The last time Jimmie Johnson climbed on top of a golf cart was disastrous -- he fell off, broke a wrist and was embarrassed by the controversy the stunt caused.

But for charity, the NASCAR Nextel Cup champion might be persuaded to climb on top of one again.

Johnson and good friend Nick Lachey said Thursday they had partnered to form the Super Skins Celebrity Golf Classic, which will be held in Scottsdale, Ariz., in conjunction with the Super Bowl.

Johnson, who was horsing around on top of a cart when he fell last December during Mike Hampton's celebrity tournament, didn't rule it out.

"I might be talked into such a thing, if I can get some bindings to hold me on and make sure I won't fall off," he said, joking. "It is for charity, after all."

"We're going to play chicken on top of the golf carts," Lachey quickly chimed in.

Johnson, the two-time defending Sprint Cup champion, had been trying for some time to organize an event with the pop singer, a longtime friend.

The event will open with an exclusive party at Scottsdale nightclub Axis Radius, and the tournament will follow on Feb. 2. Lachey and Johnson have each pledged $125,000 to the purse, which has reached $400,000 through outside sponsorship.

The winning team will designate the earnings to a charity.

(The Associated Press)

DEI REWARDS MANION: Dale Earnhardt Inc. has signed crew chief Kevin "Bono" Manion to a three-year deal that will extend his tenure at DEI.

Manion helped guide the No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Team and Martin Truex Jr. to a berth in the Chase for the Nextel Cup in 2007.

Manion, who joined Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 1997, helped lead Truex and his No. 8 Busch Series team to 12 victories and two Busch championships in 2004 and 2005 before moving to the Cup series with the team in 2006.

MCMURRAY REMAKES WEB SITE: Roush Fenway Racing driver Jamie McMurray will offer fans a chance to win a race-worn No. 26 Irwin Industrial Tools firesuit at his newly revised Web site www.jamiemcmurray.com.

(From Team News Releases)