EXCEPTIONAL ATHLETE. A FORMER KNOXVILLE RACEWAY DRIVER, A VETERAN, AND AN IRON MAN COMPETITOR. MATTHEW JOHNSON IS ALSO AN EXCEPTIONAL HUMAN BEING, AND NEXT WEEKEND, HE IS RUNNING FOR A CAUSE. ON JULY 2, THE KNOXVILLE RACEWAY WILL BE HAVING THEIR NORMAL SCHEDULE, BUT JOHNSON IS MAKING IT SPECIAL. THE IOWA NATIVE IS RUNNING 50 MILES FROM DES MOINES TO KNOXVILLE AND IS RAISING MONEY FOR WOUNDED HEROES IN THE PROCESS. HE WILL BE FINISHING DOWN THE FRONT STRETCH RIGHT BEFORE THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. CARRYING THE AMERICAN FLAG AS HE RUNS PAST A GROUP OF PATRIOT RIDERS ALL HOLDING FLAGS AS WELL. A VETERAN HELPING VETERANS. >> I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING THIS SUMMER, SO I DECIDED TO SEE WHAT I COULD DO TO HELP A LOCAL VETERANS CHARITY. I GOT ON TWITTER AND PUT THE ID OUT THERE. WE RAISED OVER 2500 DOLLARS IN THREE HOURS. WHEN IT COMES TO DONATING TO VETERANS, THAT IS THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE THEY GIVE. THEY SPEND A GOOD PART OF THEIR LIFE MAKING SURE WE CAN DO THINGS LIKE THIS, HAVE THE FREEDOM TO RUN WHEREVER YOU WANT, WHENEVER YOU WANT. JEFF: THE BIG RACE IS ON JULY 2. ALONG WITH JOHNSON’S BIG RUN, THERE WILL BE FIREWORKS FOR FANS TO ENJOY. YOU CAN DONATE TO JOHNSON’S CAUS