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Johanna's Sprits Remain High as She Slides into Carlson's No. 21 for the Blizzard Series Opener

By Chuck Corder

At 21, did you know what you wanted out of life?

And, no, neither your preferred cocktail nor your favorite flavor of Ramen noodles count as career choices.

Johanna Long has been 21 for 11 months. She knows exactly what she wants.

“Right now, it’s all about being at the racetrack and being seen,� said the Pensacola native, who won the 2010 Snowball Derby before leaping into the NASCAR ranks.

“It’s also about driving whatever I can get in to keep fresh.�

Long will be sharpening her skills Friday — and perhaps for most of 2014 — at Five Flags Speedway for the Mountain Dew Kickstart 125.

She’ll be behind the wheel of Scott Carlson’s No. 21 Anderson Subaru Super Late Model at the Buddy's Home Furnishings Blizzard Series opener, which marks the third Southern Super Series race of the young season.

“It’s going to be great to have her in the car,� said Billy Anderson, owner of Anderson Subaru. “A recent Snowball champion; what more can you ask for?�

The Pro Trucks, Beef 'O' Brady's Sportsmen and Butler U-Pull-It Bombers join the SLMs when the gates open at 4 p.m. Friday.

Admission is as follows: $15 for adults; $12 for seniors, students and military; $5 for children ages 6 to 11; and free for kids under 6.

Some of her loyal legions of fans might view Long’s return to the famed half-mile asphalt oval as a bit bittersweet.

They love a good homecoming for the belle of short-track racing. But they also enjoy seeing Long, who has lived in North Carolina since 2011, represent Pensacola on the national stage that NASCAR offers.

Those plans, though, are currently on hold after her Nationwide owners, Indiana-based ML Motorsports, couldn’t keep up with the Hendricks, Roushes and Childresses of the world and was forced to close up shop.

While she efforts for new sponsorships and a new ride, Long is dealing with the heartbreak and limbo with the same grace and aplomb that first charmed the overflowing crowds at Five Flags.

“It’s all about keeping your faith and believing in yourself,� Long said. “Once you get down on yourself, you stop believing in what you can accomplish, and that's first step to going the wrong way.

“I’m still young. I’m 21. There’s always going to be a bumpy road. You just have to learn how to kick your way through it.�

She’s confident a return to her roots could be a ticket to ride.

Carlson, a past Blizzard Series track champion like Long, set the wheels of this partnership in motion with a conversation in recent weeks with Donald Long, Johanna’s father.

“I feel confident in her abilities,� said Carlson, 56, who has raced against both generations of Longs in his 37 years of driving. “She has very good car control. That’s a great habit to have as a driver because whether you’re racing local or in NASCAR, owners don’t want their vehicles to get torn up.�

Long was tickled and humbled Carlson would think of her to drive his No. 21.

Before competing against him, she remembers watching the duels Carlson waged with her daddy. Now, she’s driving for him.

“I’m really excited about it,� Johanna Long said. “I know he takes a lotta pride in his cars, and it’s cool to be a part of something like that. For him to even ask, it means a lot.�

Barring a new sponsorship deal being completed with a NASCAR team before the year is up, there’s the potential that Long will drive for Carlson in all four Blizzard races, leading up to the 47th annual Derby in December.

She’s also driving close friend Tommy Rollins’ Pro Late Model in the Allen Turner series this season, finishing sixth behind Bubba Pollard, Anderson Bowen and Mike Garvey  — drivers she'll race against Friday, as well  — in the season opener last month.

“The biggest goal here, racing wise, is getting ready for the Derby,� Long said. “But, you know, just being at the racetrack is big for me. I want to be in a racecar. That’s all I care about.�

She is getting those opportunities back home. It might not be under the bright lights of NASCAR, but it’s a chance to drive for those that love and appreciate her the most.

A little more than a week ago, Long posted the following message to her Instagram feed:

“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never get it. … If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.�

Long is not ready to spin her wheels in the mud. After all hitting a bump in the road is a part of life, especially when you hit them routinely for a living.

“Any career you go into, you’ve gotta push forward,� she said. “If you don’t come across a set of railroad tracks, you’re not doing it right, you’re not pushing hard enough.

“In racing there are so many ups and downs. And, yeah, I'm down right now, but I know what I want. I know what it takes to get there. It’s not easy, but hopefully, one day soon, someone is going to take a chance on me again.�

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