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Grit guides Johanna Long on Daytona track

Experience, perhaps when it comes to racing on Daytona's 2.5-mile, high-banked oval in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. But the 18-year-old Pensacola native is no stranger to the trucks. She made seven starts in 2010 with a best finish of 17th in her first race, at O'Reilly Raceway Park.

But Daytona is a different beast. She'll get her first crack at taming it during today's 3-hour, 20-minute practice session for Friday's 6:30 p.m. NextEra Energy Resources 250 series opener.

Driving the family-owned No. 20 Panhandle Motorsports Toyota under the direction of veteran crew chief Kevin "Cowboy" Starland, Daytona marks the next step in Long's career that began in go-karts at age 8 and was certainly highlighted by becoming the youngest female champion of the Snowball Derby in December

The famed late model race is hardly touch football, and Long believes the raucous nature of Saturday night short-track competition has been great preparation for the trucks.

"I love short tracks," she said. "It's prepared me big time, for sure. I've been to some pretty big short-track races and know how hard they race. I've raced with the best short-trackers, and now I'm moving and racing with the best of the best truck racers. It's definitely different, but I think it for sure has prepared me."

Fortunately, Long is guaranteed a starting spot, having possession of the top 35 owner points accumulated last season by the No. 12 DGM Racing entry piloted in 2010 by Mario Gosselin.

That's a relief.

"It means a lot to me for sure coming in here to be my first time and not knowing anything about this track," Long said. "I know the guys have brought an awesome truck, so I'm really excited about that. It's good to know that you are already in."

Like all other newcomers, she'll have to show she is deserving of respect from her fellow competitors, more than a few of whom are old enough to be her father. And that she has never been on Daytona's asphalt in a race vehicle and never drafted will only exacerbate the challenge.

"It's big because I've never really drafted before," she said. "Every series that you go to, you have to gain respect. Hopefully I gain a little bit of respect, but I have a lot to go.

"I did OK last year. It was a little rocky. This year I think we're going to come out stronger than we were."

Long is one of three women on the entry list � the others being Jennifer Jo Cobb, who also hopes to run in Saturday's Nationwide Series race, and Port Orange's Alli Owens, who is moving up from the ARCA Series, and must qualify on speed.

She doesn't see her gender as being an issue.

"I'm just a driver out there," she said. "I'm just trying to gain respect from other drivers and show them I do belong out there."

Starland has no such doubts.

"Johanna has so much natural talent that it floors me," he said through the team publicist. "I watched her in late models, and I knew I'd see her in NASCAR at some point. She's way past her age as far as driving ability goes � and sometimes I have to remember the fundamentals. Things I take for granted she might know, due to her age I have to remind myself to cover it anyway. I'm excited to see how this young woman will keep progressing."

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