Catchfence

In previous years, when New York played host to the Sprint Cup Series awards banquet, the series champion, usually along with the other 11 Chase contenders, spent a week in the Big Apple on a media tour of sorts leading up to the banquet at the end of the week.

With the 2009 banquet being held in Las Vegas on Dec. 4 at the Wynn, 2009 champion Jimmie Johnson will spend this week on a two state tour of sorts.

The champion’s tour starts on Monday with a student assembly at Crest Elementary School in El Cajon, Calif., which just happens to be Johnson’s elementary alma mater. While in the area, he will award grants to 11 San Diego-area schools through his Jimmie Johnson Foundation. Johnson will also visit with Marines at Camp Pendleton and visit a Lowe’s store before calling it a day. - Full Story by Amanda Vincent – Louisville NASCAR Examiner