Johanna Long and Venturini Motorsports use Iowa ARCA Debut as Learning Experience

Topics:  Johanna Long, Prairie Meadows 200

Nic Moncher
Venturini Motorsports
July 12, 2009

CONCORD, NC (7/12/09) – Johanna Long made her ARCA RE/MAX Series debut this past weekend with Venturini Motorsports at Iowa Speedway. After spending much of the afternoons practice session at the top of the board, and laying down a top 10 qualifying effort, the team was excited for the race.

Long piloted the No. 25 Karl Chevrolet, Maui Mobile Resort, PME Engines Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet in Saturday night’s race.

“I was really excited to get to Iowa and go racing, especially after we had such a good test here a few weeks prior,” commented Johanna Long. “Billy Venturini and the whole Venturini Motorsports team prepared me a great car, and I knew they would help me anyway they could to make sure I was on top.”

Venturini Motorsports started the weekend off with Friday afternoon’s practice session. Long took to the track, but this was not her first outing at Iowa Speedway. She competed in the ARCA open test with Venturini Motorsports earlier in the month, where she laid down fast times all day long.

Long quickly re-acclimated herself with the track, posting speeds towards the top of the board. As practice came to a close, Long found herself ninth on the board with a time of 23.778 seconds at 132.465 MPH. Venturini Motorsports and Long were now set for Saturday mornings Menards Pole presented by Ansell qualifying, where she would lay down a lap of 23.647 seconds at 133.209 MPH, placing her seventh.

“Qualifying seventh felt pretty good,” said Long. “I got used to the car pretty well, and then qualifying it in seventh was great because I’ve never just jumped in a car and qualified. So, we felt good about that and the car was so good starting off.”

As the green flag waved over Long and 37 of her fellow ARCA RE/MAX Series competitors, Venturini Motorsports was ready to capitalize on an already strong weekend.

After starting seventh Long found herself riding comfortably around in the top ten. She set out to save her car for the end and earn the respect of her fellow competitors in what was her first series start.

Unfortunately for Long and her Venturini Motorsports team, a lap-down car came up the track on lap 50 and sent the No. 25 directly into the wall. After several laps trying to get the car re-fired, Long made her way to pit road where her crew quickly assessed the damage and began repairing her car.

Long being the true-spirited racer she is, never for a minute gave up. She made sure the crew knew she wasn’t about to give up, and that they were going to finish this race. The crew got the No. 25 Karl Chevrolet. Maui Mobile Resort, PME Engines Venturini Motorsports Chevrolet back on track, where Johanna Long would finish the race, several laps down in the 23rd position.

Long and her Venturini Motorsports team turned a disheartening situation into a great learning experience. Never giving up and fighting adversity they managed to finish the race and help Long learn as much as possible. On top of finishing the event, Long also left Saturday night’s race with the respect of her fellow competitors, and the desire to go racing in the ARCA RE/MAX Series again with Venturini Motorsports.

“Johanna did an outstanding job this weekend,” commented Crew Chief Billy Venturini. “For this being her first ARCA race, she handled herself very well. Unfortunately a lap-down car ruined our night, but Johanna never gave up, and I am very proud of her and my whole Venturini Motorsports crew.”

Make sure to catch Venturini Motorsports LIVE on SPEED from Kentucky Speedway for the Click It or Ticket Buckle-Up Kentucky 150 Saturday July 18, 2009 at 9:45PM EST.

Also make sure to catch Johanna on the Venturini Motorsports Power Hour exclusively on RaceFanRadio.com this Thursday July 16, 2009 at 9:00PM EST.

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

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

Please be sure to visit our sponsors:

www.karlchevrolet.com

www.mauishower.com

www.pme-engines.com

MEDIA CONTACT

Nic Moncher

Venturini Motorsports

Nic@venturinimotorsports.com