17-Year-Old Johanna Long Claims 2009 Blizzard Series’ Super Late Model Championship
Pensacola, Florida, Native Wins Second Championship in Two Years at Five Flags Speedway
The 17-year-old Pensacola, Florida, native entered the final race behind Pollard in the points and ahead of Augie Grill. Long timed in second during qualifying to Grill while Pollard clocked in 12th fastest, which tightened up the points’ gap prior to the green flag, as the Blizzard Series awards drivers qualifying points. When the green flag was dropped, points’ leader Pollard ended up wrecked in turn one on the first lap, which put Long in the driver’s seat for the title chase. She knew she had to stay within a few positions of Grill to claim the championship.
“It stinks for Bubba, since I knew he was going to be up there, but I knew that I was still racing Augie for the championship, so I had to stay behind him as much as I could,” said Long. “Our car was getting a little free at the end, and I wore my tires out. I knew that if another car passed me I wouldn’t have the championship.”
For the majority of the race, Long displayed patience by riding in the second spot to Grill. After the pit stop for tires, Long was fourth. Her Panhandle Racing crew then went to work by bringing out the calculators to figure out the championship scenario.
“We were on the radio trying to figure out the championship points,” said Long. “I knew we had a good car, and we were going to just race it and hoped things would turn out.”
When she crossed the line, taking the checkered flag in fourth, that gave her a five-point advantage over Grill in the points’ chase, awarding Long her second title in two years at the track, this time in the Super Late Model class.
“When I crossed the line, Freddie Query said on the radio that I was the champion, so that felt real good,” explained Long. “I was just really excited. I was shocked at first because there are guys out here that have been racing this series for a long time, and for this being my first full-time season in the Super Late Model and win the championship, that is really big.”
With the series’ championship, Long is guaranteed a starting spot in the 42nd Annual Snowball Derby, one of the most prestigious Super Late Model events in the country, which takes place in December.
“It is real big to get locked into the Snowball Derby. You don’t know what could happen in qualifying. You could have the best car there, but on your qualifying lap something can happen that causes you not to make it in the show.
“This year has been awesome. I couldn’t ask for a better season.”
Long is also looking to claim the Gulf Coast Championship, which combines the five Blizzard Series races with the five Miller Lite Super Late Model Series races at Mobile International Speedway (AL) to determine an overall champion. Long is currently in second position, just a mere 11 points behind Grill for the lead. The final event will take place on October 25th at the Alabama track.
Next up on track for Long is the October 11th ARCA RE/MAX Series event at Rockingham Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina.
In 2008, Johanna Long stormed onto the racing scene at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, driving to multiple wins and taking the 2008 Pro Late Model championship in what was considered her break-out season of racing. In December of the same year, Long jumped behind the wheel of her #10 Panhandle Motorsports Super Late Model in the Snowball Derby and was in contention to win before a late-race incident took her out of the mix.
Looking for redemption from the Derby finish, Long entered the Blizzard Series’ five-race Super Late Model series at Five Flags Speedway in 2009 looking for total domination. Prior to the season finale on Friday, September 25th, Long went to victory lane twice and entered the race second in points to Bubba Pollard. At the conclusion of the final Blizzard Series’ event, Long was fourth on the track; but more importantly, she was declared the 2009 Blizzard Series’ champion.
“This has been a dream season,” said Long. “This whole year has been awesome. We are always trying to go forward and not backwards. It has been good.”
Johanna Long on the track.. (51 Sports Photo)
The 2009 Blizzard Series champion, Johanna Long. (51 Sports Photo)
