a long ways to go

[preachers]

I saw some English sentences using this phrase.
I have no idea why there was a "s" follow with the word "way"?

1, We've got a long ways to go to get to that level but we're working at it.
2, Be happy about how far you've come so far, even if you have a long ways to go yet.
3, And most of, kind of the first act, is also pretty playable, but we still have a long ways to go.

 

[5jj]

In American English ways is often used as an equivalent of way in phrases such as a long ways to go. The usage is acceptable but is usually considered informal.

Dictionary - Yahoo! Education