Inspired by her father, Johanna Long yearned to be a racer behind the wheel.
Photo – Johanna Long’s Facebook page

A fearless racer and young woman with a big heart, perfectly describes Johanna Long

Johanna Long is one of only a few female racers on the NASCAR circuit, but that’s not why she’s worthy of attention. Johanna grabs people’s attention because of her racing performance on the track. And she’s been doing that since the beginning of her racing career that started when she was eight-years-old.

Johanna watched her dad, Donald Long, race across the southeast in NASCAR’s All Pro Division while the first embers of fire started to burn an indelible mark on her inner spirit. After begging her dad for years for a chance to get behind the wheel and race, Donald Long, finally conceded, giving his daughter, Johanna the opportunity she wanted. At the age of eight Johanna not only got behind the wheel, she won numerous races and championships during her kart-racing days.

Quickly becoming a young racing phenomenon, Johanna Long with her passion for racing progressed to the Legend Series and at the age of 14, she began racing in the professional Late Model Stock Car series. Once again proving her amazing talent, Johanna became the first female track champion at the Five Flagg’s Speedway, located outside Pensacola, FL.

At 16, Johanna Long followed her father’s footsteps and made her own way throughout the southeast, racking up an amazing six wins, 17 top-five finishes and 27 top-ten finishes in just 33 starts. Long’s biggest win that year was her third start in the “Super Bowl” of short track racing, the Snowball Derby, as she out-raced many established drivers in NASCAR and other racing series’. That win gives Johanna Long the distinction of being only the second female to earn a win in the history of the Snowball Derby, since Tammy Jo Kirk won in 1994.

Johanna Long, driver of the #70 Foretravel Motorcoach Chevrolet, signs autographs before qualifying for the NASCAR  Nationwide Series Kentucky 300 at Kentucky Speedway on September 22, 2012 in Sparta, Kentucky.
Photo – Sean Gardner/Getty Images

More recently, in 2011 Johanna entered NASCAR, driving for her family owned team Panhandle Motorsports. Driving a limited schedule in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, she accumulated several top-20 finishes and a career best finish of 11th place at Texas.

With ML Motorsports, driving the No. 70 Chevrolet in 2012, Johanna once again made history as the youngest female to race in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series. Her best career start last year was 8^th at Richmond and her best finish was 12^th at Daytona and Kentucky.

Off the track, Johanna generously gives back to her fans with many appearances and signing autographs. She also enjoys spending time at schools, talking with kids and sharing her passion for racing, while at the same time inspiring children to follow their own dreams and passions.

Johanna Long describes herself as a racer….and there’s little doubt that it’s true. Her fierce competitive spirit and proven skills have earned her the respect of other drivers and the support of a growing number of great fans, who recognize her as a fearless racer, and a young woman with a big heart.

Monday, February 4th, Johanna Long will be our guest on Fan4Racing’s Fan2Fan NASCAR Talk radio show from 9:00 to 10:00pm ET on The Sports Chronicles Radio Network found on Blog Talk Radio. So get your questions ready, mark your calendar and set your reminder to call 347-996-5176 to interact with Johanna Long.