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Blizzard could be a Long Story

Today is Johanna Long’s 19th birthday.

She had a short and simple request. And it wasn’t an iPad 2.

All the reigning Snowball Derby champion and current NASCAR trucks series rookie asked for was for her 48-year-old father Donald Long to get back in a Super Late Model once again.

Johanna Long’s wish will come true when the Blizzard Series returns with the Papa John’s 100 on Friday at Five Flags Speedway.

“A few years ago he stopped racing to focus on my dream,� Johanna Long said. “It’ll be cool to race each other and for him to have a little fun.�

Modifieds, Sportsmen and Bombers also will have a little fun when the gates open at 5 p.m. Friday.

Admission to the grandstands are as follows: $15 Adults; $14 Seniors/Military; $12 Students; $5 Child (6-11); Under 6 is Free. Pit passes are $25.

It’ll be the second Blizzard Series race of the season and first since the year opened at Five Flags on March 25.

Bubba Pollard took home the checkered flag that night thanks to a late charge while Johanna Long finished 10th.

This time she’ll have to battle her father and another deep field for her first win of any kind this season.

“I asked her what she was going to do if I beat her,� said Donald Long, who will drive his old No. 11 car Friday. “It should be interesting. Maybe I can get up there and race with her and have an opportunity to cut her no slack.�

It has been a few years since the elder Long got up on the wheel.

When his daughter’s career began to take off, Donald Long and his family-owned Panhandle Motorsports began devoting their full attention to Johanna.

“It’s a big family commitment,� Donald Long said. “We’re all pushing as hard as we can to get her to have an opportunity. We’re a very competitive family. And (racing trucks) is kinda like starting over again.�

Johanna Long surely has experienced some growing pains in her first full year in NASCAR.

She broke a U-joint in Dover. She got knocked around at Martinsville, which cost her a few spots. And last week, a bad set of tires pushed her to a 20th-place finish in Charlotte.

“We’ve gotta go out there and keep on learning,� Johanna Long said. “One of the hardest parts is going to these tracks that I’ve never been to and only getting two hours of practice. We’ll just keep on doing what we’re doing and gaining the knowledge.�

Her father compared the leap to the trucks series to a team-sport athlete jumping from high school to the college arena.

“The competition rises, you earn respect from people and you have to pay your dues,� Donald Long said. “It’s a Catch-22 situation. We need to run good to attract some attention. We’re still looking for success. Everybody’s impatient to do well. It’s a humbling sport.�

One the team will take a break from this weekend.

The entire crew will be at Five Flags on Friday and Mobile International Speedway on Saturday to help in the pits.

“It’ll be a whole weekend of fun, for sure,� Johanna Long said.

Especially when she and her father take to the track some time Friday evening.

Donald Long already has delivered some trash talk this week. For her part, Johanna says she’ll leave the smack to dear ol’ dad.

“Of course not. He will for sure,� she said when asked if she’ll engage in the playful banter. “I’m just excited to be out there, knowing he gets to race again.�

It’s hard to imagine, though, that when the engines fire and the green flag drops Friday, Johanna Long won’t throw at least one zinger Donald Long’s way.

 

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