Bullring fans, cherish the past three seasons. They have been historical in nature and it’s unlikely we’ll see anything like them — ar least as many of them — again anytime soon.

There have been 17 track championships in 35 years decided by 9 points or less — and eight (count ‘em, E-I-G-H-T) have come in the last two years. What are the odds?

Here’s a look at those close calls:

Year, class, drivers
2008, stock cars, Jeff Mueller def. Chris Wibbell by 0 points (title decided my most features won when Mueller and Wibbell tied in points).
2008, modifieds, Michael Long def. Tony Dunker by 1 point.
2008, hobby stocks, Aaron Brocksieck def. Wes Mayfield by 1 point.
2007, hobby stocks, Todd Reichert def. Steve Carlin by 1 point.
1998, “B” modifieds, Gary Dreyer def. Joe Hooper by 1 point.
2006, hornets, Steven DeLonjay def. James Leffew by 2 points.
2004, “A” modifieds, Hank DeLonjay def. Michael Long by 2 points.
1983, pure stock, Jeff Klingele def. Hal Roach by 2 points.
2007, hornet, Steven DeLonjay def. Levi Long by 3 points.
1998, “A” modifieds, Sam Burgtorf def. Hank DeLonjay by 3 points.
2004, late model, Lonnie Bailey def. Brent Slocum by 4 points.
2009, stock cars, Abe Huls def. Kevin Tomlinson by 5 points.
2009, late models, Lonnie Bailey def. Justin Reed by 6 points.
1989, “A’ modifieds, Darin Walker def. Sonny Smyser by 6 points.
1984, sportsman, Hank DeLonjay def. Lonnie Bailey by 6 points.
2006, modifieds, Robbie Reed def. Hank DeLonjay by 7 points.
2009, hobby stocks, Steve Carlin def. Jim Powell by 9 points.

All the dirt-track conspiracy theorists that are convinced starting on the pole or front row of the feature is a virtual lock for victory might want to rethink that belief.

Of the 84 features run last season at the Bullring, only 9.5 percent were won from the pole and just 26.2 percent were won from the front row.

Here are the facts:

WINS FROM THE POLE

Late models: 2 of 23, 8.7 percent
Modifieds: 3 of 20, 15.0 percent
Stock cars: 2 of 20, 10.0 percent
Hobby stocks: 1 of 21, 4.8 percent
Totals: 8 of 84, 9.5 percent

Victories:
Late models: Mark Burgtorf, Justin Reed
Modifieds: Robbie Reed, Steven DeLonjay, Michael Long
Stock cars: Terry Houston (2)
Hobby stocks: Steve Carlin

WINS FROM THE FIRST ROW

Late models: 10 of 23, 43.5 percent
Modifieds: 4 of 20, 20.0 percent
Stock cars: 5 of 20, 25.0 percent
Hobby stocks: 3 of 21, 14.3 percent
Totals: 22 of 84, 26.2 percent

Keeping with the “combined” theme, here is a look at the career victory leaders of all of the classes included as one.

Mark Burgtorf has a shot at reaching 200 wins (since 1999)  next season, while Tony Dunker and Lonnie Bailey have the opportunity to become the fourth and fifth members of the century club.

I find interesting that Hank DeLonjay, who has been retired for two years, is still No. 1 in heat victories. If Michael Long races enough at the Bullring in 2010 he will likely pass The Crank.

Feature-wise, teenager Steven DeLonjay is two wins away from cracking the top 10, which is borderline unbelievable. Is it any wonder why we love this sport of dirt-track racing? Is it April yet?

TOTAL VICTORIES SINCE 1999
Totals reflect wins from all classes a driver may have participated in. For example, Mark Burgtorf’s total represents his victories in both late models and modifieds at Quincy Raceways.

(Drivers in bold face were active in 2009)
1. Mark Burgtorf, 181
2. Michael Long, 150
3. Hank DLonjay, 138
4. Tony Dunker, 94
5. Eddie Dieker, 91
6. Lonnie Bailey, 88
7. Denny Woodworth, 80
8. Steve Carlin, 79
9. Wyatt Lantz, 77
10. Dave Wietholder, 72

On the bubble
Vance Wilson, 67
Adam Birck, 64
Bill Genenbacher, 54

FEATURE VICTORIES SINCE 1999

(Drivers in bold face were active in 2009)
1. Mark Burgtorf, 82
2. Michael Long, 53
3. Hank DeLonjay, 42
4. Eddie Dieker, 39
5. Vance Wilson, 30
6. Steve Carlin, 28
7-tie.. Wyatt Lantz, 24
7-tie. Adam Birck, 24
9. Lonnie Bailey, 22
10-tie. Dave Wietholder, 18
10-tie. Joe Hooper, 18
10-tie. Denny Woodworth, 18

