It was another of those nights when Hawke's Bay superstock driver Jason Long required every bit of stamina he could muster and he did.
Long, 26, won his second Autumn Nationals title at Meeanee, seven years after his first, and within four hours of completing 80 minutes for his Hastings Rugby and Sports team in their 52-18 Nash Cup quarter-final win against Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports in Hastings.
"When I got out to the track three races had already been raced. Fortunately our first superstock race wasn't until race nine. Dad and the crew had taken my car out to the track after watching my rugby game ... all I had to do was put my overalls on and I was good to go," Magpies prop Long explained.
Long recorded a first, second and fourth placing in his three heats to win the title by one point from clubmate Quinn Ryan. Bay veteran and "Mr Consistent" Marty Cooke was a further point back in third place and Rotorua veteran Pat Westbury was the best of the visitors with his fourth placing.
"I did well to win my first race but was pretty buggered when I finished fourth in my second. In the last race I knew who I had to pass to win the title and I did that on the first corner which was good because by then it was a one-lane track because of all the rain. I held on to second place which was enough to win the title."