$40,000 on the line at Hayden Ross Memorial this weekend

By John Rittenoure, TULSA, Okla. (June 23, 2025) - Two nights of racing and over $40,000 is up for grabs for the Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation Sooner Late Model Series this weekend at Thunderbird Speedway in Muskogee.

In memory of Hayden Ross, the 2022 Sooner Series champion who lost his life in a non-racing accident at the end of the 2022 season, the Ross family is hosting the Forever 66 two-day memorial with over $40,000 on the line.

A complete Sooner Series sanctioned event will be held each night with the feature winner taking home $6,600. Sweeping the weekend could net a driver over $13,000.

A-Mods, B-Mods and Factory Stocks are also racing for added money.

Gates open at 4 p.m. Friday with racing scheduled for 8. Racing on Saturday will start at 7.

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.

2025 Top 10: 1. Dan Smith 2452; 2. Delbert Smith 2450; 3. Eric Brill 1885; 4. Steve Hewitt, Sr. 1795; 5. Colby Moore 1740; 6. Joseph Gorby 1300; 7. Gary Lowe 1105; 8. Dalon Helm 1060; 9. Chris Hewitt 1040; 10. Brandon Conkwright 1025.

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.