

9/27/2025
Sooner Late Model Series
Ross perfect in Sooner main at Thunderbird Speedway
By John Rittenoure (Rickety Roach photo) - MUSKOGEE, Okla. (September 26, 2025) - There is no stopping Eli Ross this season when it comes to racing at Thunderbird Speedway. And Friday was no exception.
The 2024 Sooner Late Model Series champion raced to third victory of the season at the historic Muskogee half-mile and his fourth of the season.
“This track is one of my favorite tracks. I have won every single one this year,” Ross said of racing on his home track.
Ross started fifth in the 20-lap feature and had to chase down pole setter Jason Rogers. Ross roared into second on lap six and managed to get by Rogers on lap 7. A lap later Rogers was out of the race with car damage.
“He just made some mistakes in lapped traffic,” Ross said of his race into the lead. “I capitalized and set sail. That is all you can ask for.
“The high side was the better place to run.”
Fellow Muskogee racer Dustin Leatherman, who ran second for the first five laps, raced back into second on lap 10 but could not run down Ross and settled for second, his best Sooner Series finish. Points leader Dan Smith held on to third, Damian Patocka charged from 11th to finish fourth, and veteran Delbert Smith came from ninth to fifth.
A second night of action for the Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation Sooner Late Model Series will take place at Thunderbird on Saturday. Race time is 8 p.m.
Sooner Late Model Series
Thunderbird Speedway - Muskogee, Oklahoma
September 26, 2025
Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 66-Eli Ross[5]; 2. 9L-Dustin Leatherman[4]; 3. 92S-Dan Smith[3]; 4. 122-Damian Patocka[11]; 5. 92-Delbert Smith[9]; 6. 41-Bryce Clark[6]; 7. 4P-Edward Hoyer[20]; 8. 88S-Richard Shepler[2]; 9. 27D-Jared Dunkin[19]; 10. 65-Eric Brill[14]; 11. 19-RJ Ramer[12]; 12. 66R-James Rini[10]; 13. 23-Michael Foreman[18]; 14. 9*-Troy Martin Jr[13]; 15. 22-Sloppy Hog[17]; 16. 8B-Ashlee Buck[15]; 17. 24-Heath Stephens[8]; 18. 37-Jason Rogers[1]; 19. 9M-Nick Morgan[7]; 20. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[16]; 21. (DNS) 171H-Drew Harless; 22. (DNS) 171-Dax Harless
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 88S-Richard Shepler[2]; 2. 9L-Dustin Leatherman[4]; 3. 9M-Nick Morgan[8]; 4. 66R-James Rini[6]; 5. 9*-Troy Martin Jr[7]; 6. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[1]; 7. 27D-Jared Dunkin[3]; 8. 4P-Edward Hoyer[5]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 66-Eli Ross[4]; 2. 37-Jason Rogers[1]; 3. 24-Heath Stephens[3]; 4. 122-Damian Patocka[5]; 5. 65-Eric Brill[2]; 6. 22-Sloppy Hog[6]; 7. 171-Dax Harless[7]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 92S-Dan Smith[1]; 2. 41-Bryce Clark[3]; 3. 92-Delbert Smith[2]; 4. 19-RJ Ramer[6]; 5. 8B-Ashlee Buck[4]; 6. 23-Michael Foreman[5]; 7. (DNS) 171H-Drew Harless
Lap Leaders: Jason Rogers 1-7, Eli Ross 8-20.
Margin of victory: 3.725.
2025 Winners: 3/28 - Eli Ross, Enid Speedway; 4/11 - Eli Ross, Thunderbird Speedway; 4/12 - Bryan Glaze, Crawford County Speedway; 5/30 - Brandon Conkwright, Humboldt Speedway; 5/31 - Kyle Berck, 81 Speedway; 6/20 - Christopher Wilhite, Enid Speedway; 6/28 - Eli Ross, Thunderbird Speedway; 7/5 - Terry Phillips, Enid Speedway; 7/19 - Jon Herring, Jr., Longdale Speedway; 8/9 - Kip Hughes, Enid Speedway; 8/22 - Dusty Leonard, SaltCity; 8/23 - Dusty Leonard, SaltCity; 9/6 - Kip Hughes, Enid Speedway; 9/13 - Joseph Gorby, Caney Valley Speedway; 9/20 - Kip Hughes, Longdale Speedway; 9/26 - Eli Ross, Thunderbird Speedway.
2025 Top 10: 1. Dan Smith 6727; 2. Delbert Smith 6550; 3. Eric Brill 5035; 4. Damian Patocka 4265; 5. Dalon Helm 3835; 6. Steve Hewitt, Sr. 3265; 7. Kip Hughes 3195; 8. Jon Herring, Jr. 3115; 9. Nate Jantz 2905; 9. Jon Herring, Jr. 2965; 10. Gary Lowe 2395.
Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation
Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation goal is to help grow both high school, trade school and college programs to start and or develop a motorsports program, club, or organizations at their school as well as individual motorsports programs. HRMF will provide financial grants, equipment, expertise, scholarships, and educational opportunities for these organizations and individuals. This program will allow students to overcome the hurdle of entering motorsports due to the high costs and specialized experience needed to get started. This program will allow these students the opportunity to be part of a team with one overall goal of success on the track, including budgeting, marketing, mechanical skills, logistics, and team building efforts. All while honoring the life lost to early of Hayden Diesel Ross, #forever66.
Sooner Late Model Series
The Sooner Late Model Series was formed in 2016 by Enid Speedway co-promoter Mark Brill. Brill felt there was not many opportunities for late model competitors to race in Oklahoma and the Sooner Late Model Series was formed. Now the series has grown beyond the borders of Oklahoma with events held in the neighboring states of Kansas, Texas and Arkansas.
Article Credit: John Rittenoure