An interesting story fro Friday's Chicago Sun-Times. Johanna Long, who starts one position ahead of Danica Patrick at Chicago today, comments on the Amber Cope / Kevin Harvick New Hampshire incident.
Johanna Long, 20, not trying to be next Danica Patrick
By Tina Akouris takouris@suntimes.com July 19, 2012 8:56PM
Johanna Long wasnt racing at Loudon, N.H., when Amber Cope and Kevin Harvick created a minor firestorm after the NASCAR Nationwide Series race July 14.
Long made sure to watch the highlights, partly for the inevitable questions that go with being a female in the male-dominated world of stock car racing.
With 21 laps to go, Harvick was sitting on a nice lead when he came up behind Cope, who was about 33 laps down. Cope didnt get out of Harvicks way, contrary to NASCAR protocol, which dictates that lapped drivers move aside when approached by the lead cars. Harvick wasnt able to get around Cope, Brad Keselowski sped past the two cars to win the race and Harvick finished second.
After the race, Harvick referred to Cope as an it, and Cope fired back on Twitter that she wanted Harvick to apologize.
Its hard for me to say anything [about the incident], and he did the best he could to get around her, Long said. You have to have respect on the racetrack and give those guys respect. I try not to put myself in those situations.
When youre in that position, sometimes you dont know what to say.
Long, 20, is a rookie and the youngest female driver in the Nationwide Series. Her best finish was 12th at Daytona on July 6 after wrecking at the end. Shes hoping to finish higher in her No. 70 Foretravel Motorcoach Chevrolet in the STP 300 on Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet.
Long is familiar with the track, having raced there in 2011, when she drove in the Camping World Truck Series. It was her first foray on a 11/2-mile track, and she had a blast.
It is fast and big and theres a lot of room, but you have to hustle it hard and drive it like a short track, she said.
Long ran in 17 Trucks Series races last season and seven in 2010. Going from trucks to stock cars was quite an adjustment, especially at tracks such as Daytona, where excelling at drafting takes time.
Racing on different tracks isnt the only challenge for Long. She also is driving for ML Motorsports of Warsaw, Ind. Its the first time Long isnt racing for a team owned by her family. Longs car owner, Mary-Louise Miller, is one of the few female team owners in NASCAR. The women dont necessarily see themselves as the lone wolves of the sport.
Except for one race [Daytona], shes stayed out of trouble and has learned how to handle the equipment, Miller said. When I first met her, I felt a special bond, and it was like magic, like we needed to be together.
Long has been and will continue to be compared to Danica Patrick, who is racing a full Nationwide schedule and a partial Sprint Cup slate. Long said that she admires Patrick, 10 years her senior, and that the two have exchanged pleasantries.
However, being the next Danica isnt necessarily her goal.
She is a trail blazer and a good driver and she markets herself well, but I try to do my thing and give 110 percent, Long said. I hope someone will look at me like that.
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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM
