Client PR: Long Awaited First Win for Adam Long Finally Comes at Kingsport Speedway

Pounding Mill, VA(June 11, 2012) — Adam Long isn’t your typical Late Model Stock Car racer, who started in a smaller car or series such as go-karts or Legends cars. Long got his start in a Late Model car, in the Limited Late Model division and he’s only been racing them for four years now, but on Friday night, June 8th at Kingsport Speedway he broke through for his first career win in the Late Model Stock Car division.

Long, who has competed mostly at Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, VA over his short career, has always ventured away to other tracks competing at places like Hickory Motor Speedway in Newton, NC, Myrtle Beach Speedway in Myrtle Beach, SC, Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, VA and select UARA-STARS Series races throughout the region.

In 2012, he made his first trip to Kingsport Speedway for a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series race, which is the track closest to his Pounding Mill, VA home. He had competed there last season in the UARA-STARS Series, but made his first appearance at the track for a weekly race. Long was strong in even his first race there as he qualified second and after starting fifth due to invert raced his way back to second in the closing laps. With a few more laps or a caution, Long might well have picked up his first win in his first start, but he would come up with a second place finish.

After struggling through some engine problems in the early part of the season, Long finally got it straightened out and was ready to return to Kingsport. While, he had originally intended to compete the full season at Motor Mile Speedway, he had fallen out of the points battle early due to engine problems that kept him from starting the April 28th race. Now he was free to race around and not having to commit to one track, that left the door wide open for him to focus on returning to Kingsport.

He returned for the second time on May 25th and after missing the mark a little in qualifying and starting 11th, he would only be able to manage a 4th place finish. Coming so close to getting his first win in his first start and having a stumble in his second start, only motivated the Virginia native as he readied for a June 8th return to the 3/8 mile concrete bullring. On this day, he knew that he’d have to be on his A-game once again as the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Points Leader and second place driver was in the field and that didn’t include many of the other drivers, who are really good on the tight Kingsport, TN track.

In practice on Friday, his car was solid and when it came time to qualify, he posted the fifth fastest time, which was a much better start than his previous 11th place effort. On the start of the first of twin races on this night, Long was running strong and managed to stay ahead of some carnage that ensued behind the leaders. While, he was able to race up to the second position solidly in the 30-lap feature, the young driver was only able to serious challenge the leader once and settled for another second place finish.

“We had a really good car,” said Long after the first race. “Right from the start we got by a couple of other good cars and I knew we were going to be good for the long haul. I think we’ll be good for the second race, we’ll have a little better starting spot and I think this car has a lot more left in it.”

As the field got lined up for the second 30-lap feature race, the top four cars were inverted for the start of the race and Long would line up third, just behind the leader. That position proved to be critical as right from the drop of the green flag, Long went on the assault and took the lead right away. He had asserted himself as the leader, but some of the good cars that were taken out of contention in the first race were also coming through the field.

Long after getting the lead, stayed there and without a caution late in the race, he took the checkered flag for his first win completely unchallenged. For the young driver, it had been a long time coming and he was elated in victory lane.

“Oh man, it’s just like a big weight lifted off my shoulders,” said a very happy Long in victory lane. “I felt like I had a big fat monkey on my back and I finally got it off. Maybe I can walk straight now.”

Long knows though that this isn’t a one-man deal and he was quick to thank his crew and family for everyone supporting him to get to this point.

“I couldn’t do this alone though, my dad has been funding this deal for us to come out here and race and him, my mom and my fiance` are obviously my biggest fans. My crew chief, Marc Fryar and all my guys have worked their butts off every week, even when I screw up, they still stand behind me. We couldn’t have got to victory lane without everyone’s help, I can’t tell them how much I appreciate them.”

For Long it was a long hard road to victory lane, but now forever he’ll have the date June 8, 2012 etched in his memory and that first win behind him.

“We got us one now and I’m not going to say I’m going to win them all, but I hope that the old saying is true about getting your first win,” laughed Long. “I think this team is capable of winning a lot of races and I hope we can back up this win.”

Long will be back in action this Friday night at Kingsport Speedway as the field goes for a single 60-lap feature and he’ll be hoping to back up the performance he had on Friday night.

“I’ll be back here again next Friday,” stated Long. “This is becoming my new home track, it’s the closest one to me and I love the racing here. You have to really get up on the wheel and drive it and it fits my style. Hopefully we can come back and get us another win, but I know the competition here is as tough as anywhere in Late Models right now, so I’m not going to get cocky and say we will.”

Long is supported by Tru-line Pipeline, Inc., CNX Gas and Hedgecock Racing Enterprises. For more information on Adam Long Racing, please check out the team website at http://www.adamlongracing.com/ or follow them on twitter @adamlongracing.