Johanna Long couldn’t believe she was already talking to young students about not only her job–but working hard to achieve their dreams. The 18-year-old from Sarasota, Florida, stood before a cafeteria packed with first- and second-graders at Cain Elementary School in Darlington, and couldn’t help but smile. Not only does she live her dream at work, she gets to live it all of the time. “To know I was sitting there (where the students were), listening to someone talk about how I should stay in school and to follow my dreams, and to know that they’re listening to what I love to do–it was awesome,” said Long. Her fellow rookie, Joey Coulter, who drives for Richard Childress Racing, showed up at Cain wearing his fire suit, and carrying his helmet. “It gives them a chance to ask more questions,” said Coulter. “I feel like it opens up a lot more questions and it makes it more fun,” he said. Browning said the track’s decision not to charge admission for anyone under 17 years old for the truck series and Nationwide Series race (in May) is as much an economic decision as it is a push to broaden NASCAR’s fan base. “We’re really putting a focus on the youth market to cultivate and bring that next generation of fans along,” said Browning. Tickets for children under age 17 will also be half-price for the May 7th Southern 500. The Too Tough To Tame 200 happens Saturday, March 12, at Darlington Raceway, and any ticket allows fans to watch a full day of practice, qualifying, and the race, which will be run under the lights.(SC Now.com)(3-2-2011)
UPDATE: Coulter and Long visited seven elementary schools in Darlington County sharing stories from the track and the classroom with students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade. Long is currently finishing up her high school degree attending home school classes while Coulter works to complete his Mechanical Engineering degree at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. After putting in time in the classroom, the drivers participated in a media tour of South Carolina making stops in the Florence/Myrtle Beach market as well as the state’s Capitol city of Columbia to promote the upcoming Too Tough To Tame 200 that will be run at Darlington Raceway on March 12.(Darlington Raceway)(3-2-2011)
UPDATE 2: NASCAR veteran crew chief Kevin “Cowboy” Starland, current crew chief of the youngest Rookie of the Year contender & competitor Johanna Long and the No. 20 Panhandle Grading Toyota Tundra team, will be speaking to Darlington County Institute of Technology students. Starland has over 20 years of experience in NASCAR, winning championships with Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle; as well as drivers such as Aric Almirola, Steven Wallace, Johnny Benson, Rick Crawford and Nelson Picquet, Jr. Starland, along with team transport driver and gasman Terry Lynch, will be in town promoting the upcoming Too Tough To Tame 200 at Darlington Raceway. Starland will talk to the high school students about careers in motorsports, while Lynch will demonstrate the gasman duties in full firesuit and tour the hauler.(Darlington Raceway PR)(3-7-2011)
