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Why Does Grandma Ruby's Support Women in Motorsports?
Wondering why Grandma Ruby's Sweet Shoppe decided to sponsor women in motorsports?
Read "Grandma's Story" and you'll see how certain we are that Grandma Ruby would be thrilled!
On her first and only trip to New York City, Grandma Ruby thought her cab ride from the airport to the hotel was much like a stock car race! Alli would see things a little different as she races around the country on several tracks at over 150 miles per hour. Johanna Long is the epitome of a woman with a dream.
As early as the age of five, as she watched her father race around the Southeast in the old NASCAR All-pro Division, Johanna Long was driven to become a racecar driver. In the years since, “Jo” has not only accomplished that goal, she’s done it in ways that few racers – male or female – have ever done before.
Johanna Long
Tiffany Daniels
Johanna’s story is highlighted by wins on some of the toughest proving grounds in all of short track racing, but the smiling face, upbeat attitude and competitive spirit that mesh together inside the car and out have Jo’s racing future looking bright.
Donald Long, Johanna’s father, brought his daughters to the track as much as he could when he was among the most successful racers in the now-defunct All-Pro Series. That’s when Johanna, the youngest of the three girls, got bit by the racing bug at the age of eight. Kart racing at tracks in the Southeast was where Johanna got her first turns behind the wheel and success came early and often. Several wins in the tough Florida Kart scene led to some Legends Car experience at tricky tracks like Mobile International Speedway and Sunny South Speedway in Alabama.
Then, at age 14, it was time to start following in the steps of dear old dad by taking on the tough Late Model scene in the Southeast. Johanna turned heads from race number-one in the competitive Pro Late Model division at her home track of Five Flags Speedway, the track near her home in Pensacola, Florida. Experience-building was the name of the game in 2007 as Johanna made a name for herself throughout the deep South and getting solid runs under her belt in big PLM races such as the Snowflake 100 at Five Flags.
Those who follow short track racing may have heard the name Johanna Long before 2008, but that year Johanna became the talk of the town wherever she went. The then 15-year-old became the youngest, and first female, track champion in the long history of Five Flags Speedway when she secured the Pro Late Model title. That championship came on the heels of three victories at Five Flags, but her success was not just limited to her home track. Johanna also scored victories at Mobile and South Alabama Speedways and started the move up the racing ladder by racing alongside her father in the Super Late Model ranks at Five Flags and beyond, often beating her old man on the track.
Johanna made her debut in the most prestigious short track racing event of them all, the Snowball Derby at Five Flags, in 2008 and was in line for victory before late-race contact ended her bid, but that has not discouraged the now 16-year-old one bit. 2009 has Johanna building off the momentum built over recent seasons in the Late Model ranks, as she expands her horizons by battling door-to-door against the top short track racers not just in the deep South, but in the Carolinas, the Midwest and beyond.
Women across the United States and around the world increasingly challenge traditional thinking in career choices. Johanna is doing exactly that and is an inspiration to young women everywhere. Grandma Ruby would tell her to "go for it!" and that was enough reason for us to join the D'Hondt Motorsports family...provide our support to make dreams come true for this young lady and others with the courage to chase their dreams.
See In The News for updates and hope to see you at the races!