On the bubble
Steven DeLonjay, 16
James Leffew, 13
Jim Powell, 13
Jason Frankel, 12
Tony Dunker, 12
Bill Genenbacher, 12

HEAT VICTORIES SINCE 1999

(Drivers in bold face were active in 2009)
1. Hank DeLonjay, 80
2. Michael Long, 71
3. Mark Burgtorf, 66
4. Tony Dunker, 62
5. Eddie Dieker, 51
6. Steve Carlin, 50
7. Wyatt Lantz, 39
8-tie. Denny Woodworth, 38
8-tie. Adam Birck, 38
8-tie. Dave Wietholder, 38

On the bubble
Jerry Weisenberger, 36
Lonnie Bailey, 35
Bill Genenbacher, 35

DASH VICTORIES SINCE 1999

(Drivers in bold face were active in 2009)
1. Mark Burgtorf, 31
2. Lonnie Bailey, 29
3. Michael Long, 24
4. Denny Woodworth, 23
5. Tony Dunker, 18
6-tie. Vance Wilson, 17
6-tie. Brent Slocum, 17
8. Hank DeLonjay, 16
9-tie. Dave Wietholder, 11
9-tie. Brandon Lennox, 11
9-tie. Mike Karhoff, 11

On the bubble
Wyatt Lantz, 10
Jamie Wilson, 10
Robbie Reed, 9

Keith Pratt fans voted No. 33 the most likely to win a late model track championship from a list of 10 of the younger — in tems of both age and experience — drivers at the Bullring.

Keith Pratt

Pratt edged Matt Bailey, 35.2 percent to 33.9 percent, in what may have been the closest online poll result this blog has seen since it debuted more than two years ago. There were 227 ballots cast by the time we shut off the voting Friday morning. The poll was open for about two weeks.

I purposely removed drivers like Mark Burgtorf, Jason Frankel, Lonnie Bailey and Justin Reed from the equation. Three of the four are veterans of more than a decade of competitive racing and all have already won at last one track title at 8000 Broadway. The fourth, Reed, was runner-up this season and has firmly established himself as an annual top-five threat.

I wanted to see how the fans viewed the next tier of drivers attempting to crack the upper echelon at the track. Plus, Burgtorf and Frankel will likely not be actively competing for the 2010 title, preferring again to test the weekend waters outside Adams County.

NOW IT’S THE MODIFIEDS’ TURN

Starting today we’ll do the same thing with the modifieds. I have not included some of the established powers such as Reed, Steven DeLonjay and Tony Dunker. (I find it kind of ironic to eliminate DeLonjay from this list when he’s still a teenager, but I don’t think anyone will argue that he is already an elite driver.)

I have included some drivers — Robbie Reed, Vance Wilson, Wyatt Lantz — who have won past track championships. I put Reed on the list because since his 2006 title he has not been a fulltimer, but what if he would be again? The thinking was similar with Wilson. He showed us what he was still capable of in 2009 after not running full-time in Quincy since 2001. Lantz has run sporadically at Quincy since winning a”B” mod title earlier in the decade, but has not yet run a full season in the single-class mod division.

UNOFICIALLY

I believe it’s 21 weeks until the first green flag at Quincy Raceways, but who’s counting?

I think the fans and racers have spoken, at least judging from the responses the previous blog has received. Some sort of fall series seems to be very popular, and so does some sort of Sunday afternoon starting time.

I’m going to be talking to Bullring co-owner Tony Rhinberger in the near future and this will definitely be a topic. The idea behind our meeting was to discuss the 2010 season, so this should fit right in. I’ll keep you posted on this blog about the possibility of a fall series and other potential changes for next season.

To be honest, the early starting time did not occur to me, but I think it’s a great, great idea. I am a football fan like most, but if I had a choice of sitting at home on four Sunday afternoons in September/October or going to 8000 Broadway there is no choice. Get the trackburgers a cookin’ cuz Stevie Dirt is on the way.

Ideas presented by you, the fans, are the beauty of an outlet such as this. If the fall series becomes a reality, you should take all the credit for it.

Is this a great country or what?!

How about a fall mini-series at the Bullring? Four weeks of racing after the points season ends, with the champ in each of the competing series picking up some sort of bonus payoff?

