Ross sweeps Sooner Late Models at Thunderbird Speedway

By John Rittenoure (Kelten Weaver photo) - MUSKOGEE, Okla. (April 11, 2025) - Defending champion Eli Ross is off to a fast start on the Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation Sooner Late Model Series season with his second straight victory Friday at Thunderbird Speedway.

Ross started outside front row next to pole sitter Kip Hughes and wasted no time in shooting into the lead on the high-speed half-mile. Hughes gave chase but could not keep pace with Ross and finished second. Dan Smith led dad Delbert Smith across the line for third and Colby Moore finished behind Delbert Smith in fifth.

Dan and Delbert Smith ran 1-2 in the opening heat while Ross and Hughes did the same in the second heat.

Round three of the 2025 season hits the track on Saturday at Crawford County Speedway.

Sooner Late Model Series

Thunderbird Speedway - Muskogee, Oklahoma

April 11, 2025

Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 66-Eli Ross[2]; 2. 60-Kip Hughes[1]; 3. 92S-Dan Smith[3]; 4. 92-Delbert Smith[4]; 5. 2-Colby Moore[6]; 6. 9M-Nik Morgan[9]; 7. 65-Eric Brill[13]; 8. H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[7]; 9. 8C-Jeff Cloninger[12]; 10. (DNF) 75-ZD Keepper[14]; 11. (DNF) 27X-Ron Brown[11]; 12. (DNF) 31-Gary Lowe[8]; 13. (DNF) 24-Heath Stephens[10]; 14. (DNF) H2-Chris Hewitt[5]

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 92S-Dan Smith[3]; 2. 92-Delbert Smith[2]; 3. H2-Chris Hewitt[1]; 4. H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[4]; 5. 9M-Nik Morgan[6]; 6. 27X-Ron Brown[7]; 7. 65-Eric Brill[5]

Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 66-Eli Ross[1]; 2. 60-Kip Hughes[3]; 3. 2-Colby Moore[2]; 4. 31-Gary Lowe[4]; 5. 24-Heath Stephens[5]; 6. 8C-Jeff Cloninger[6]; 7. 75-ZD Keepper[7]

Lap Leaders: 1-20 Eli Ross.

Margin of Victory: 1.265.

2025 Winners: 3/28 - Enid Speedway, Eli Ross; 4/11 - Thunderbird Speedway, Eli Ross.

2025 Top 10: 1. Eli Ross 960; 2. Dan Smith 902; 4. Kip Hughes 890; 5. Delbert Smith 850; 6. Colby Moore 740. 7. Eric Brill 720; 8. Gary Lowe 705; 9. Charlie Olson 460; 10. Ron Brown 450.

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.