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Avondale, Ariz. -- Jarit Johnson announced today his entry into the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150 NASCAR Camping World West Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. Johnson will pilot the no.09 Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet for long time race team owner Dick Midgley. Johnson got the call from Midgley last Friday and the deal was agreed to by that afternoon. Both Midgley and (Jarit) Johnson agreed to promote further awareness to the Jimmie Johnson Foundation by providing primary sponsorship on the car. It will be Johnson's first-ever time racing at the Phoenix track and his first appearance in the Camping World West Series. Despite the short notice and lack of track time Johnson feels confident about having a good run.

"I want to thank Dick Midgley and the Jimmie Johnson Foundation for giving me this opportunity," expressed Johnson. "I have been to Phoenix before but never raced there. But that's OK with me. I welcome the challenge and am confident we can have a good run. That's my main goal is to have a solid finish and gain further awareness for the Jimmie Johnson Foundation."

Team owner Dick Midgley needed a driver for the event and once the race title was named the Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150 he recalled there being a younger brother to the two-time Sprint Cup Champion (Jimmie Johnson). Midgley did a bit of research to find younger brother Jarit Johnson. And after seeing his 2007 resume, which included 8-wins and 4-poles at the famed Hickory Motor Speedway, he decided to track him down.

"I found his phone number through a chain of people and just called him up. Jarit was on board right away," said Midgley. "But what impressed me the most was he wanted to come out early and help get the car in order. He rounded up a few crew guys to come and help. Jarit wanted to get hands on and involved more than just showing up and driving."

Johnson will have to learn fast at driving a new track and new car. But he'll have some solid advice nearby in his older brother, who has one win and four top fives at the track. The Sprint Cup champion also will participate in pre-race ceremonies, and the Jimmie Johnson Foundation will host a special reception during the race in one of PIR's luxury suites. Tickets for the reception have been donated to the Jimmie Johnson Foundation's partner program organizations as well as PIR's charitable partner, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix.

"This is an exciting opportunity for the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and the charities that Jimmie and I are passionate about helping," said Chandra Johnson, co-founder of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. "I'm obviously pretty familiar with pre-race ceremonies but this is the first time I will be a part of them. I am excited that some special friends of the foundation are going to help me with the command to start engines."

Practice for the Camping World West Series Jimmie Johnson Foundation 150 begins at 8am Thursday April 10th. Qualifying starts at 2pm with the Green Flag start at 7:15pm. For more information on Jarit Johnson visit: www.JaritJohnson.com For further information on the Jimmie Johnson Foundation visit: www.JimmieJohnsonFoundation.com

Catch the race Live on HD Network at 10pm EST. Re-air 12pm Est. April 23rd on SPEED TV