Wilhite hangs on for second career Sooner Series victory

By John Rittenoure (Rickety Roach photo) - KELLYVILLE, Okla. (May 30, 2026) - Numerous yellow flags hampered Saturday’s Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation Sooner Late Model Series feature at Creek County Speedway, but Christopher Wilhite, Jr. stayed in control throughout race to win his second Sooner Series career victory.

Wilhite felt he had a good setup for the tight quarter-mile oval.

“It was good all night long,” Wilhite said of his cars handling. “It was super balanced and we were able to turn and do anything we needed to do all night. The track was pretty dry and I felt like we made the right changes tonight.”

Starting outside front row enabled Wilhite to get out front quickly.

“It is almost always tough to pass here. You have to almost start up front to do any good,” Wilhite said. “There were a couple of times it got pretty tight. I was praying for a caution. It worked out.”

In the closing laps Derrek Wilson was closing on Wilhite. Wilson passed Dakota Dellinger for second on lap 18 and closed to within 0.722 seconds of Wilhite, but settled for second. Dellinger ran second most of the race before giving up the runner-up position to finish third. Mark Daye and Chris Hawkins finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Wilhite knew Wilson was close behind but just held his line.

“I could see him show is nose a couple of times,” Wilhite said. “I just figured I would stay up there and make him pass me. I tried the bottom a couple of times, but it was not near as good.”

The next Sooner event on the schedule is June 20 at Caney Valley Speedway.

Sooner Late Model Series Results

Creek County Speedway - Kellyville, Oklahoma

May 30, 2026

Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 21-Christopher Wilhite JR[2]; 2. 3-Derrek Wilson[1]; 3. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[3]; 4. 36D-Mark Daye[6]; 5. USA1-Chris Hawkins[14]; 6. 36-Jason Redman[5]; 7. 53-Clayton Ward[10]; 8. 65-Eric Brill[11]; 9. 9L-Dustin Leatherman[9]; 10. 66R-James Rini[15]; 11. 8B-Ashlee Buck[13]; 12. 14S-Randy Swett[17]; 13. 7L-Brian Stinson[12]; 14. H2-Chris Hewitt[8]; 15. 115-Mike Hammond[16]; 16. 26-Glen Powell[4]; 17. 41-Matt Menzie[7]

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 21-Christopher Wilhite JR[1]; 2. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[3]; 3. 41-Matt Menzie[6]; 4. 53-Clayton Ward[5]; 5. 7L-Brian Stinson[4]; 6. 66R-James Rini[2]

Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 26-Glen Powell[5]; 2. 3-Derrek Wilson[3]; 3. H2-Chris Hewitt[2]; 4. 14S-Randy Swett[6]; 5. 8B-Ashlee Buck[1]; 6. 115-Mike Hammond[4]

Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 36D-Mark Daye[1]; 2. 36-Jason Redman[3]; 3. 9L-Dustin Leatherman[4]; 4. 65-Eric Brill[2]; 5. USA1-Chris Hawkins[5]

Lap Leaders: Christopher Wilhite 1-20.

Margin of Victory: 0.722.

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.   

2026 Top 10: 1. Dakota Dellinger 2410; 2. Eric Brill 2210; 3. Ashley Buck 2110; 4. James Rini 2035; 5. Dustin Leatherman 1915; 6. Eli Ross 1325; 7. Randy Swett 2015; 8. Brian Stinson 1175; 9. Denver Howard 1095; 10. 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.