12-year-old Hill wins Sooner Late Model main at Enid

By John Rittenoure (Maxx Ramsey photo) - ENID, Okla. (August 15, 2026) - Callan Hill made history for himself and the Sooner Late Model Series Saturday night at Enid Speedway.

Hill won his first ever career feature, in only his third race behind the wheel, and became the youngest driver to win a Sooner Late Model main event.

The 12-year-old who calls Lawton, Oklahoma home, gridded seventh in the 20-lap feature and when the green waved started his climb through the field. Hill advanced to fourth on lap 7, third on lap 9 and took over the runner-up spot on lap 11.

Damian Patocka, who led from the opening lap, was closing in on a fourth career victory when the yellow waved with two laps remaining. On the restart Hill gunned his late model inside of Patocka and wrestled away the lead. Hill led the final two circuits around Enid’s 3/8’s mile oval for a historic victory.

“We went single file with two laps to go and I kind of got a good start on him,” Hill said of his pass for the lead. “The car was really on point tonight. I have to thank all my crew members.”

With daytime temperatures of 105 degrees and windy conditions, it was hard to keep dust from obscuring vision despite constant watering of the cushion. But that suited Hill just fine.

“I always love a pretty dirty race track. That is when I start to come out,” Hill said. “I just wanted to save my tires at the start of the race and save some rubber.”

At the finish Patocka held on to second over Nate Jantz in third, Denver Howard and rookie Ashlee Buck rounded out the top five.

Hill cut his teeth in open wheel racing which usually leads to sprint cars. However, Hill is finding out he feels right at home behind the wheel of a late model.

“My family did all the wing stuff and decided to change it up a little bit,” Hill said of his move from open wheel. “I feel like it is a little harder to drive.

“I started racing go karts as a little kid then I went to micro sprints, sport mods and USMTS Modifieds this year. We just got this late model.”

As for the future Hill wants to run with the best.

“I want to run Lucas Oil and World of Outlaws,” he said.

Sooner Late Model Series Results

Enid Speedway - Enid, Oklahoma

August 15, 2026

A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 87C-Callan Hill[7]; 2. 222-Damian Patocka[1]; 3. 99-Nate Jantz[2]; 4. 11H-Denver Howard[9]; 5. 8B-Ashlee Buck[8]; 6. 22N-Kevin Newell[6]; 7. 65-Eric Brill[4]; 8. 777X-Luke Vargas[10]; 9. H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[5]; 10. 31-Gary Lowe[12]; 11. T12-Shannon Skaggs[14]; 12. 66R-James Rini[13]; 13. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[15]; 14. 32J-Jaden Bolster[11]; 15. 14S-Randy Swett[17]; 16. 60-Kip Hughes[3]; 17. (DNS) 7L-Brian Stinson

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 60-Kip Hughes[5]; 2. 222-Damian Patocka[4]; 3. H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[1]; 4. 87C-Callan Hill[6]; 5. 11H-Denver Howard[8]; 6. 32J-Jaden Bolster[3]; 7. 66R-James Rini[7]; 8. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[2]

Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 99-Nate Jantz[4]; 2. 65-Eric Brill[1]; 3. 22N-Kevin Newell[6]; 4. 8B-Ashlee Buck[2]; 5. 777X-Luke Vargas[3]; 6. 31-Gary Lowe[7]; 7. T12-Shannon Skaggs[5]; 8. 7L-Brian Stinson[9]; 9. 14S-Randy Swett[8]

Lap Leaders: Damian Patocka 1-18, Callan Hill 18-20.

Margin of victory: 1.330.

2026 Winners: 4/4/2026 - Eli Ross, Enid Speedway; 5/2/2026 - Dakota Dellinger, Enid Speedway; 5/15/2026 - Eli Ross, Humboldt Speedway; 5/16/2026 -  Eli Ross, 81 Speedway; 5/29/2026 - Brandon Morton, Thunderbird Speedway; 5/30/2026 - Christopher Wilhite, Jr., Creek County Speedway; 7/3/2026 - Kip Hughes, Enid Speedway; 7/17/2026 - Kip Hughes, Beaver County Raceway; - 7/18/2026 - Kip Hughes, Route 66 Motor Speedway; 8/15/2026 - Callan Hill, Enid Speedway.     

2026 Top 10: 1. Eric Brill 4610; 2. Dakota Dellinger 4570; 3. Ashley Buck 4390; 4. James Rini 3910; 5. Randy Swett 2785; 6. Dustin Leatherman 2115; 7. Kip Hughes 2060; 8. Kevin Newell 1985; 9. Eli Ross 1925; 10. Denver Howard 1820.

2026 Rookie Standings: 1. Ashlee Buck 4390; 2. James Rini 3910; 3. Randy Swett 2785; 4. Dustin Leatherman 2115. 5. Jaden Bolster 1680; 6. Brian Stinson 1490; 6. 7. Troy Martin, Jr. 1055.

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 Missouri, and Arkansas.