Johnson and Herbert Team Up to Bring Tennessee High School Students to B.R.A.K.E.S. Driving School

Team Mopar® Auburn Hills, Mich, Nov. 15, 2010 Team Mopar’s Johnson will sponsor B.R.A.K.E.S. school at zMAX Dragway for 36 Greeneville, Tenn. high school students Team Mopar® NHRA Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson and NHRA Top Fuel driver Doug Herbert are joining forces to award 36 high school students from Greenville, Tenn. a free trip to a B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) driving school at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte, N.C on Saturday, Dec. 4. Johnson and Herbert will give presentations and vehicle demonstrations about the event to Greene County Schools and Greeneville High School students on Thursday, Nov. 18.

Johnson, a life-long Greeneville resident and graduate of South Greene High School, is a passionate supporter of B.R.A.K.E.S., founded by Herbert after his two young sons lost their lives in an automobile accident. The organization trains and educates teenage drivers and promotes safe and responsible driving. Johnson donated $10,000 to help fund two B.R.A.K.E.S. driving schools at the Third Annual Benefit Dinner during the September NHRA event in Charlotte, one of which will be dedicated to students from Greeneville. Johnson will also pay to bus the local students and their parents from Greeneville to Charlotte and will provide lunch and dinner for participants. “The work that Doug Herbert and B.R.A.K.E.S. is doing is so important. I’m happy to give Greeneville area teens the chance to gain valuable knowledge and skills behind the wheel,” said Johnson, an eight-time event winner in the NHRA Pro Stock class. “I can’t imagine the pain Doug went through in losing his sons, and that’s why I feel it’s so important to help him in his efforts to prevent these kinds of tragedies from happening. It’s a great opportunity to educate the youth of the Greeneville community and maybe even save their lives.” Johnson and Herbert will come together on Nov. 18 to stage presentations and outside demonstrations (weather permitting) for 1,200 Greene County Schools students at Tusculum College, 60 Shiloh Road, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Each principal from the four Greene County High Schools will select seven students to participate in the free Dec. 4 trip to the B.R.A.K.E.S. school. The duo will also give a presentation at Greenville High School, 210 Tusculum Blvd., that same day from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., with eight students being selected for the trip on a first-come, first-serve sign-up basis. “Allen has been behind B.R.A.K.E.S. since it began and his support for what we’re doing is amazing,” said Herbert. “We’re looking forward to spreading the B.R.A.K.E.S. message in East Tennessee and having students from Greeneville at the school will be great. This really demonstrates Allen’s commitment to his community and to safety.” For more info on B.R.A.K.E.S., visit http://www.putonthebrakes.org. For more info on Team Mopar NHRA Pro Stock driver Allen Johnson, visit http://www.mopar.com and click on the Mopar Speed link, or visit http://www.allenjohnson.com.