Speedway: Success on stock track, rugby field

MORE SILVERWARE: Jason Long looks after the spoils while parents Fiona and Murray and brother Jeremy place more of the 2NZ stickers on his car. PHOTO/Duncan Brown

IT took retired Hawke's Bay superstock driver Murray Long 30 years to win the 3NZ stickers for his car during his racing days.

So it was easy to appreciate the size of his massive grin as he watched his son and Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby prop Jason Long place the 2NZ stickers on his car last night after less than five seasons of racing in the class. Long, 23, finished second in the Stratford-hosted 100-car nationals which ended on Sunday night.

"Jason's professional approach paid off. He was cool under pressure and displayed maturity beyond his years ... the experience gained from being a professional rugby player certainly helped. The 1NZ title has to be a realistic goal now and he's got plenty of time," Long snr said.

Long jnr was equally as delighted for his father.

"Dad has put a lot of time and money into the car. Just as important as Dad's work off the track was the work of the rest of the Bay boys on the track," Long said with special mentions for Steve Jude and Thomas Stanaway.

Stanaway got Wellingtonian Paul Fairbrother at a crucial time in the third and final race for the top 26 qualifiers. Jude got the two leaders and then blocked for Long who finished one point behind Nelson winner Shane Harwood and two ahead of Palmerston North's Graeme Barr who finished third for the third consecutive year.

"I was first equal on points with the Palmerston North pair of Scott Joblin and Peter Bengston going into the last race. I started on grid 10 and the Palmy boys turned me around on the first corner but I managed to fight my way back with Steve following me and looking after me ... I wouldn't have got the 2NZ title without Steve," Long recalled.

The top qualifier from his group with two wins and a seventh in his three races on Saturday night, Long, said the second placing was extra special as it was the first major meeting with his brother Jeremy as the "No 1 crew manager." Jeremy is back in the country after eight years in Europe as a motocross mechanic for several teams including Team Belgium which won the "Olympics of Motocross" - the Motocross of Nations in Germany in 2013.

Long is the first Hawke's Bay-contracted driver to win the 2NZ trophy since retired two-time national champion Shane Penn did during the 2003-04 season, also at Stratford. Long hopes his success will secure him a berth in the Hawkeyes team for the annual international teams event at Palmerston North on February 5 and 6.

"It's always been my dream to race for the Hawkeyes. Things are brewing well for the Hawkeyes too ... it's a long time since some Hawke's Bay drivers worked as well at a nationals as what we did in Stratford," Long said.

His next outing will be the World 240s which will be raced in Rotorua on Friday and Saturday nights.

"I know the 2NZ stickers will be a big target for other drivers but I won't mind that challenge at all," Long said.

The following week he will race at the World Global Challenge in Palmerston North. Palmy is the venue for next year's nationals.

"To go there and come home with the No 1 title would be the ultimate," Long said.

Considering this bloke has tasted Ranfurly Shield rugby glory on several occasions, ITM Cup Championship success as well as his 2NZ feat within the past seven months one wouldn't want to discount his chances.

Twelve months ago Long was packing his bags for a rugby stint in Singapore. This year he has opted to remain in the Bay and train with the Magpies wider training group.

"This allows me to do my speedway racing and the rugby training definitely helps. Fifteen lap races are full on but I feel better doing them now than I have in the past," Long said.

Quinn Ryan was the next best of the Bay finishers with a 12th in Stratford. Stanaway was 15th and Jude 18th.

It will be a surprise if the Hawkeyes team, which will be named next week, doesn't include Long, Jude, Ryan, Stanaway, Adam Groome and Mike McLachlan.