9/28/2025
Sooner Late Model Series
Ross repeats with Sooner victory at Thunderbird Speedway
By John Rittenoure (Rickety Roach photo) - MUSKOGEE, Okla. (September 27, 2025) - A good starting position and a strong car once again came through for Eli Ross on Saturday allowing him to repeat his victory from Friday night in the Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation Sooner Late Model Series feature at Thunderbird Speedway.
It was the fourth Sooner victory in four races this year at Thunderbird for Ross and his fifth of the season. Ross won for the 8th time overall with the victory tying him with his late brother, and 2024 series champion Hayden Ross, who also has 8 wins.
Like on Friday Ross found the high side of the track the place to run and felt the track was a little faster.
“It was a little slicker tonight and that really helped,”Ross said. “There was not much up there at the end. It was all about momentum to keep my speed up.”
Ross was chased early on by points leader Dan Smith until his engine let go on lap 14. Bryce Clark took over second before giving up the position to hard charging Dustin Leatherman. Much like Friday Leatherman could not catch Ross and finished second for the second straight night. Delbert Smith finished third ahead of Geoff Atiken in fourth and Jason Rogers who rounded out the top five.
Switching to a motor used by many of the top late model racers has made a big difference for Ross this season.
“Our Clements racing engine is pretty fast,” Ross said. “We are going to continue to use their motors. There motors are used a lot at the national level.
The final Sooner Series race of the 2025 season takes place on October 11 at Enid Speedway. Dan and Delbert Smith are only separated by 92 points and the champion will be decided in the season finale.
The Rookie of the Year is also on the line with Dax Harless sitting 10th in points and leading contender RJ Ramer by just 130 points.
Sooner Late Model Series
Thunderbird Speedway - Muskogee, Oklahoma
September 27, 2025
Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 66-Eli Ross[2]; 2. 9L-Dustin Leatherman[3]; 3. 92-Delbert Smith[4]; 4. 16-Geoff Aitken[13]; 5. 37-Jason Rogers[11]; 6. 88R-Ryder Laplante[21]; 7. 27D-Jared Dunkin[1]; 8. 22-Sloppy Hog[12]; 9. 88S-Richard Shepler[10]; 10. 4P-Edward Hoyer[7]; 11. 97-Jeff Perry[17]; 12. 41-Bryce Clark[9]; 13. 65-Eric Brill[8]; 14. 92S-Dan Smith[5]; 15. (DNF) 24-Heath Stephens[19]; 16. (DNF) 66R-James Rini[15]; 17. (DNF) 9*-Troy Martin Jr[16]; 18. (DNF) 122-Damian Patocka[6]; 19. (DNF) 8B-Ashlee Buck[14]; 20. (DNF) 23-Michael Foreman[18]; 21. (DNF) 171-Dax Harless[22]; 22. (DNF) 19-RJ Ramer[20]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 9L-Dustin Leatherman[2]; 2. 92-Delbert Smith[7]; 3. 4P-Edward Hoyer[6]; 4. 88S-Richard Shepler[5]; 5. 16-Geoff Aitken[8]; 6. 9*-Troy Martin Jr[3]; 7. (DNF) 24-Heath Stephens[4]; 8. (DNS) 171-Dax Harless
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 66-Eli Ross[5]; 2. 122-Damian Patocka[4]; 3. 65-Eric Brill[2]; 4. 37-Jason Rogers[7]; 5. 8B-Ashlee Buck[1]; 6. 97-Jeff Perry[6]; 7. (DNF) 19-RJ Ramer[3]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 92S-Dan Smith[3]; 2. 27D-Jared Dunkin[2]; 3. 41-Bryce Clark[5]; 4. 22-Sloppy Hog[7]; 5. 66R-James Rini[6]; 6. 23-Michael Foreman[4]; 7. (DNF) 88R-Ryder Laplante[1]
Lap Leaders: Eil Ross 1-20.
Margin of victory: 2.925.
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; 9/27 - Eli Ross, Thunderbird Speedway.
2025 Top 10: 1. Dan Smith 7082; 2. Delbert Smith 6990; 3. Eric Brill 5375; 4. Damian Patocka 4590; 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. Dax Harless 2665.
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
