Ross sweeps weekend with victory in Lonnie Smith Memorial

By John Rittenoure (Rickety Roach photo) - PARK CITY, Kans. (May 16, 2026) - Extra money was on the line at Saturdays Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation Sooner Late Model Series Lonnie Smith Memorial at 81 Speedway, and Eli Ross took home a good share of it.

The Smith family honored Lonnie, who passed away in 2015 after 40 years in racing, with added money in the Sooner late model payout plus lap money and several contingency items.

And a lot of it made its way to Oklahoma thanks to Ross and Joseph Gorby. Ross, who hails from Muskogee, led Gorby of Bartlesville across the line for a 1-2 Oklahoma finish.

Rookie Braxton Leonard jumped into the early lead at the drop of the green but gave way to Ross on lap 5. Ross used the high side of the speedway to make his way from sixth starting to the front. Gorby moved into second after a lap 16 restart and chased after Ross. Gorby did close the gap some on Ross and was within striking distance. But Ross made no mistakes and picked up his second win in two nights. Leonard held on to third, Dan Smith, grandson of Lonnie Smith, finished fourth and Dusty Leonard picked up fifth.

The Sooner Series is back on track, Friday, May 29 at Thunderbird Speedway in Muskogee.

Sooner Late Model Series Results

81 Speedway - Park City, Kansas

May 16, 2026

A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 66-Eli Ross[6]; 2. 99-Joseph Gorby[4]; 3. 85JR-Braxten Leonard[1]; 4. 92S-Dan Smith[9]; 5. 7D-Dusty Leonard[12]; 6. 7N-William Nusser[8]; 7. B1-Dustin Bolster[2]; 8. 11H-Denver Howard[21]; 9. 9L-Dustin Leatherman[11]; 10. 3-Derrek Wilson[19]; 11. A2-Randy Wilson[7]; 12. 24C-Brandon Conkwright[5]; 13. 92-Delbert Smith[10]; 14. 65-Eric Brill[14]; 15. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[15]; 16. 85-Josh Leonard[3]; 17. 19-Shane Cook[17]; 18. 8B-Ashlee Buck[13]; 19. 32J-Jaden Bolster[18]; 20. 66R-James Rini[16]; 21. 22N-Kevin Newell[20]; 22. (DNS) 95-Zach Nickell; 23. (DNS) 14S-Randy Swett

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 24C-Brandon Conkwright[1]; 2. 85-Josh Leonard[6]; 3. A2-Randy Wilson[5]; 4. 92-Delbert Smith[4]; 5. 8B-Ashlee Buck[7]; 6. 66R-James Rini[2]; 7. 3-Derrek Wilson[8]; 8. 11H-Denver Howard[3]

Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 99-Joseph Gorby[7]; 2. 85JR-Braxten Leonard[1]; 3. 7N-William Nusser[6]; 4. 9L-Dustin Leatherman[5]; 5. 65-Eric Brill[2]; 6. 19-Shane Cook[3]; 7. 14S-Randy Swett[8]; 8. (DNS) 95-Zach Nickell

Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 66-Eli Ross[7]; 2. B1-Dustin Bolster[1]; 3. 92S-Dan Smith[2]; 4. 7D-Dusty Leonard[4]; 5. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[3]; 6. 32J-Jaden Bolster[6]; 7. 22N-Kevin Newell[5]

Lap Leaders: Braxton Leonard 1-4, Eli Ross 5-25.

Margin of Victory: 1.030.

2026 Winners: 4/4/2026 - Eli Ross, Enid Speedway; 5/2/2026 - Dakota Dellinger, Enid Speedway; 5/`5/2026 - Eli Ross, Humboldt Speedway; 5/16/2026 -  Eli Ross, 81 Speedway.

2026 Top 10: 1. Dakota Dellinger 1575; 2. Eric Brill 1440; 3. Ashley Buck 1420; 4. James Rini 1335; 5. Eli Ross 1325; 6. Denver Howard 1095; 7. Dustin Leatherman 1085; 8. Jaden Bolster 925; 9. Joseph Gorby, Zach Nickell 890.

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.