TRUCKS: Early Crash Shortens Johanna Long’s Night at Kentucky

Johanna Long picked up the 3rd last-place finish of her NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career in Thursday’s UNOH 225 at the Kentucky Speedway when her #20 Panhandle Grading and Paving Toyota was involved in a two-truck accident on Lap 6 of the 152-lap race.

Long qualified 21st for the race at a speed of 168.755 mph, ranking her second behind 19th-fastest John King among the session’s “go-or-go-homers.” Coming off the team’s season-best finish of 11th at Texas last month, hopes were high that the Long’s speed would lead to another good finish.

Unfortunately, an accident sparked by Timothy Peters on Lap 6 sent Long’s truck spinning backwards into the turn two wall along with Justin Marks, taking both her and Marks out of the race. Long was credited with the last-place finish.

King, the fastest “go-or-go-homer,” was also involved in a multi-truck crash late in the race that left him 28th. It was King’s first start of the 2011 season.

LASTCAR STATISTICS
*It was Long and the #20's first last-place finish since 2010, when she scored the other two finishes of her career. Her most recent came last fall at Texas, where she crashed after the opening lap.
*Neither Long, the #20, nor a Toyota had ever finished last in a Truck Series race at Kentucky.

THE BOTTOM FIVE
36) #20-Johanna Long / 5 laps / crash
35) #66-Justin Marks / 6 laps / crash
34) #38-Mike Garvey / 9 laps / transmission
33) #84-Chris Fontaine / 10 laps / electrical
32) #88-Matt Crafton / 18 laps / engine

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Norm Benning, Mike Garvey (2)
2nd) James Buescher, Travis Kvapil, Chris Lafferty, Johanna Long, Scott Riggs, Brad Sweet (1)

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES OWNER’S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) #38-Shane Sieg, #57-Norm Benning Racing (2)
2nd) #5-Randy Moss, #10-Jennifer Jo Cobb, #20-Panhandle Motorsports, #31-Turner Motorsports, #32-Turner Motorsports, #07-SS Green Light Racing (1)

LASTCAR TRUCK SERIES MANUFACTURER’S CHAMPIONSHIP
1st) Chevrolet (7)
2nd) Toyota (3)