I’m not one who thinks racing needs to extend into November or anything like that, but I think there’s enough interest to support solid Sunday night crowds until — or a little past — the first of October.

What do you think?

A potential sponsor of such an idea contacted me a few days ago and asked me what I thought. Actually, he asked me about another concept that I didn’t think would fly, so I suggested this.

Let me know what you think. This would-be sponsor will be watching the Stevie Dirt blog to help gauge interest.

During the next few blogs we’ll look at some of the “combined” leaders and record holders at the Bullring. By “combined” I mean grouping all the weekly series together to compare victory and other totals, season leaders, etc.

Notice how most of the leading victory figures have increased over the years. I think it’s a combination of two things — obviously outstanding individual success, but also more race dates. In the mid-200s there were quite a few mid-week race nights, along with the regular Sunday evening shows.

To me, arguably the most glaring number is Michael Long’s 36 total victories in the modified series in 2007. For example, compare that to mod driver Mike Karhoff’s 2001-leading 10 wins for all series. That’s simply amazing. (Long is pictured at the right with his family and flagman Chris Miller following one of those 36 wins in ‘07.)

While the total season victory standards of Long (36, 35), and even Mark Burgtorf (28) will be difficult to equal or surpass, how about the 17 heat victories from Hank DeLonjay in 2006? That’s the equivalent of winning a heat race just about every week.

COMBINED SEASON VICTORY LEADERS

TOTAL     

2009: Michael Long, Modifieds 16
2008: Michael Long, Modifieds 35 
2007: Michael Long, Modifieds 36 
2006: Mark Burgtorf, Late Models 28 
2005: Hank DeLonjay, “A” Modifieds 23
2004: Wyatt Lantz, “B” Modifieds 24
2003: Mark Burgtorf, Late Models 20
2002: Hank DeLonjay, “A” Modifieds 15
2001: Mike Karhoff, “A” Modifieds 10                     
2000: Sam Burgtorf, “A” Modifieds 12           
1999: Vance Wilson, “A” Modifieds 13
 
FEATURES

2009: Mark Burgtorf, Late Models  7; Michael Long, Modifieds 7
2008: Michael Long, Modifieds 15
2007: Michael Long, Modifieds 16
2006: Mark Burgtorf, Late Models 13
2005: Wyatt Lantz, “A” Modifieds  9; Hank DeLonjay, “A” Modifieds 9
2004: Eddie Dieker, Bombers 9
2003: Mark Burgtorf, Late Models 9
2002: Mark Burgtorf, Late Models 6;  Hank DeLonjay, “A” Modifieds 6
2001: Mark Burgtorf, Late Models 5; Mike Karhoff, “A” Modifieds 5
2000: Eddie Dieker, Bombers 6; Vance Wilson, “A” Modifieds 6
1999: Greg Uppinghouse, “B” Mods 8

HEATS

2009: Nick Ingalls, Late Models  6; Vance Wilson, Modifieds  6;  Tony Dunker, Modifieds 6; Ryan Meyer, Modifieds 6;  Steve Steinkuhler, Stock Cars 6
2008: Michael Long, Modifieds 13
2007: Michael Long, Modifieds 13
2006: Hank DeLonjay, “A” Mods 17
2005: Eddie Dieker, Bombers  14
2004: Wyatt Lantz, “B” Modifieds 11; Adam Birck, Bombers  11
2003: Michael Long, “A” Modifieds 11
2002: Adam Birck, Bombers 8
2001: Rob Carter, “B” Modifieds 8
2000: Eddie Dieker, Bombers 8
1999: Bruce Hatfield, Bombers 9

DASHES

2009: Steven DeLonjay, Modifieds 4
2008: Michael Long, Modifieds 7
2007: Mark Burgtorf, Late Models 8
2006: Mark Burgtorf, Late Models 5; Robbie Reed, Modifieds 5
2005: Denny Woodworth, Late Models 6
2004: Lonnie Bailey, Late Models 6
2003: Brent Slocum, Late Models 4
2002: Brent Slocum, Late Models 4
2001: Vance Wilson, “A” Modifieds 5
2000: Jamie Wilson, Late Models 5
1999: Lonnie Bailey, Late Models 5

COMBINED TOP 10 SEASON VICTORY LEADERS

TOTAL     

Driver, Series   
Michael Long, Modifieds, 36, 2007
Michael Long, Modifieds, 35, 2008
Mark Burgtorf, Late Models, 28, 2006
Hank DeLonjay, “A” Modifieds, 25, 2006
Mark Burgtorf, Late Models, 24, 2007
Wyatt Lantz, “B” Modifieds, 24, 2004
Steve Carlin, Hobby Stocks, 23, 2007
Hank DeLonjay, “A” Modifieds, 23, 2005
Tony Dunker, “B” Modifieds, 21, 2005
Mark Burgtorf, Late Models, 20, 2002
Wyatt Lantz, “B” Modifieds, 19, 2005

