Larry Long, who announced at racetracks in the Carolinas and Virginia for more than four decades and was behind the mic for the Carolina Clash Super Late Model for seven seasons, died Wednesday at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, N.C. He was 74.

A 1963 graduate of Seventy-First High School in Fayetteville, Long began attending races at a local asphalt track, Champion Speedway, with his father.

He first announced a race in 1977 at Lake View (S.C.) Motor Speedway, and spent the next 40-plus years announcing at North Carolina tracks in Fayetteville, Dublin, Elm City, Raeford and Pikeville. He also called the action in Myrtle Beach and Sumter, S.C. The former Carolina Clash announcer in 2008 he was inducted into the tour's Hall of Fame.

Long, who also previously owned and operated the Fast Lane Racing News, was most recently the announcer and publicist at Rockfish Motorsports Speedway, a 3/8-mile dirt oval near his home.

"Larry was a true gentleman and professional," said Fayetteville promoter Jim Long Jr. "I will never forget his quote that he signed off with every week: 'It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.' "

A memorial service will be held for Lawrence Demont “Larry” Long at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Rockfish, N.C. Find a complete obituary at rogersandbreece.com. — Thomas Pope

Correction: Fixes day of passing to Wednesday sted Tuesday.