Long Scores Top-20 at Chicagoland Debut JOLIET, Ill. (August 27, 2010) –In Friday night’s EnjoyIllinois.com 225 at Chicagoland Speedway, Johanna Long proved why she is touted as one of NASCAR’s most promising up and comers. In only her third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series start, Long tactfully piloted her No. 15 Billy Ballew Motorsports-fielded Toyota to a 20th-place finish. It was Long’s second top-20 in her quickly rising career.

Prior to the race, crew chief “Cowboy” Starland laid out a simple game plan. He stressed that the race was all about learning. Starland desired for Long to continue discovering the handling characteristics of her race truck and finding the best grooves to follow around the 1.5-mile track. Long did just that.

Long started the race from the 20th position. She battled a tight-handling race truck in the initial stages of the event. The team fell to 24th-place while waiting for a chance to bring her truck into the pits. The break came on Lap 29, when the caution waved for a spin on the track. During the caution period, the 15 crew changed Long’s tires and topped off the fuel cell. The team also executed an air pressure adjustment to help free up her truck for the ensuing run. She rejoined the field in 25th-place.

Green flag action returned on Lap 35. Long’s truck was still too tight for her liking, but she managed to pick up two positions before the next caution flag waved, Lap 78. The crew performed routine service and made a series of track bar and wedge adjustments to loosen up Long’s Tundra. She returned to the track in 23rd-place.

The race went back to green on Lap 84. She pedaled her way into 22nd-place before the next caution, Lap 125. Starland called Long into the pits for her last stop of the night. The crew made another round of adjustments to loosen up the No. 15 Tundra. Long left the pits in 22nd-place.

On Lap 130, the race went green. Long picked up one more position on the ensuing run. A caution flag waved on Lap 147 and set the stage for a green-white-checkered finish. Long took advantage of the “overdrive” session to claim one more spot. She finished the day back in the 20th spot, but learned more than anyone else in the race.

“Yeah, I felt like I learned a lot today,” said Long. “This track is all about momentum. You have to keep the engine wound up or you just lose all of your speed. Fortunately I had a great crew to teach me. Of course I wish we could have finished better, but considering how many great drivers were in the field, I’m really proud of what we accomplished.”

 “We finished where we started. We stayed out of trouble and finished the race with a clean truck. That was important. I’m anxious for my next opportunity. I felt like tonight was great to learn about the bigger tracks, and I’ll feel more confident the next time out.”