Mike Affarano Motorsports announced Wednesday that Johanna Long will compete with the team in select NASCAR Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series events in 2015. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to race this season with Mike Affarano Motorsports,” said Long. “In a time when drivers are pressured to bring sponsorship money to teams in order to race, it was great to have my phone ring and be approached because of my talent.” Long competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series part time in 2012 and 2013, and looks to continue to gain experience in the series. In 2012, she became the youngest female driver to compete in the Xfinity Series. Long will make her team debut in the currently unsponsored #03 Xfinity Series Chevy on Feb. 21 at Daytona International Speedway. Mike Affarano Motorsports, located in Salisbury, N.C., is new to the Xfinity Series. The team made major investments over the off-season to upgrade their inventory with former Turner Scott Motorsports cars.(Affarano Motorsports)(1-28-2015)
UPDATE: Johanna Long’s plans to return to a NASCAR driver’s seat in 2015 have been put on hold. In a telephone conversation with espnW.com on Wednesday, Long said she and her Mike Affarano Racing team have decided not to race during the season-opening Speedweeks events at Daytona International Speedway this month as originally hoped. “The car we planned to run did not have the necessary updates that are required to pass the NASCAR certification process,” Long said. She said rather than rush the updates onto the car, the decision was made to pull out of the Alert Today Florida 300, which is scheduled for Feb. 21. Asked when the car would be ready and able to race, Long said, “It’s hard to put a time frame on it. We’re just trying to get as prepared as possible for when we do make our debut.” The plan was to enter the #03 Chevy in the Xfinity event at Daytona even though no primary sponsor had been inked.(ESPN.com)(2-11-2015)
