Long gets lost in Danica mania

Given all the hype surrounding Danica Patrick's first full season competing in the Nationwide Series, nearly lost is the start of the rookie season for a 19-year-old female from Pensacola, Fla.

A 19-year-old who debuted in the season-opening race at Daytona -- the youngest woman to take the wheel for a Nationwide race -- and finished 21st in her No. 70 Chevrolet.

Or 17 spots ahead of Patrick.

But you might not have heard about Johanna Long's day because her performance wasn't splashed all over "SportsCenter" or in most newspapers.

"I knew I was going to be under the radar," Long said. "I'm a new driver coming out here in my first year in the Nationwide Series. I'm just trying to prove myself and prove to people that I do belong here."

She made a positive first impression at Daytona, running all but one of the 120 laps.

"Just going through the tunnel, your stomach gets in knots," Long said. "You're like, 'Wow, I'm really racing in Daytona.' "

Long didn't race last weekend in Phoenix, but she will compete in Saturday's Sam's Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It's one of 21 races she will take part in this year.

She began Kart racing at 8, and later began to capture attention by performing well in Late Model cars, topped by winning the 2010 Snowball Derby in Pensacola. Long beat Sprint Cup drivers David Ragan, David Stremme and Landoon Cassill. Las Vegan Kyle Busch won the same event in 2009.

Long also spent the past two seasons driving part time in the Camping World Truck Series. She finished 21st last season after competing in 17 races.

That led to a meeting with ML Motorsports owner Mary Louise Miller in December, resulting in Long signing with the Nationwide team.

It represented a monumental moment in Long's life. She was moving up, and for the first time, she was going to work with a team that wasn't family owned.

"I've been waiting a long time for someone to take me by the hand and get me to the next level," Long said. "That's what they've done for me, and it means so much for them to put me in their car for 21 races this year and next year."

Now it's a matter of racing well enough to attract the attention of more sponsors and elevate the team.

She hopes to finish in the top 20 in Las Vegas, and that's the mark Long would like to hit every week.

Her ultimate objective is to reach the Sprint Cup Series, but she doesn't have a timetable.

Perhaps without Patrick's presence, Long would be in Nationwide anyway, with the hopes of reaching the highest level. But Long welcomes Patrick's presence in NASCAR and appreciates the doors being opened as a result.

Yet Long also looks forward to the day when gender no longer is a big story, or even a story.

"That's the main thing that I've been working for since I was little," Long said. "Just be another driver out there. That's all I want to be, and not be looked at as a female driver. Just a good driver."

■ NOTES -- The NASCAR hauler parade down the Strip begins at 6 p.m. today at the iconic Las Vegas welcome sign. ... LVH lists Brad Keselowski as a 3-1 favorite to win Saturday's Nationwide race. Las Vegans Kyle Busch (9-2) and Brendan Gaughan (30-1) also are on the board. ... Drivers Regan Smith and Paul Menard were involved in a car accident Wednesday near Denver. They and two passengers, including Smith's wife, were not injured.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow him on Twitter: @markanderson65.