don’t know what 26.2 feels like,” Johnson said. “I’ve been to 20 a handful of times, already, in the training. It takes two days to feel normal again. The challenge of completing the accomplishment, I’m drawn to that stuff. I’d love to see how far I can push myself. We’ll see how it shakes out on April 15.”
Johnson began training in November and has been running 70 miles/week. He plans to increase that distance to 100 miles/week. An avid runner, he already has run several half-marathons. Johnson was one of three NASCAR drivers to compete in the Daytona Beach Half-Marathon on Feb. 10, the same day as Daytona 500 front-row qualifying and the Auto Parts Clash exhibition race.
Johnson finished 14th, overall, and first in his age group in the Half-Marathon before posting a top-four qualifying lap and winning the Clash in his #48 car. Fellow-drivers Jamie McMurray and Landon Cassill finished fifth and 87th, overall, respectively, in the foot race.
The April 15 date of the 2019 Boston Marathon will give Johnson a full day, weather permitting, to recover after contesting a NASCAR race at Richmond Raceway.
Johnson isn't the first NASCAR driver to compete in the Boston Marathon. Former driver Michael Waltrip contested the race in 2000.
