Read About It: Jimmie Johnson and His '6 Pack'

I had the pleasure of interviewing six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson for the May/June issue of Where Charlotte. It's the cover story, and you can read the article online by clicking here. You'll find the issue distributed throughout the Charlotte area (hotels, visitors centers, tourists attractions, and conveniently in the newsstands along the streets in Uptown) beginning next week.

The first question I asked Jimmie was about keeping his drive and competitiveness this season, now that he's won six championships. But before I asked him that question (in these Grown People Talking blog posts where I tout my published work, I like to give you a little anecdote that's not in the story), I said to him: "When I think of six championships, the first person who comes to mind is Michel Jordan." I then proceeded to tell the guy who could potentially become the winningest NASCAR driver ever, in terms of championships, that he should connect with Michael Jordan to make a special "6 Rings" edition of the Air Jordan sneakers. Sneakerheads are familiar with the 6 Rings kicks. And hey, it's not a stretch--both JJ and MJ reside in Charlotte.

Jimmie simply chuckled, and replied with a gracious thank you. He's truly one of the most humble superstars I've ever talked to. I believe that his humility comes across in the interview. He's also a fitness fanatic, which is not common with NASCAR drivers. You wouldn't think that a sport in which the athlete is literally sitting down for about four hours would require one to be physically fit--back in the early days of NASCAR, the drivers were known to have beer guts and chain-smoke cigarettes. Drivers have a different image today, though, but I don't think fitness is a part of it (their pit crews work out tremendously nowadays, however). Perhaps if more NASCAR drivers ran, biked, swam, and worked out as much as Jimmie Johnson, they'd be able to catch him.

Also, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation, founded by Jimmie and his wife Chandra, have launched their first-ever Wellness Challenge, with four upcoming events in the Charlotte area:

• Jimmie Johnson Foundation 5K Run and Family Fun Walk, April 27
• Lake Norman Excursion Cycle/Run, July 12
• Jimmie Johnson Foundation Cane Creek Sprint Triathlon, August 19
• Lake Davidson Sprint Triathlon, September 7

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Felix Sabates Is the Most Interesting Man In Charlotte

You know those "The Most Interesting Man In the World" commercials by Dos Equis, right? The beer maker launched the campaign several years ago, and the commercials continue to be clever and funny. Like how the most interesting man: "In a past life, he was himself;" and "If opportunity knocks and he's not home, opportunity waits." I've never encountered anyone quite like that, but throughout my career as a journalist, I've met a lot of very interesting people. And recent experiences lead me to say that Felix Sabates Is the Most Interesting Man In Charlotte.

Many of you might know Felix primarily for two things: his Mercedes-Benz dealership in south Charlotte and his part ownership in NASCAR team Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. I interviewed him about his views on the current state of NASCAR, for an article that appears in the September/October 2013 issue of Where Charlotte.

But if you ever have the opportunity to interview Felix Sabates, it's all the stuff you likely won't include in your article that makes him so interesting. He told me fascinating stories about his relationships with other NASCAR team owners and executives over the years, his relationship with Michael Jordan, the condo he owns in Miami across the street from where the Heat play, his run-ins with Dennis Rodman, and more. He tells these stories so randomly, yet matter-of-factly, you could listen to him talk for hours. He doesn't mince words, yet he's very likeable. I bet he's the life of parties, and I'd sure love to hang out with him. Someone needs to write a book on this guy.

And aside from all the anecdotes you'll get from the stories he shares, his own story is fascinating. He was born into wealth in Cuba because his family owned many businesses there, but they lost it all when he was a teenager due to Fidel Castro's dictatorship. Felix came to the U.S. at age 16, and a few years later settled into Charlotte, where he's lived since 1963. He went from working as a parking lot attendant and washing cars during those early years, to becoming a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. In addition to his car businesses and sports teams affiliations, he also owns a company that builds yachts.

I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't always drink beer, but when he does, he prefers Dos Equis.

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Read About It: Charlotte Musicians Are 'Where'

For the March/April 2013 issue of Where Charlotte, I wrote about five local musicians who are worth your time and attention. They are jazz bands 5th And York and the Ziad Jazz Quartet, country band Jeff Luckadoo & Southern Wave, hip hop duo Brody & Choch, and rock band Simplified. You've likely heard of at least one of them. Learn more about them by picking up the current issue of Where Charlotte, which is distributed for free and can be find in newsstands in Uptown, and at hotels, visitors centers, and several attractions like museums. You can also read the article online by visiting http://charlotte.wheretraveler.com, and then clicking on the magazine cover in the left column where it says "Read Where Charlotte" (that takes you to a digital file where you can flip through the pages of the complete issue).

Follow Where Charlotte at facebook.com/wherecharlotte and twitter.com/wherecharlotte.

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