Johanna Long Excited About Phoenix Race
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Dale [email protected]
Both Long and crew chief Mark Gutekunst said at the team’s shop earlier this week they are excited about Saturday’s race at Phoenix International Raceway.
Long, driver of the Mary Louise Miller-owned No. 70 Chevy in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, finished 27th in last week's season opener.
The 20-year-old Pensacola, Fla., native spent the majority of the 300-mile race in the top 10 before she was caught in the middle of a multi-car crash with five laps to go.
“It is disappointing,” said Long, who finished 12th at Daytona in July. “We had a great car, but that's Daytona. The guys worked hard all winter and we took a great car down there. We were able to draft our way to the front. We'll be even better when we go back (to Daytona) in July. Now we're focused on Phoenix.”
Long has enjoyed the majority of her racing success on short tracks.
A trip this week to the 1-mile oval in the Arizona desert may be just what the doctor ordered.
“I haven't been to Phoenix in a while, and I'm really excited to go back there,” said Long. “I like Phoenix, and I'm very confident in my team. I know the guys have a great car for Phoenix. They gave me a great car at Daytona, it was just unfortunate the way things turned out. I know we'll have a great car at Phoenix too.”
Long made one start at Phoenix in the Camping World Truck Series, starting 25th and finishing 20th during the 2011 season when she drove for her family's Panhandle Motorsports team.
Nationwide Series teams were scheduled to have two practice sessions today.
Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday morning, while the 200-mile race is slated for 4:30 p.m. Saturday and will be shown live on ESPN2.
“It's a lot like Richmond,” Gutekunst said of Phoenix International Raceway. “We went out there two years ago and finished 11th with David (Stremme). We had a pretty good day that day, and we're hoping we can do the same thing with Johanna.”[[In-content Ad]]
Both Long and crew chief Mark Gutekunst said at the team’s shop earlier this week they are excited about Saturday’s race at Phoenix International Raceway.
Long, driver of the Mary Louise Miller-owned No. 70 Chevy in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, finished 27th in last week's season opener.
The 20-year-old Pensacola, Fla., native spent the majority of the 300-mile race in the top 10 before she was caught in the middle of a multi-car crash with five laps to go.
“It is disappointing,” said Long, who finished 12th at Daytona in July. “We had a great car, but that's Daytona. The guys worked hard all winter and we took a great car down there. We were able to draft our way to the front. We'll be even better when we go back (to Daytona) in July. Now we're focused on Phoenix.”
Long has enjoyed the majority of her racing success on short tracks.
A trip this week to the 1-mile oval in the Arizona desert may be just what the doctor ordered.
“I haven't been to Phoenix in a while, and I'm really excited to go back there,” said Long. “I like Phoenix, and I'm very confident in my team. I know the guys have a great car for Phoenix. They gave me a great car at Daytona, it was just unfortunate the way things turned out. I know we'll have a great car at Phoenix too.”
Long made one start at Phoenix in the Camping World Truck Series, starting 25th and finishing 20th during the 2011 season when she drove for her family's Panhandle Motorsports team.
Nationwide Series teams were scheduled to have two practice sessions today.
Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday morning, while the 200-mile race is slated for 4:30 p.m. Saturday and will be shown live on ESPN2.
“It's a lot like Richmond,” Gutekunst said of Phoenix International Raceway. “We went out there two years ago and finished 11th with David (Stremme). We had a pretty good day that day, and we're hoping we can do the same thing with Johanna.”[[In-content Ad]]
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