Johanna Long Makes History With Derby Pole

Finishes 18th on Sunday

17-Year-Old Recovers From Spin to Finish the Derby in her Second Attempt

Long had a great chance at that better finish in both races.  In Saturday night’s Snowflake 100 event, she battled with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start Kyle Busch for the early race lead.  Then, a wrecked involving cars that were about to lapped, drew Long and Busch into it.

“We started second, so that was good,” said Long.  “I was running second and was just riding.  Lapped cars wrecked in front of me.”

Sunday’s Snowball Derby brought more of the same bad luck.

“When the green flag dropped, we dropped to fourth,” said Long.  “We were just riding.  We came in and pitted early.  We went back out and all of the leaders got their tires and we got a lap down there.  When the next caution came out, we came in and got tires.  We thought we were pretty good.  I just got turned, and then I was another lap down.  It was just a long weekend.  I think I finished 18th and at least we finished [the race].”

The Snowball Derby weekend concludes Long’s 2009 racing season.  It was a season that included winning both the Five Flags Speedway Blizzard Super Late Model Series championship and the Gulf Coast Super Late Model championship.

 

There are two components to a race event – qualifying and the race itself.  For Johanna Long, those two components were as different as night and day for Snowball Derby week at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.

On Friday night, Long made history by becoming the first female driver to earn the pole position for the Snowball Derby.  On Saturday, she backed that up by winning the outside pole for the Snowflake 100.

“The start of the race was awesome,” said Long.  “I think that was a dream come true, starting on the pole.  I couldn’t ask for anything better for my whole crew and everyone that has helped me out.”

But then, the reality of racing luck struck.  Long got involved in wrecks that involved lapped cars in both races and finished 18th in the Snowball Derby and 26th in the Snowflake 100 as a result.

“I wish we would have finished better,” said Long.

(top) Johanna Long poses with David Rogers before the Derby. (bottom) Long finished 18th despite this spin in turn two. (51 Sports Photo)