What do Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, five-time Olympic gold medal swimmer Aaron Peirsol, and Carolina Nationals winner Steve Johnson have in common?

Answer: aThe NASCAR Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway drivers' meeting. That's right, all three were introduced last Sunday at the drivers' meeting prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Johnson, who won the inaugural Carolinas Nationals last month at zMAX Dragway at Concord, was their guest to spend his off-weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway and take in a NASCAR Chase for the Championship event. It was a thrill for the motorcycle racer, who's always been a NASCAR fan, but it also provided him with the opportunity to mingle in the suites, fly in the Army’s sky diving simulator and build relationships that could prove beneficial to his race team and POWERade drag racing.
What do Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, five-time Olympic gold medal swimmer Aaron Peirsol, and Carolina Nationals winner Steve Johnson have in common?

Answer: aThe NASCAR Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway drivers' meeting. That's right, all three were introduced last Sunday at the drivers' meeting prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Johnson, who won the inaugural Carolinas Nationals last month at zMAX Dragway at Concord, was their guest to spend his off-weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway and take in a NASCAR Chase for the Championship event. It was a thrill for the motorcycle racer, who's always been a NASCAR fan, but it also provided him with the opportunity to mingle in the suites, fly in the Army’s sky diving simulator and build relationships that could prove beneficial to his race team and POWERade drag racing.

“These races are just so exciting to me!” the enthusiastic Johnson said. “When you have a chance to be in an area like the drivers' meeting, where the foundation is more or less spelled out by the race director and all the NASCAR officials, along with all the celebrities, it's a fruitful place to be able to meet and greet and build relationships. At the end of the day, that's what motorsports and business have in common – relationships. That's really the core as to why I was there, to meet more people and, hopefully, bring some sponsorship to the NHRA.”

Of course, Johnson admitted it was a “very, very exciting” situation.

“To be invited to the drivers' meeting is really cool and then get introduced with Cindy McCain, and an Olympic swimmer, man that's really cool!” Johnson said with a smile.

“It was a star-studded deal. There were a lot of Secret Service there, but Cindy McCain was absolutely as pleasant as she could be. The aurora of a drivers' meeting is inspiring, as well, because it puts all the minds together. The guys that are putting on the show are all in one area and it's neat to hear the direction. You know, have a good time, it's racing, but there are some obvious rules. It's being in that aurora.

“Just think of it this way. If you were never allowed to be in a arena with high level NASCAR sponsors it could be hard to understand what they get out of their entire racing effort. For me it was like getting into that cookie jar.  There’s over 150,000 people there and no more than 100 to 200 get to go to the drivers' meeting. That's a special deal. So when I got into the cookie jar, I didn't put my hand in there, I jumped in feet first.”

But that's just Johnson's style – full throttle!