 FEATURES

Driver, Series   
Michael Long, Modifieds, 16, 2007
Michael Long, Modifieds, 15, 2008
Mark Burgtorf, Late Models, 13, 2006
Steve Carlin, Bombers, 12, 2007
Jeff Mueller, Stock Cars, 9, 2008
Adam Birck, Bombers, 9, 2006
Wyatt Lantz, “B” Modifieds, 9, 2005
Hank DeLonjay, “A” Modifieds, 9, 2005
Eddie Dieker, Bombers, 9, 2004
Mark Burgtorf, Late Models, 9, 2003

HEATS

Driver, Series   
Hank DeLonjay, “A” Modifieds, 17, 2006
Eddie Dieker, Bombers, 14, 2005
Michael Long, Modifieds, 13, 2008
Michael Long, Modifieds, 13, 2007
Tony Dunker, “B” Modifieds, 12, 2005
Hank DeLonjay, “A” Modifieds, 12, 2005
Steve Carlin, Hobby Stocks, 11, 2007
Adam Birck, Bombers, 11, 2004
Michael Long, “A” Modifieds, 11, 2003
Hank DeLonjay, “A” Modifieds, 10, 2007
Steven DeLonjay, Hornets, 10, 2007
Mark Burgtorf, Late Models, 10, 2006

DASHES

Driver, Series   
Mark Burgtorf, Late Models. 8, 2007
Michael Long, Modifieds, 7, 2008
Michael Long, Modifieds, 7, 2007
Denny Woodworth, Late Models, 6, 2005
Lonnie Bailey, Late Models, 6, 2004
Mark Burgtorf, Late Models, 5, 2008
Mark Burgtorf, Late Models, 5, 2006
Robbie Reed, Modifieds, 5, 2006
Vance Wilson, “A” Modifieds, 5, 2001
Jamie Wilson, Late Models, 5, 2000
Lonnie Bailey, Late Models, 5, 1999

(STEVIE DIRT NOTE: The following ran in Saturday’s print edition of The Herald-Whig, chronicling the track’s all-decade (2000-09) team, plus a few other treats.)

They all had the right stuff when it came to turning left.

When the subject concerns the top drivers of the decade at Quincy Raceways, there are five names that immediately jump to the forefront.

Mark Burgtorf is the equivalent of a living legend at the Broadway Bullring, and he did nothing but enhance that image over the past 10 years.

And if not for Burgtorf, Lonnie Bailey might have been the name linked to late model dominance in the decade of the 2000s.

Among the modifieds, Hank DeLonjay and Michael Long stood the tallest between 2000-09.

In the hobby stocks — which were known as “bombers” for more than half of the decade — Eddie Dieker became the standard by what all other drivers were measured.

MARK BURGTORF

Burgtorf piloted that familiar No. 7 to six of his 14 track titles during the decade, including three in a row between 2005-07.

Almost as impressive as all of the victories Burgtorf stockpiles is his uncanny ability stay out of harm’s way. Not once during the past 10 years was he involved in any sort of major crash.

Lucky?

To a point, for sure, but Branch Rickey once said luck is the residue of design.

Burgtorf further cemented his No. 1 positions in The Herald-Whig’s all-time and IMCA era (since 1998) late model rankings, which are based on where a driver finishes each season in the final points standings.

Burgtorf’s signature season during the past 10 years came in 2006 when he accented a track championship with a decade-best 13 feature victories and 28 total wins.

LONNIE BAILEY

Bailey was the only late model driver outside of Burgtorf to win more than one track title between 2000-09, collecting championships in 2004 and 2009.

Bailey also finished runner-up in points four times. On three of those occasions he was second to Burgtorf. Bailey is No. 4 in the all-time rankings and No. 2 in the IMCA era.

The finest overall season of the decade for Bailey came in 2004 when he won a series-leading six features and 18 total races. He edged the late Brent Slocum for the title that summer, winning the crown by four points in what remains the closest title chase in series history. Ironically, two years earlier Slocum won his only track championship in Quincy when he outdueled Bailey.

HANK DeLONJAY

“Hank The Crank” will likely always be the model of success for local modified racers. DeLonjay retired after the 2007 season to serve as crew chief for his son, Steven, who took over the ride in the No. 35 modified in 2008.

