Driver Phenom Johanna Long Sets Her Sights on ARCA RE/MAX Series Finale Race with D'Hondt Motorsports
Second Start in ARCA Series after Winning the Legendary "Blizzard Series" Super Late Model Championship
prestigious Pro Late Model championship at 16 years old, she's now the Blizzard Series Champion at 17. "It's awesome, a dream come true," Long said as the fans roared their approval. "I never thought I'd be here. My family and my crew have supported me all season. It's just great."
"We're so proud of Johanna's progress," said veteran Sprint Cup Series general manager & current team owner of her ARCA RE/MAX Series car, Eddie D'Hondt. "We had a good test with Johanna last week at Rockingham. I am really looking forward to this weekend. Once again, Johanna's ability to adapt to new surroundings was very impressive."
"If we are able to get this girl in anything close to a full schedule of ARCA races next year, she has the talent to become one of the Series' best drivers, period. She's just that good. I look forward to having the opportunity to mentor Johanna," D'Hondt continued.
Not your average teenager, Johanna continues a busy fall schedule with the DMS team. After a successful mentoring event at Kansas Speedway on October 1st to spend the day as a role model and mentor to 600 area Girl Scouts, Johanna sets her sights on competing with her ARCA RE/MAX peers. She competes as the youngest female entrant in the "American 200" ARCA RE/MAX race at Rockingham Speedway in Rockingham, N.C., on Oct. 11 for the Grandmarubys.com DMS Toyota Camry. "After a great Rockingham test with DMS in September, I'm able to begin to hone my skills for that track," Long said.
Long, a humble teen, lives to race and calls it "her heaven" when she's on the track - and top Cup Series drivers have taken notice. "Johanna Long has a lot of raw talent. At 17 years old, she has quite a future ahead of her. Given the opportunity, from what I see - I think she will advance her career in NASCAR farther than any other female we have seen to date. She's learned the right way." - Kyle Busch, driver of the # 18, M&M / Mars Joe Gibbs Racing, Toyota Camry, NASCAR Sprint Cup car.
Finishing up her Super Late Model season, Long stops in Winchester, Indiana on October 18th and Nashville Fairgrounds on November 1st to race against the Super Late Model's best once again. On December 6th, Johanna will be back home in Pensacola as the Panhandle Motorsports team gears up for a Showdown in the Superbowl of Super Late Model racing - "The Snowball Derby."
Johanna Long, 17-year-old Super Late Model Series driver with family-run Panhandle Motorsports team, became the first woman to clinch the Blizzard Series Super Late Model point's championship at Five Flags Speedway. Long, a Pensacola FL native, now looks forward to this weekend's ARCA RE/MAX American 200 at Rockingham Speedway with D'Hondt Motorsports (DMS).
A year after making history as the first & youngest female to win the
