Thursday, January 05, 2012

Johanna Long Signs With ML Motorsports

Johanna Long will graduate to the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2012, driving the #70 ML Motorsports Biomet/Foretravel Motorcoach Chevrolet Impala in both 2012 and 2013.

Long made 17 starts on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series last season for her family owned Panhandle Motorsports team, with a best finish of 11th at Texas Motor Speedway in June. The second-generation driver -– daughter of former All-Pro Series driver Donald Long -– has progressed from go-karts through Legends cars and Late Models to NASCAR, becoming the first female track champion in the history of Florida’s Five Flags Speedway at age 15 and winning the prestigious Snowball Derby in 2010 before turning her attention to the Truck Series.

Long will join an ML Motorsports team owned by Mary Louise Miller, one of the few female owners in NASCAR. “I’m excited to join ML Motorsports," said Long, "and I’m honored to have the support of Mary Louise. As a female team owner in NASCAR, Mary Louise is an inspiration to me. I believe all the pieces are in place at ML Motorsports to achieve success in 2012, and I can’t wait to get started.”

“Johanna is a strong driver and a dynamic young lady, and we are excited to have her on board”, said Miller. “She has a great competitive spirit; we believe she has everything it takes to succeed at the highest levels of NASCAR competition."

Indiana-based ML Motorsports fielded entries for drivers David Stremme, Dennis Setzer, Scott Wimmer, Shelby Howard, Blake Koch and Angela Cope in 2011, with Stremme claiming the team’s only Top-10 finish – a ninth – at Richmond International Raceway in April.
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3 comments:

  1. Anonymous3:36 PM

    That's great news, I bet she does well!

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  2. DaveM42103:45 PM

    I am very happy to see that Johanna has signed on with ML Motorsports. I have been excited about her potential since maybe the 2nd or 3rd time she started in the Truck series when I realized she was better than the truck she was driving and looked up her history. I would like nothing less than to see this run with ML Motorsports become a stepping stone to maybe JRM replacing Danica Patrick in the #7 car when Danica leaves. I think she has the potential to become a winning NASCAR driver.

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  3. Anonymous2:08 PM

    Now if only sponsors realized that sponsoring a good female driver can bring a lot of exposure to their brands, and not just feminine product brands - lets face it, if you're a guy, and you see a lady driver smiling from an ad, you stop and notice. Carl Edwards doesn't do that for me. I like Danica, but I'd like to see more opportunities for women coming up via the stock car ranks, and that won't happen without sponsorship. Chrissy Wallace, for example, really should be farther in her career, but hasn't been able to come up with the sponsor cash to succeed, the same as Johanna. - Mike In NH

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