Column: NASCAR's Johnson leaves lasting charitable mark
An entrance sign for Kentucky Speedway is decorated with a banner honoring driver Jimmie Johnson before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, July 12, 2020, in Sparta, Ky. NASCAR's nicest guy will run his final race this week and close a remarkable career. Jimmie Johnson's record-tying seven Cup titles are well celebrated, but his charitable work goes less noticed. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation has donated more than $12 million to schools and programs since it launched. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

An entrance sign for Kentucky Speedway is decorated with a banner honoring driver Jimmie Johnson before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, July 12, 2020, in Sparta, Ky. NASCAR's nicest guy will run his final race this week and close a remarkable career. Jimmie Johnson's record-tying seven Cup titles are well celebrated, but his charitable work goes less noticed. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation has donated more than $12 million to schools and programs since it launched. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nov. 02, 2020 12:49 PM EST
FILE - In this May 14, 2019, file photo, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson, second from left, helps assemble care packages for the North Carolina USO during a news conference in Concord, N.C. NASCAR's nicest guy will run his final race this week and close a remarkable career. Jimmie Johnson's record-tying seven Cup titles are well celebrated, but his charitable work goes less noticed. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation has donated more than $12 million to schools and programs since it launched. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)

FILE - In this May 14, 2019, file photo, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson, second from left, helps assemble care packages for the North Carolina USO during a news conference in Concord, N.C. NASCAR's nicest guy will run his final race this week and close a remarkable career. Jimmie Johnson's record-tying seven Cup titles are well celebrated, but his charitable work goes less noticed. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation has donated more than $12 million to schools and programs since it launched. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)

Nov. 02, 2020 12:52 PM EST
FILE - This Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014, file photo shows Dennis Knowles, left, executive director of U.S. stores for Lowe's, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Highland East Junior High to celebrate the opening of three area school gyms, in Moore, Okla. Johnson and Lowe's were major contributors to rebuilding facilities after a 2013 tornado destroyed homes, business, and schools in Moore. NASCAR's nicest guy will run his final race this week and close a remarkable career. Jimmie Johnson's record-tying seven Cup titles are well celebrated, but his charitable work goes less noticed. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation has donated more than $12 million to schools and programs since it launched. (Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman via AP, File)

FILE - This Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014, file photo shows Dennis Knowles, left, executive director of U.S. stores for Lowe's, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Highland East Junior High to celebrate the opening of three area school gyms, in Moore, Okla. Johnson and Lowe's were major contributors to rebuilding facilities after a 2013 tornado destroyed homes, business, and schools in Moore. NASCAR's nicest guy will run his final race this week and close a remarkable career. Jimmie Johnson's record-tying seven Cup titles are well celebrated, but his charitable work goes less noticed. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation has donated more than $12 million to schools and programs since it launched. (Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman via AP, File)

Nov. 02, 2020 12:47 PM EST
FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, file photo, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson gets a hug from Addison Smith, 2, as her sister, Kylie, 5, and mother, Katie, look on at Emerald Middle School in his hometown of El Cajon, Calif. Johnson's foundation made a donation to the school. NASCAR's nicest guy will run his final race this week and close a remarkable career. Jimmie Johnson's record-tying seven Cup titles are well celebrated, but his charitable work goes less noticed. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi, File)

FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, file photo, NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson gets a hug from Addison Smith, 2, as her sister, Kylie, 5, and mother, Katie, look on at Emerald Middle School in his hometown of El Cajon, Calif. Johnson's foundation made a donation to the school. NASCAR's nicest guy will run his final race this week and close a remarkable career. Jimmie Johnson's record-tying seven Cup titles are well celebrated, but his charitable work goes less noticed. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi, File)

Nov. 02, 2020 12:01 PM EST
Jimmie Johnson drives past a banner on the wall at the entrance of turn three during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. NASCAR's nicest guy will run his final race this week and close a remarkable career. Jimmie Johnson's record-tying seven Cup titles are well celebrated, but his charitable work goes less noticed. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation has donated more than $12 million to schools and programs since it launched. (David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier via AP)

Jimmie Johnson drives past a banner on the wall at the entrance of turn three during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. NASCAR's nicest guy will run his final race this week and close a remarkable career. Jimmie Johnson's record-tying seven Cup titles are well celebrated, but his charitable work goes less noticed. The Jimmie Johnson Foundation has donated more than $12 million to schools and programs since it launched. (David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier via AP)

Nov. 02, 2020 12:44 PM EST