Jimmie Johnson to be Featured on ESPN SportsCenter
The Series will chronicle five children’s unique sports-themed experiences granted through the Make-A-Wish Foundation® -- After a successful debut last year, ESPN SportsCenter’s “My Wish” series, which chronicles sports-themed wishes granted to children with life-threatening medical conditions, will be aired Sunday, June 24, through Friday, June 29, Craig Lazarus, vice president, ESPN studio production, and David Williams, Make-A-Wish Foundation of America president and chief executive officer, announced today.

The five “My Wish” episodes will feature 2006 NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, all-pro quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, a past NBA Finals most valuable player, a popular World Series slugger and an athlete TBD. Emmy Award-winning reporter Chris Connelly will again host.

“My Wish” is presented by ESPN, in cooperation with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and The Walt Disney Company. As part of the series, ESPN will help grant sports-related wishes with leading sports stars to five children referred by the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Each wish will then be the subject of one SportsCenter feature segment. The SportsCenter segment will feature the reason for the wish, interviews with the kids and their families, and a behind-the-scenes look at the wish fulfilled, including the interaction between the youngster and the athlete.

“There was an overwhelming response to last year’s series and there are more compelling stories to tell,” Lazarus said. “Each ‘My Wish’ story captures the bond athletes share with their fans and the impact granting a sports wish can have on a young person facing severe life challenges.”

Said Williams: “The outpouring of support – phone calls, emails and letters – we received from viewers of last year’s ‘My Wish’ series who were moved by the children’s stories was amazing. ESPN conveyed the strength of these courageous children in the face of serious medical conditions. We look forward again to seeing the joy that a wish creates for everyone involved, from the wish child to the well-known athletes who volunteer their time to grant these wishes.”

Several ESPN multimedia platforms such as ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, and ESPN360.com will offer additional and complementary content related to the five wish-granting experiences.

Chad McCumbee Makes Cup Debut
This weekend, Chad McCumbee and the #45 Goody’s Cool Orange Dodge team will head to the 2.5 mile, triangular-shaped Pocono (Penn.) Raceway for Sunday’s Pocono 500. This will be McCumbee’s debut in the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series. The 23-year-old has been competing full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (NCTS) this season. He is currently 14th in the NCTS points standings.

While McCumbee has never before competed at Pocono in a Nextel Cup car, he does have considerable success at the track in ARCA RE/MAX Series competition. He has finishes of fourth, second and third in his last three starts at the track in that series. Nextel Cup rookies have taken the checkered flag in the last two Pocono 500 events and McCumbee will be looking to make that three in a row.

Mike Nelson Wins Crew Chief Award
After a rained out race day resulting in yet again another rescheduled race, Penske Racing’s Mike Nelson, crew chief for the No. 12 Alltel Dodge team, had to wait three days to show that his team has turned some corners in their season. With his driver, Ryan Newman, picking up his second pole for the season in Friday’s qualifying session, Nelson and his No. 12 crew were primed for a stellar performance at Dover International Speedway for the Autism Speaks 400 presented by Visa. The team did not disappoint, keeping Newman in the top ten for the entire race, finishing in second place, their best performance for the season and Newman’s second top 5 for the year. For his outstanding race day leadership and preparation prior to the 400 lap event, Nelson was awarded the WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief of the Race.

As the clouds continued to hover over Dover International Speedway, threatening to yet again dampen the day, Newman remained entrenched in the top 10. Desperate to regain the form seen earlier in the season, the No. 12 Dodge led several laps and seemed unstoppable on any restart. From the get go, as Nelson arrived at the track and rolled the Alltel Dodge off the hauler, his pre-race setup was ideal, giving the team great practice laps and a solid advantage. “This was a big finish for us,” said Nelson at the conclusion of the race. “I really hope this is a change of luck for the team that will continue for the remainder of the season.”

A panel of voters, including a member of the local media, Tony Eury Jr., Kenny Francis, Robbie Reiser and a WYPALL* Wipers representative, all agreed Nelson’s efforts were deserving to be awarded crew chief of the race. “Mike really seemed to have the car dialed in just right as they were fast all weekend,” said Reiser. “They were like a bullet on the restarts. Another caution at the end there and the result could have been a win for that team.”

