No. 1: Change in ownership ushers in new era at 8000 Broadway

(The most important events, individuals and decisions from the last 10 years at Quincy Raceways)

For more than 30 years, the Scott family and Quincy Raceways were synonymous, one in the same. You could count on seeing Albert, Bob, Jeff, Jan … someone named Scott who was making certain there were enough hamburgers in the concession stand, enough banking in the turns or picking up the trash on Monday mornings following another Sunday night of racing.

That all changed just before the start of the 2007 season when the Scott family sold the facility to Tony Rhinberger and Mike Karhoff. Rhinberger was a longtime car sponsor and track supporter, and Karhoff was a former modified and late model driver.

The change in ownership was significant in two positive ways.

First, it allowed the Scotts to ease out of a venture that had dominated their lives since 1975, permitting family members a new personal freedom they had never known. To own and operate a race track means from sometime in March through the end of September you have no life, other than taking care of the track. Weekend getaways were for other people, and holidays did not exist.

Any race fan in the Quincy area owes the Scotts a ton of gratitude for conceiving, developing and maintaining the track that has become a social fixture in the community. Let's face it, that old dirt track is an important part of many lives.

Some of the fans' and drivers' disagreements over the years with the Scotts are legendary, but the bottom line remains: That track would have never existed without the vision of the late Albert Scott, and it would have faded into history without the ensuing contributions of his son, Bob, and grandson, Jeff (plus other family members).

The Scotts did a magnificent job providing a facility for so long that so many enjoyed and may have even taken for granted. I hope they are enjoying their "new" life, especially on the weekends.

The timing was perfect for the change in ownership. The arrival of Rhinberger and Karhoff brought new ideas and changes. Capital improvements were planned and carried out, not to mention a change in some of the racing infrastructure. It was an exciting time and remains an exciting period more than two years later.

Rhinberger became sole owner before the start of the '08 season and has continued to upgrade the facility and position the track for the future. He deserves much credit for steering the facility through a tumultuous 2008 when $4-a-gallon gasoline was the norm and the U.S. economy showed the first signs of a recession that currently engulfs us all.

This could be one of the most challenging seasons ever at the track, depending on the fallout of unemployment and the price of fuel. Rhinberger is confident, however, Quincy Raceways can weather the storm. That's a tribute to both his vision and leadership, and the same kind of both the Scotts provided all of those years before.

No. 3: Burgtorf has given new meaning to consistency

(The most important events, individuals and decisions from the last 10 years at Quincy Raceways)

I once asked some of Mark Burgtorf's chief challengers at Quincy Raceways what his secret was. After all, how could one driver be so dominant for so long?

"Mark has more laps on this track than anyone else," Denny Woodworth said. "He knows this track better than anyone."

I'm sure that explains a big part of why Burgtorf has dominated an entire division since George Bush Sr. was president. And I'm also certain that natural, God-given ability has had something to do with it, too. So have great equipment and a great crew. All of those factors (and more, I'm sure) have contributed to the single most successful extended run of any driver in any division since the track opened in 1975.

Burgtorf has won seven of his record 14 track championships in the past 10 years, most in convincing fashion. Having talked with him after many of the victories that led to those titles, it has never ceased to amaze me at how he attacks each night, each race, each lap. There's an incredible method to his success. It is no accident.

How many more titles will Burgtorf win? Realistically, it probably depends on how often he wishes to race at 8000 Broadway. He's at the stage of his career when he will occasionally skip a Sunday night to chase a big purse or a new challenge at another site, and when you miss one week of points racing, it can cost a driver a championship. Burgtorf missed one points week in 2008 and finished 25 points behind first-time champ Jason Frankel.

Burgtorf probably has at least another 15 years in his career, and I would be surprised if he does not retire with at least 20 track championships. Whenever he does pull No. 7 off the track for the final time, one certainty is already cast in stone.

There will never be another like him.

THE BURGTORF DYNASTY

2008: Jason Frankel

2007: Mark Burgtorf
2006: Mark Burgtorf
2005: Mark Burgtorf
2004: Lonnie Bailey
2003: Mark Burgtorf
2002: Brent Slocum

2001: Mark Burgtorf
2000: Mark Burgtorf
1999: Mark Burgtorf
1998: Mark Burgtorf
1997: Mark Burgtorf
1996: Mark Burgtorf
1995: Mark Burgtorf
1994: Mark Burgtorf
1993: Mark Burgtorf
1992: Mark Burgtorf

No. 4: After 13 titles, 'Hank the Crank' knew when to step away

(The most important events, individuals and decisions from the last 10 years at Quincy Raceways)

Hank DeLonjay stands next to his son, Steven.

One of the things I admire the most about Hank DeLonjay and his racing career was how he went out. He retired while still at the top of his game. So many of our favorite sports stars have to be dragged off the field, court or track, never knowing when to step away.

Remember Richard Petty's final years in NASCAR? Those were sad. Or how about Michael Jordan finishing up his playing days with the Washington Wizards? That was a crime.

"Hank the Crank" went out on his own terms. He wanted to oversee the driving career of another DeLonjay — his son, Steven, who at 16 years old nearly won the 2008 modified track championship in his rookie season. He finished a close third behind Michael Long and Tony Dunker.

When Hank called it a career after 2007, he took with him 13 track championships, including 10 in the modified division. It would have been 11 if not for Robbie Reed's miracle run down the stretch in 2006.

Hank also won three titles in the old sportsman division, where he was rookie of the year in 1977. Thirty seasons after winning that first award he pulled into the pits for the final time at Quincy Raceways as a driver, but he's still there every Sunday night — with Steven.