“I was amazed when I first saw how big the JCWP and the Habitat for Humanity in Anniston is,” Johnson said. “There were thousands of volunteers working their tails off and they are working to build over 30 homes, which is such a great thing for this community. Anniston is a great area and one I know well from racing at Talladega just a few short miles away.”Because of other sponsorship and appearance commitments — including a trip to New York on Tuesday — Johnson didn’t get to stay long. But he says he’ll be back whenever his schedule allows.
“It was an early morning call for us to get to Anniston for the build following Sunday’s race at Pocono, but it was well worth it and I had such a great time,” Johnson said. “Hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to be part of it next year.”
* * *DEAR JOHN NOTE: John Andretti got a sharp dose of NASCAR reality Tuesday when he was fired after five years at Petty Enterprises. The most shocking thing was that he tested a car at Virginia International Raceway on Monday and apparently was given no indication then that anything was coming.
Andretti did two stints with the Pettys, including re-signing with them after his contract was up last season despite the fact that they have not had truly competitive equipment in years.
“You want to be loyal to people, to things, whatever,” Andretti told his hometown paper, The Indianapolis Star. “That’s what digs the deepest.”
Andretti also indicated that he felt Kyle Petty’s explanation for his firing was unsatisfactory. Both Kyle and Richard Petty said that basically they just decided it was time to make a change.
“We appreciate what John has done for us,” Richard Petty said. “We had some successes, won some poles and won a race, but we feel like where we are right now it’s time for a change for Petty Enterprises and for John.”
Christian Fittipaldi will go into the No. 43 while Andretti hits the bricks in search of new ride, which may be hard to find at this time of year.
* * *TOUGH MAN TERRY: Remember a few years back when Terry Labonte held NASCAR’s record for most consecutive starts at 655? Even more amazing perhaps is that, since he had to miss two events because of injuries in the summer of 2000, Labonte has now started 99 straight races and will hit triple digits again Sunday at Michigan.
Ricky Rudd is the current NASCAR “Iron Man” with 694 consecutive starts.
Labonte, one of five drivers who doesn’t have a Did Not Finish on his card through 14 races this season, uncharacteristically touched off an incident with Jeff Green in the closing laps of Sunday’s Pennsylvania 500. Labonte finished seventh after the incident while Green dropped all the way to 33rd and went home with a demolished racecar.
Labonte later said he hated that it happened and that Green was one of the last guys he would want to wreck, but as the incident unfolded, he couldn’t see how he could avoid it.
“I got a good run on him coming off the corner and he cut down to block me,” Labonte said. “When he tried to cut back to the right, I didn’t want to let off the gas and I thought I had him cleared.
“I caught him in the back and around he went. I never meant to get into Jeff, but I had such a good run on him and then we just got together.”
Green, who was noticeably dazed after the crash that happened in the same spot where Steve Park crashed the No. 1 car last year, still has had no comment.
