Johnson, Legion Family members come together in Wisconsin

Jimmie Johnson was amazed after talking to some American Legion members that turned out at Road America on June 18. It was at the annual “4-Mile Dinner Series” held throughout the year at the iconic road course near Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Members of the Wisconsin American Legion were honored guests at the event that featured a Q&A with Johnson, a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion who is an NTT INDYCAR SERIES rookie at Chip Ganassi Racing this season.

Before the formal Q&A Johnson met with some of the top Wisconsin officials from The American Legion, posed for pictures and signed autographs as he engaged each member in heartfelt conversation.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Johnson said. “It shows me how many Legion members are race fans. Their knowledge of IndyCar, their knowledge of NASCAR, my journey, I was really surprised with their racing knowledge. I’m so thankful for their service and so thankful to be part of the program.

“I actually heard some stories from the ’50s and ’60s from some of the older members. I’m not surprised. There is so much racing around here and so many racing fans. It did make me smile to see their enthusiasm and excitement for motorsport and to meet them today.”

It’s at events like this where Johnson’s personality shines the brightest.

He has the ability to engage in sincere conversation. That’s important to many of the members of the Legion that took part in this event.

“However we can be effective, that’s what the partnership is all about,” Johnson said. “I know the power of television and what that can do for it, but this in-person experience is very valuable, too.

“It’s an honor to be a part of Chip Ganassi Racing and have The American Legion as a partner on board. Both of my grandparents served (in the military), my brother-in-law served, so this is very close to home for me. There are many projects The American Legion are involved in and trying to raise awareness and support. To use motorsports in that platform is important. Chip Ganassi Racing is trying to raise awareness and spread the word of all the great work the Legion is doing and also to lean on our fans to help get involved and raise funds.”

Johnson and The American Legion are helping to spread the word and create awareness to the growing issue of veteran suicide and how to prevent it.

“Once you stop for a minute and put yourself in their shoes, you realize what an issue it is,” Johnson said. “The American Legion is doing an amazing job through motorsports to help raise awareness and really help veterans find the help that they need in tough times because they deserve it.”

Although Johnson is from El Cajon, Calif., and lives in the Charlotte, N.C., area from his days as a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, the trip to Road America was special in many ways.

“I spent a lot of time in Wisconsin growing up,” he said. “I raced a lot of off-road trucks in the area and lived in Milwaukee during my ASA days. It’s special. I have friends that are here that I haven’t seen in a long time. Even the off-road race was cool, so I’m looking forward to this.

“I noticed how special Wisconsin race fans are from when I lived here, and the other things is how much racing happens in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. It’s everywhere and fans watch different types of racing – dirt or asphalt. It’s part of the culture around here and people still have that love for the automobile regardless of what kind of car it is.”

In addition to having some of the most fervent and loyal racing fans in the country, Wisconsin is also the home to 501 American Legion posts throughout the state.

Nathan Gear of Hancock, Wis., Post 343 is department adjutant for the Wisconsin American Legion. His role includes running the day-to-day operations for the three main locations across Wisconsin that include 501 posts, 50,000 Legion members and 20,000 members of the Legion Family.

Gear served in the Army and Army National Guard, starting in mechanized infantry, then artillery and computers, and then became a recruiter and military science instructor at the University of Wisconsin’s main campus in Madison.

The June 18 function was the first time a statewide American Legion program engaged with the INDYCAR program, and it could serve as a template for other departments to follow in the future.

“From the beginning, as soon as I found out that national had contracted this program, I looked at it like having an opportunity here,” Gear said. “Like any other opportunity, we were persistent, and I’m hoping the other departments saw that, too. Don’t sit and wait for something to come to you; reach out and make something happen here. We made this happen by being persistent and working as a team here for this to come together today. We are trying to get The American Legion … some awareness out there, get the veterans to know we are supporting them and have an opportunity to be with somebody at this level that Jimmie Johnson is coming to Road America to help support The American Legion in any way he can. We are very honored to do that.

“It is a perfect fit. A lot of our veterans come from … a lot of small towns, a lot of farmer generations. In our small towns, we like doing this stuff. I grew up in a small town and we like to work on our trucks and cars and have a little fun with horsepower. That’s what it’s all about.

“You bring them all together at an event like Road America and the energy brings some of the same comradery as you have with veteran groups and different partnerships, you can do some great things and meet a lot of great people.

“The American Legion it’s all about teamwork and working together. One team, one fight, that’s what I follow, that motto. This is a great example of what we can do working together. Raising awareness for all of our veterans, for mental health and fundraising efforts, resources efforts, getting the word out for what The American Legion is.”

It’s that type of attitude and commitment from its members that makes one of the greatest race drivers in history proud to be representing The American Legion.

“It’s been amazing,” Johnson said. “The fact I have family members that have served, the relationship with The American Legion and seen all the great work that they do has been a lot of fun. I’ve met a lot of Legionnaires at a lot of races and know there will be a big presence here.

“It’s great to see the integration of racing and the men and woman that have served our country and done so much for us.”