Leonard sweeps night one of Super Dirt Showdown

By John Rittenoure (Rickety Roach photo) - HUTCHINSON, Kan. (August 22, 2025) - Friday night the Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation Sooner Late Model Series squared off with the United Rebel Series in a co-sanctioned event at SaltCity on the Hutchinson, Kansas State Fairgrounds half-mile. And it was Kansas driver Dusty Leonard easily winning the main event.

Leonard swept night one of the Super Dirt Showdown setting fast time with a 21.998, winning the third heat then leading all 20 laps to pick up his seventh career Sooner Series victory.

Leonard was chased all the way by Dan Smith who was unable to mount a challenge but was only 0.629 seconds behind at the finish. Tyler Smith held on to third over John Hansen in fourth, and Oklahoman Dalon Helm followed in fifth.

Racing resumes on Saturday for night two of the Super Dirt Showdown and $3,000 will be awaiting the main event winner.

Sooner Late Model Series

Saltcity, Hutchinson, Kansas

August 22, 2025

Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 7D-Dusty Leonard[1]; 2. 92S-Dan Smith[2]; 3. 112-Tyler Smith[4]; 4. 8H-John Hansen[3]; 5. 4X-Dalon Helm[5]; 6. 92-Delbert Smith[6]; 7. 3J-Jake Nightingale[8]; 8. 99-Nate Jantz[9]; 9. 22N-Kevin Newell[11]; 10. 7N-William Nusser[16]; 11. 65-Eric Brill[13]; 12. 19-RJ Ramer[12]; 13. (DNF) B1-Dustin Bolster[7]; 14. (DNF) 63-Maria Hankins[10]; 15. (DNF) 49-Wylan Petrie[15]; 16. (DNS) 31-Gary Lowe

Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. B1-Dustin Bolster[1]; 2. 99-Nate Jantz[2]; 3. 22N-Kevin Newell[3]; 4. 65-Eric Brill[4]; 5. (DNS) 49-Wylan Petrie

Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 3J-Jake Nightingale[1]; 2. 63-Maria Hankins[4]; 3. 19-RJ Ramer[5]; 4. (DNS) 31-Gary Lowe; 5. (DNS) 7N-William Nusser

Heat 3 (6 Laps): 1. 7D-Dusty Leonard[1]; 2. 92S-Dan Smith[2]; 3. 8H-John Hansen[3]; 4. 112-Tyler Smith[4]; 5. 4X-Dalon Helm[5]; 6. 92-Delbert Smith[6]

Qualifying 1: 1. 7D-Dusty Leonard, 00:21.998[8]; 2. 8H-John Hansen, 00:22.313[4]; 3. 4X-Dalon Helm, 00:23.183[5]; 4. B1-Dustin Bolster, 00:23.290[7]; 5. 31-Gary Lowe, 00:23.894[6]; 6. 22N-Kevin Newell, 00:24.302[3]; 7. 65-Eric Brill, 00:24.832[1]; 8. (DNS) 49-Wylan Petrie, 00:24.832

Qualifying 2: 1. 92S-Dan Smith, 00:22.897[8]; 2. 112-Tyler Smith, 00:23.160[1]; 3. 92-Delbert Smith, 00:23.259[2]; 4. 3J-Jake Nightingale, 00:23.362[7]; 5. 99-Nate Jantz, 00:23.938[4]; 6. 7N-William Nusser, 00:24.326[5]; 7. 63-Maria Hankins, 00:27.620[3]; 8. 19-RJ Ramer, 00:27.620[6

Lap Leaders: Dusty Leonard 1-20.

Margin of victory: 0.629.

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; 6/28 - Eli Ross, Thunderbird Speedway; 7/5 - Terry Phillips, Enid Speedway; 7/19 - Jon Herring, Jr., Longdale Speedway; 8/9 - Kip Hughes, Enid Speedway; 8/22 - Dusty Leonard, SaltCity;   

2025 Top 10: 1. Delbert Smith 5060; 2. Dan Smith 5012; 3. Eric Brill 3275; 4. Steve Hewitt, Sr. 3165; 5. Damian Patocka 2695; 6. Gary Lowe 2395; 7. Christopher Wilhite, Jr. 2275; 8. Kip Hughes, Jon Herring, Jr. 2245; 10. Dalon Helm 2235.

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.