Hughes fires off July 4th weekend with a Sooner victory at Enid

By John Rittenoure – ENID, Okla. (July 3, 2026) – The fourth of July weekend started off with a bang for Kip Hughes Friday night at Enid Speedway.

The four-time Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation Sooner Late Model Series champion blasted into an early lead and raced to his first victory of the season. Pole sitter Christopher Wilhite, Jr. raced side-by-side with outside front row starter Hughes on the opening lap, however, Hughes muscled his way out front.

Midway through the 25-lapper Wilhite gave up the runner-up spot to Damian Patocka. But Wilhite came roaring back and powered back into second for good. Wilhite continued his case of Hughes, but could not close the gap and settled for second. Patocka held on to third ahead of Nate Jantz who ran fourth and Randy Wilson in fifth.

Sooner Late Model Series Results

Enid Speedway – Enid, Oklahoma

July 3, 2026

A Feature 1 (30 Laps): 1. 60-Kip Hughes[2]; 2. 21-Christopher Wilhite JR[1]; 3. 222-Damian Patocka[6]; 4. 99-Nate Jantz[7]; 5. A2-Randy Wilson[10]; 6. 65-Eric Brill[4]; 7. 84-Gary Kilbourn[9]; 8. 66R-James Rini[11]; 9. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[13]; 10. 22N-Kevin Newell[14]; 11. 32J-Jaden Bolster[12]; 12. 4X-Dalon Helm[3]; 13. 8B-Ashlee Buck[5]; 14. 14S-Randy Swett[15]; 15. 11H-Denver Howard[8]; 16. (DNS) 7L-Brian Stinson

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 21-Christopher Wilhite JR[2]; 2. 65-Eric Brill[1]; 3. 8B-Ashlee Buck[7]; 4. 99-Nate Jantz[6]; 5. 84-Gary Kilbourn[8]; 6. 66R-James Rini[3]; 7. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[4]; 8. 14S-Randy Swett[5]

Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 4X-Dalon Helm[1]; 2. 60-Kip Hughes[7]; 3. 222-Damian Patocka[5]; 4. 11H-Denver Howard[4]; 5. A2-Randy Wilson[2]; 6. 32J-Jaden Bolster[3]; 7. 22N-Kevin Newell[8]; 8. (DNS) 7L-Brian Stinson

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. 

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.