Johanna Long

“Our whole team is very excited to take Johanna to Iowa this weekend,” commented crew chief Billy Venturini. “She is a proven young talent in the late model ranks and I am excited at this opportunity to work with her, she is a racer at heart and I know she will get the job done.”

Even though the July 11th race will be Long’s first race with Venturini Motorsports and the ARCA RE/MAX Series, she has visited the famed track before. Long and her Venturini Motorsports No. 25 team participated in an open test at the Speedway earlier in the month. She quickly adapted to her new environment and found herself towards the top of the board all afternoon. Under the guidance of seasoned crew chief Billy Venturini, Long learned the car and walked away ready to get back racing.

“To have this opportunity to race a Venturini Motorsports car is truly an honor, and I am truly excited to see racing action this Saturday night,” commented an ecstatic Johanna Long. “This team (Venturini Motorsports) has continually proven themselves week in and week out, and after testing a few weeks ago I can see why. Not only was my car a rocket ship, it handled very well all day long.”

Long will be running the No. 25 Karl Chevrolet, Maui Shower Company, PME Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS around the tight 7/8-mile speedway. Venturini Motorsports has prepared chassis No. 26 for Long, which last saw racing action earlier this season at Rockingham Speedway, where Alex Yontz wheeled it to a Top 10 finish.

“Johanna participated in the open test with us a few weeks ago, and she adapted very well. Once acclimated she quickly found herself at the top of the board, and that is a testament to her ability as well as our team’s driving force,” said Billy Venturini. “We are excited for Saturday night’s race and I know we will be a force to be reckoned with by evenings end.”

Make sure to catch the No. 25 Karl Chevrolet, Maui Shower Company, PME Engines Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet driven by ARCA RE/MAX Series rookie Johanna Long this weekend at Iowa Speedway. The Prairie Meadows 200 will have live audio and video at www.arcaracing.com at 8:00PM EST.

Also be sure to catch the Venturini Motorsports Power Hour every Thursday at 9:00PM EST exclusively on www.RaceFanRadio.com

For more information on Venturini Motorsports please visit www.venturinimotorsports.com

For more information on Johanna Long please visit www.johannalong.net

CONCORD,NC (July 8, 2009) – Stepping outside of the comfort zone is always an intimidating task but to ascend through the levels of motorsports, it must be done. That is exactly what 17-year-old Johanna Long will do this weekend. Long has been showing her strength in the deep south at her home track of Five Flags Speedway and throughout the southeast over the past year. With two Blizzard Series Super Late Model wins, as well as several other victories under her belt, and with much preparation by way of testing and practice behind her for support, Long will step out and try her hand in unfamiliar territory. She will compete in this weekend’s ARCA RE/MAX Prairie Meadows 200 at the Iowa Speedway. Long will pilot the #25 Karl Chevrolet prepared by Venturini Motorsports.

“I am really excited and even a little bit nervous about it,” said Long. “This is such a big opportunity for us. It’s going to be my first ARCA RE/MAX race, and hopefully I’ll get a lot of good experience from it.”

Long traveled to the Iowa Speedway last week for an open test session where she illustrated her strength and, despite her young age, impressive ability to adapt to both the unfamiliar car and track. It only took Long a matter of laps to match, and even surpass, the speeds of several series’ regulars in her first outing and show the competition what she has shown the southeast over the past year… that she is more than just a rookie, she is a contender.

“The test went really well. We were second in the first round and ended up sixth overall. The cars and speeds are a lot different from what I’ve been doing, but I adapted well and caught up with everyone else’s speeds pretty quickly,” explained Long. “I am looking forward to getting back out there and not just getting experience and seat-time, but a good solid finish too.”

Although she may not be new in racing competition, Long is still a rookie of the series and was also required to attend some extra off-track practice before hitting the pavement this weekend.

“I also went to pitstop practice during the week after we raced in North Carolina this weekend to get the hang of that and make sure I knew how everything goes,” said Long. “It went well, and I think it will all run smoothly on Saturday night.”

Be sure to catch 17-year-old Super Late Model sensation Johanna Long in her ARCA RE/MAX Series debut this Saturday night, July 11th, in the Prairie Meadows 200 at the Iowa Speedway in Newton, IA, via series’ live timing and scoring broadcast on ArcaRacing.com.

For more information on Johanna Long, please be sure to keep up with Jo and her progress at www.JohannaLong.net

- 51 Sports Press Release