Michael Long
The following is the ninth in a 10-part countdown of highlights and lowlights at Quincy Raceways during the decade of the 2000s.
Initially, I figured it would take close to forever to pick out the top individual seasons from the decade. In reality, it took about 10 minutes.
1. Michel Long, modifieds, 2007-2008
I know, I know … that’s two seasons, but they were so identical I decided to just lump them together. Long’s 2007-2008 campaigns almost mirrored one another in their total and complete domination of the rest of the class. He strung together a combined 71 wins, including 35 features. Twice in that period, Long won six straight features. Six! And he did it twice! Here’s some other food for thought concerning Long. Since 2006, he has won 38 modified features. All other mod drivers combined have won 44. And remember, Long did not run complete seasons at the Bullring in either 2006 or 2009.
2. Mark Burgtorf, 2006
The Living Legend may have enjoyed his finest overall season in 2006 when he utterly destroyed the late model division. Burgtorf won a late model track record 28 races that included 13 features, 10 heats and eight dashes (also a record). Burgtorf’s 117-point margin in the points race over Denny Woodworth is the best ever in the IMCA era (since 1998).
3. Steve Carlin, 2007
Carlin’s impressive accomplishments in 2007 were somewhat overshadowed by two things: Long’s uber year in the mods and the fact he lost the hobby stock title to Todd Reichert by one point. Carlin’s 2007 season saw him win a series-record 23 races and 12 features, but somehow finished outside the top 10 in three points features. That ultimately cost him the track title and overshadowed an otherwise spectacular summer.