Hank won four titles during the 2000-09 decade, all in succession between 2002-05. He also finished runner-up three other seasons, including his final two campaigns. That kind of repeated success is why DeLonjay has held the No. 1 posiiton in The Herald-Whig all-time modified rankings since their inception more than 10 years ago. 

DeLonjay led all modified drivers in feature and total wins four times during the decade.

MICHAEL LONG

Not even Burgtorf was able to put up individual season numbers like Long 
has in recent summers.

Long has been a contender from his first full-time season in 2000, but elevated his game to heights never seen before in any series at the Bullring in 2007-08. During those two years he won an unprecedented 31 features, 71 overall races and a pair of track championships.

Long, who also put together four other top-three seasons during the decade, won an incredible 150 races (including 53 features) between 2000-09. Those remarkable numbers would have been even higher, but he did not run at Quincy in 2006 and was only on hand for about half of the 2009 season.

EDDIE DIEKER

Dieker inadvertently created a James Dean-esque backdrop around his career. He was gone from racing way too early.

At the top of the bomber division in 2005, he opted to retire after winning a second straight championshop and his third in four years. The likable Plainville resident decided to drive off into the sunset to concentrate on raising a family.

Dieker, who also won a championship in 1999, still holds series records for most titles (4) and just about any other category related to the bombers and hobby stocks. Dieker’s halcyon days of 2003-05 saw him win a combined 49 races, the most ever during any three-year stretch in the division’s 23-year history.

Making Dieker’s accomplishments even more impressive is he managed his dominance at a time when the bombers were averaging 30 cars a week, almost double the average of recent seasons at the track.

5 MEMORABLE RACES

More than 200 late model feature races were run in the track’s marquee division between 2000-09. Here are five of the most memorable:

1. The first UMP Summernational late model event, 2006: After years of trying, the track finally landed a UMP Summernationals tour stop. The crowd, the buzz and the race all matched the hype. Randy “King Kong” Korte won the event, which saw Jeep Van Wormer spear Steve Sheppard Jr. on a caution lap on night when tempers grew shorter with each yellow flag.

2. Lonnie Bailey’s 2002 Deery Brothers Summer Series victory: Bailey, who went on to win the track championship that season, won the July Deery race, leading a 1-2-3 sweep by Quincy regulars. The late Brent Slocum and Burgtorf followed him across the finish line. The only other 1-2-3 finish by Quincy regulars came in the September 2007 race when Burgtorf, Jason Frankel and Kevin Tomlinson dominated.

3. That was close: Tom Goble, Justin Reed and Lonnie Bailey formed a near-blanket finish June 14, 2009, in the closest late model ending since the track adopted its electronic scoring system in late 2007. Goble was the winner by 0.116 of a second in a race that was talked about for weeks afterward.

4. The DQ: Mark Burgtorf was disqualified two days after “winning” the first 2007 Deery Brothers race at the track because of “unapproved alterations made to a spec cylinder head” that allegedly could have increased horsepower of the engine. Let’s just say the ruling was “questionable” and leave it at that.

5. $10,000 to win: The richest race in track history was held in July 2009, a UMP Summernationals event won by Shannon “The Moweaqua Missile” Babb, who pocketed $10,000 for the first-place finish.

5 BEST LOOKING CARS OF THE DECADE

1. Jamie Wilson, 2002 late model: Wilso always had a knack for preparing sharp looking cars and this was arguably his finest effort. A green, black and silver color scheme made it stand out in brilliant fashion.

2. Mark Burgtorf, 2000 late model: Burgtorf unveiled a blue “outlaw” car on occasion that season and it was dazzling. Burgtorf normally drove a red car (until bringing out a white ride in 2009), but the 2000 blue late model was one of the decade’s most spectacular from a cosmetic point of view.

3. Todd Reichert, 2005 hobby stock: Reichert combined a sleek silver body with a green No. 2 modeled after Rusty Wallace’s NASCAR hot rod.

4. Tony Dunker, 2009 modified: Dunker, who has won four Herald-Whig ZZ Top Sharp-Dressed Man awards in his career for the best-looking modifieds, may have showcased his best effort in 2009. Dunker’s jet black car was highlighted with green/white decals and numbers. The shamrocks were a nice touch, too.

5. Ryan Meyer, 2001 modified: Meyer’s cars have always been known for their flourescent colors, normally combining purple, green and orange in some sort of eye-catching sheet metal landscape. This was the car that set the tone for the rest of the decade.