As the WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief of the Race, Nelson received $1,000. Earning his first crew chief of the race award puts Nelson tied for second place in the overall standings. Robbie Reiser and Chad Knaus are tied for first, each with two wins. Mike Nelson, Darian Grubb, Larry Carter, Mike Ford, Alan Gustafson, Chip Bolin, Ryan Pemberton, Donnie Wingo and Tony Eury Jr. each have one win. At the end of the season, the crew chief with the most wins will receive $20,000 and be crowned WYPALL* Wipers Crew Chief of the Year.

France Funeral Thursday
The funeral service for Bill France, the visionary leader of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) and International Speedway Corporation (ISC) for more than three decades, has been scheduled for Thursday, June 7, at the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center, at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach. France died Monday afternoon at his home in Daytona Beach. He was 74.

Thursday’s funeral service, set for 1-2 p.m. (ET), is open to the public. The graveside service will be for family members only. The funeral will be preceded by a visitation on Wednesday, June 6, from 5:30-9 p.m. (ET) at the Seabreeze United Church in Daytona Beach. The visitation also will be open to the public. In lieu of flowers, the France family has asked that donations be made to the NASCAR Foundation; the Halifax Medical Center Foundation Inc./Betty Jane France Pediatric Center (also known as the “Speediatrics” children’s unit); or another NASCAR-related charity of choice.

The performing arts center is located at 640 Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd., just off International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach, approximately two miles east of Daytona International Speedway. For information on the center, go to (performing arts center). Seabreeze United Church is located at 501 N. Wild Olive Ave., on Daytona’s “beachside,” between Seabreeze and Oakridge boulevards.

Robby Gordon Second In Baja 500
Robby Gordon, finished second overall and second in the SCORE International trophy truck class in this year's Baja 500. Gordon's Monster Energy / Toyo Tires No. 71 Chevy CK1500, finished just 3 minutes, 57 seconds behind Ragland/Collins, this year's overall winners.

After qualifying his No. 7 Menards/Mapei Ford Fusion 33rd for Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup race in Dover, Robby Gordon traveled to Ensenada, Mexico late Friday afternoon. Shortly after arriving in Mexico, Gordon helped the team with final preparations to the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires trophy truck Saturday evening. Following final preparations, Gordon called a team meeting to review the race logistics and emphasize the importance of quick pit stops.

Shortly after 10 a.m. on Saturday morning Robby Gordon and navigator, Gregg Till took the green flag starting 22nd based on a random draw for starting position. As it turns out, starting position would ultimately dictate the outcome of the race. Employing a clever pit strategy, Gordon passed a handful of competitors while they were in the pits. However, there was a group ahead of Gordon enjoying a relatively dust - free ride. Gordon continued to push the pace and passed most of the remaining trucks ahead of him; however, it wasn't enough to bring Gordon his fourth Baja 500 victory. Gordon's Monster Energy / Toyo Tires trophy truck crossed the finished line as the third overall vehicle ; however, the corrected time was good enough for a second place overall finish.

"It's not too often that we have a flawless race and get beat," said Gordon. "Our logistics worked our really well. I have to thank Motorola, Inc. and Verizon Wireless for coming on board for our off-road races. Their technology has really helped our team communications. Our pit stops were excellent, and we had no mechanical issues. Reflecting on last year's 500, we have had virtually no mechanical issues with the exception of the air cleaner catching fire. We were close perfect in the last fall's Baja 1000 and then again in this race. I think we have this truck figured out. The Toyo Tires have been awesome; we didn't have a single flat tire. Unfortunately, the deciding factor was the late draw. We spent quite a bit of time following a couple of guys. With the dust, there was really nothing we could do about it. The course was very fast and technical but well suited for the Monster Energy / Toyo Tires Trophy Truck."(robbygordon.com)

Race and Commercial Breakdown For Dover Race