Blizzard Series Champion Johanna Long Is Ready to

Defend Home Turf at Five Flags Speedway in 2010

Home Cooking Awaits Long in Blizzard Series Opener On April 9th

I think the best part is that the competition is going to be so much better this year.  The Blizzard Series is going to be very tough this year.”

Long is well prepared for that level of competition though.  Her Panhandle Motorsports team will be rolling out the same car that smacked the competition last season by winning two of the five Blizzard Series races. It was almost as if she was in another zip code on those nights as she dominated both events. In the other events, she posted finishes of eighth, fourth and third.  

“There are a lot of drivers out there that would love to win the Blizzard Series title,” said Long.  “To win and to have strong runs every time we raced really meant a lot.  Plus we did it in my first year of Super Late Model racing so it made it extra special. Going back as a champion will be new, but we want to win it again.”

In addition to the Blizzard Series going green on April 9th, that same race also kicks off the 2010 Gulf Coast Championship series that consist of the Blizzard races along with the events of Mobile International Speedway’s Miller Lite Super Late Model Series.  Long won three of the 10 Gulf Coast races in 2009 and also captured the overall championship.  She ended the season with an average finish of 3.4 in the 10 race series

“It was great to win the championship,” added Long. “Last year, Augie Grill, Bubba Pollard and I battled really hard for the championship.  I think this year from what everyone is saying that there could be as many as 10 guys fighting for the championship at the end of the season.”

Johanna Long will kick off her Gulf Coast Champion title defense on Friday, April 9th at the Five Flags Speedway for a 100 lap event.  On the following night, she will run the 100-lapper over at the Mobile International Speedway on Saturday, April 10th. 

The Gulf Coast Series and the Blizzard Super Late Model Series lead up to the 43rd Annual Snowball Derby at Five Flags Speedway on December 5th.  The winner of the Blizzard Series gets an automatic starting spot in the 300 lap Super Late Model race.

For more information on Super Late Model Champion Johanna Long contact Matt Kentfield at matt@51sports.net.  Be sure to check out the her website at JohannaLong.com  

click here to visit Johanna Long's discussion forum

Johanna Long has accomplished quite a bit so far in her Super Late Model career. The 17-Year-old Pensacola, Florida, native has already won the 2009 Blizzard Series Championship and the pole position for the historic Snowball Derby.  To no surprise, her hometown racetrack, Five Flags Speedway, has become her second home.  She is ready to defend her championship there in the first Super Late Model event of the season, the Pepsi MAX 100, on Friday, April 9th.   

“We had an awesome year last year at Five Flags Speedway,” said Johanna Long.  “We are excited to be racing there again this season. 

Johanna Long is looking to defend her 2009 Blizzard Series Championship.  (51 Sports Photo)