CONCORD, N.C. -- A race car driven by Gov. Mike Easley crashed at Lowe's Motor Speedway Friday morning, but Easley is OK.

Easley was driving the No. 48 car of Jimmie Johnson when the car hit the inside retaining wall.

Images from the scene of Gov. Easley's crash

Easley was at the track promoting The Winston and said he's working hard to keep the race in North Carolina.

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Gov. Mike Easley talks about his wild ride at Lowe's Motor Speedway

Easley was also promoting the Communities in Schools program.

"I'm getting several thousand dollars per lap by sponsors for Communities in Schools," Easley said.

Easley was out of the car soon after the crash smiling and talking on his cellular phone.

"It was fun for about the first 25 laps. The last half wasn't too good. I feel good, except for my ego, which is brusied a little bit," Easley said.

Officials said Easley was going between 165 and 175 mph.

Easley didn't letting the crash keep him down and he got back into the No. 5 car and ran six laps at an average of 162 mph before leaving for Raleigh.