Page 24 - 2020_NHMS_Souvenir_program

“Just the area, the great racing, the highs and lows of The Boston Marathon was a different story. Rather
success and mental toughness at the track and the than competing in the world-famous endurance
lobster experience in victory lane,” he said. race with his cycling buddies, Johnson made this a
personal mission. Forty-three years old at the time
When Johnson says he’ll miss the area, he means it. of his Boston Marathon debut, Johnson trained
After all, for several years, he and many of his fellow religiously in preparation for the 26.2-mile event. All
Cup Series drivers have made a habit of leaving New the hard work paid off when he finished his first-ever
Hampshire Motor Speedway together at some point marathon in an impressive three hours, nine minutes
during the race weekend for a bike ride through and seven seconds – just shy of his goal of finishing
the scenic New Hampshire countryside. These rides in three hours. His average pace was seven minutes
usually occur on Friday or Saturday evening, and the and 13 seconds per mile. Johnson will forever savor
exact destination and route are rarely planned well in the experience, which included having a “pit crew” of
advance of the race weekend. nearly 100 fans connected with his primary sponsor,
Ally Financial, on-hand to support him.
Johnson, a longtime self-professed health, exercise
and fitness guru, has usually headed up the group of “It was incredible,” Johnson said. “I don’t know if I have
drivers who hop on their road bikes for an excursion any more in my future. I would like to run the New York
into the Granite State’s gorgeous terrain. City Marathon possibly – that is on my bucket list – but
it was the toughest thing I ever did in my life. I ran
“We have been cycling for about five or so years now,” approximately 800 miles to train over six months and
Johnson said. “The garage schedule usually dictates fell just short of my goal, but overall, I was very proud
how big the group is, so it can be anywhere from five of the effort, and it was an incredible experience that I
to 20 people. Really, it just depends. New Hampshire will never forget.”
has beautiful roads to pedal on. We love to see the
area on a bike; it’s a great break from the pressure at Johnson also won’t forget the fact that his presence
the track, a good way to build relationships in the in the event hardly went unnoticed. Of course, that
garage and it’s just fun. We have a lot of strong guys wasn’t all that surprising when considering how many
and some just starting, so we all stick together. We trips Johnson has made to New Hampshire Motor
don’t drop anyone.” Speedway and the New England area over the past
two decades – not to mention his remarkable list of
NASCAR achievements.

22