The Long And Owens Of It

I know I haven’t written in forever. My topic today will revisit with two female drivers and some exciting news last week in the form of musical chairs, if you please.

It seems that Ms. Alli Owens and Ms. Johanna Long will be swapping seats in the ARCA Series. Next year, Alli Owens will be driving for Venturini Motorsports (the team that Long made her ARCA debut with earlier this year) and Jo Long will be driving for D’Hondt Motorsports immediately (the team Alli is driving for). EDIT: Long will take over the No. 19 ride for the season finale at The Rock, while Alli is listed to be in the No. 7 ride. Yep, found that out this morning listening to Alli's interview with the Thunder Crew from last night.

Here are the official press releases. I hope they both find success in their new ventures. I’m super excited for both of them.

Remember, you can follow Alli on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/AlliOwens

Johanna Long to make her DMS debut at "The Rock" in the Grandma Ruby’s No. 19 Toyota Camry

17 year old, Johanna Long will make her D’Hondt Motorsports debut in the Grandma Ruby's No. 19 Toyota Camry at the Rockingham Speedway October 11th. Racing in the ARCA / REMAX Series’ season final , the talented young lady will make her second ARCA Series start of the season.

Long, who blistered her home track’s {Pensacola's Five Flags Speedway} qualifying track record last week en route to leading all 100 laps of the feature and winner of 2 out of 4 Super Late Model "Blizzard Series" races all leading up to the December 6th Super Bowl of Late Model racing at Five Flags - "The Snowball Derby" - will test her new Toyota DMS ARCA ride tomorrow (Wednesday, September 23rd) at the famed Rockingham facility.

(Credit: D’Hondt Motorsports release)

Alli Owens and ElectrifyingCareers.com announce they will team with Venturini Motorsports in 2010. The team will compete in select ARCA Series events and potential NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races. The team is in continued talks with potential partners to expand her 2010 schedule. Owens will pilot the famed Venturini Motorsports Chevrolets.

“Venturini Motorsports’ reputation speaks for itself,” said Owens. “They’ve been in the ARCA Series for more than 25 years. They’re winning races and almost always finish in the top-five in points. It’s truly an honor to join their organization. I know their talent and resources will be an asset to me. I’m looking forward to working with them next season and know that we’ll achieve a lot together.”

The 2010 season will mark Owens’ and ElectrifyingCareers.com’s third year in the ARCA Series. In 2008, Owens teamed with DGM Racing for 12 events and drove to four top-20 finishes. Owens has competed in nine events this year with D’Hondt Motorsports. To date, Owens has tallied two top-10 finishes, seven top-20 finishes and sat on the outside pole at the Daytona International Speedway in the 2009 series.

“I watched her really mature this year,” said Billy Venturini, crew chief and general manager of Venturini Motorsports. “I’ve had my eye on her since she entered the ARCA Series. In 2008, she showed flashes of what she is capable of. This season she was steady all year. She ran in the top-10 and practiced well. I think she has what it takes to go far in our sport. We’re going to offer her all the tools she needs next year to have a breakout year.”

Venturini Motorsports is no stranger to female initiatives. Bill Venturini Sr. pioneered the first all-female pit crew in motorsports. The women were one of the first race day-only crews that specialized in performing pit stops. Billy Venturini is hopeful Owens will continue the team’s ground-breaking legacy in 2010.

“I’m really optimistic about her coming to be part of our organization next year,” said Venturini. “She performed at a very respectable level this season. We’re hoping that our team’s experience will bring her to that next level and hopefully get her to be the first lady to win in the ARCA Series.”

(Credit: www.AlliOwens.com)