Entering the finale with a sizable advantage on his side, DeLong was in prime position to capture the premier class title, needing nothing more than to earn a consistent haul of points in order to secure the overall number one plate on his FX 350.

On that request he delivered, launching to a second-place start, before posting a steady, calculated ride on the technical and fast-paced terrain. An eventual eighth-place finish at the conclusion of the three-hour affair was enough to be crowned this year's champion.

In what has been an exceptional year for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing standout, DeLong recorded three overall wins across the season, including his first in class in Round 3 at The General GNCC. Upon standing on the podium a further three times, victory at the penultimate round in the Buckwheat 100 proved a pivotal moment for the series, providing a small buffer entering this weekend.

“What an incredible season, with all the different winners at each round,” DeLong reflected. “There were plenty of ups and downs, but we were in a good position heading into the break tied with the points lead, and then to come away with a bit of a buffer after winning the previous round was huge. All-in-all, I can’t thank the whole team enough – I came into this season with the goal to get a couple of round wins, and together we managed to accomplish much more than that! This definitely hasn’t sunk in yet, but I’m excited to back it up in 2024.”