By John Rittenoure (Rickety Roach photo) - ENID, Okla. (March 28, 2025) - Eli Ross took full advantage of his pole starting position and set a blistering pace on the way to victory in the Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation Sooner Late Model Series season opener Friday at Enid Speedway.
In a co-sanctioned event with the United Rebel Late Models, Ross picked up his fourth career Sooner victory winning over Charlie Olsen, Dan Smith, Kip Hughes and Delbert Smith.
Hughes ran second early in the 25-lapper but gave way to Dan Smith on lap 17. Olsen, who ran second for the first seven laps, fell to fourth before working his way back to second on lap 23.
“It feels amazing to start the season with a win,” said Ross. “The competition was tough tonight, but everything came together for us. I have to thank my team and everyone who supports me. This is a great way to kick off 2025.”
Sooner Late Model Series Results
Enid Speedway - Enid, Oklahoma
March 28, 2025
Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 66-Eli Ross[1]; 2. 10CO-Charlie Olsen[2]; 3. 92S-Dan Smith[5]; 4. 60-Kip Hughes[4]; 5. 92-Delbert Smith[3]; 6. 24B-Chris Bragg[7]; 7. 3J-Jake Nightingale[12]; 8. 31-Gary Lowe[10]; 9. 11H-Denver Howard[21]; 10. 65-Eric Brill[13]; 11. 19-RJ Ramer[18]; 12. 27D-Jared Dunkin[17]; 13. 2-Colby Moore[9]; 14. 18B-Bob Bills[6]; 15. 4X-Dalon Helm[11]; 16. 33-Kaleb Roach[15]; 17. A2-Randy Wilson[8]; 18. 8-Michael Hilton[14]; 19. 171H-Drew Harless[16]; 20. 171-Dax Harless[23]; 21. (DNS) 27X-Ron Brown; 22. (DNS) 229-Damian Patocka; 23. (DNS) 21-Christopher Wilhite JR
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 10CO-Charlie Olsen[2]; 2. 92S-Dan Smith[1]; 3. 10C-Chad Olsen[6]; 4. 2-Colby Moore[3]; 5. 3J-Jake Nightingale[7]; 6. 33-Kaleb Roach[4]; 7. 19-RJ Ramer[8]; 8. 11H-Denver Howard[5]
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 66-Eli Ross[5]; 2. 18B-Bob Bills[1]; 3. 24B-Chris Bragg[8]; 4. 31-Gary Lowe[2]; 5. 65-Eric Brill[3]; 6. 171H-Drew Harless[7]; 7. 27X-Ron Brown[6]; 8. (DNS) 21-Christopher Wilhite JR
Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 60-Kip Hughes[6]; 2. 92-Delbert Smith[4]; 3. A2-Randy Wilson[1]; 4. 4X-Dalon Helm[8]; 5. 8-Michael Hilton[5]; 6. 27D-Jared Dunkin[3]; 7. 229-Damian Patocka[2]; 8. (DNS) 171-Dax Harless
Lap Leaders: 1-25 Hayden Ross.
Margin of victory: 1.272.
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.