July 27, 2024 | By John Rittenoure

Opportunity knocks for Stuckey in Sooner Late Model victory

MUSKOGEE, Okla. — Several attempts to get Friday’s APEX Healthcare Partners Sooner Late Model Series main event at Thunderbird Speedway underway took its toll. However, Clayton Stuckey survived, advancing 11 positions for the win. 

“I was driving as hard as I could,” said Stuckey of his hard fought win. “There were so many restarts and I took advantage of them the best I could and tried not to wreck.”

Jacob Magee led the first seven laps once the race got underway. Kip Hughes took over the top spot on lap 8 but gave it away to Jon Kirby on lap 13. Meanwhile Stuckey was charging through the field and drove into second on lap 14. One lap later Stuckey saw his chance to grab the lead and took it. 

“I saw the 60 (Kip Hughes) drive to the bottom and the 11 (Jon Kirby) went with him and that left the door open to go around both of them so I took my opportunity and drove it wide open,’ Stuckey said of his move to the lead.

Stuckey held on for his first Sooner victory leaving Kirby with second. Jarrett Stuckey held down third at the finish with Hughes setting for fourth and Magee held on for fifth. 



Sooner Late Model Series Results
Thunderbird Speedway - Muskogee, Oklahoma

July 26, 2024

APEX Healthcare Partners A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 15-Clayton Stuckey[11]; 2. 11-Jon Kirby[9]; 3. 17-Jarret Stuckey[5]; 4. 60-Kip Hughes[1]; 5. 10-Jacob Magee[2]; 6. 66-Eli Ross[7]; 7. 88S-Richard Shepler[10]; 8. 27X-Ron Brown[16]; 9. 229-Damian Patocka[8]; 10. 7H-Brett Hansen[4]; 11. 9M-Nik Morgan[15]; 12. 55-Zach Nickell[6]; 13. 9-Joseph Gorby[3]; 14. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[18]; 15. 84-Gary Kilbourn[14]; 16. H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[17]; 17. 95-Jerry Derr[12]; 18. 81-Troy Bynum[13]

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 9-Joseph Gorby[2]; 2. 60-Kip Hughes[6]; 3. 17-Jarret Stuckey[8]; 4. 66-Eli Ross[5]; 5. 11-Jon Kirby[4]; 6. 15-Clayton Stuckey[9]; 7. 81-Troy Bynum[1]; 8. 9M-Nik Morgan[3]; 9. (DNF) H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[7]

Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 10-Jacob Magee[2]; 2. 7H-Brett Hansen[8]; 3. 55-Zach Nickell[1]; 4. 229-Damian Patocka[7]; 5. 88S-Richard Shepler[9]; 6. 95-Jerry Derr[4]; 7. 84-Gary Kilbourn[5]; 8. 27X-Ron Brown[3]; 9. (DNS) 9XX-Dakota Dellinger

Lap Leaders: 1-7 Jacob Magee, 8-12 Kip Hughes, 13-14 Jon Kirby, 15-20 Clayton Stuckey.

Margin of victory: 2.995.

2024 Winners: 4/6 - Kip Hughes, Enid Speedway; 4/13 - Jon Herring, Jr., Beaver County Raceway; 5/11 - Joe Godsey, Caney Valley Speedway; 5/17 - Kip Hughes, Longdale Speedway; 5/18 - Eli Ross, Oklahoma Sports Park; 5/26 - Geoff Aitken, Crawford County Speedway; 6/8 - Brandon Conkwright, 81 Speedway; 6/28 - Hudson O’Neal, Thunderbird Speedway; 6/29 - Brett Hansen, Salina Highbanks Speedway; 7/5 - Kip Hughes, Beaver County Raceway; 7/6 - Eli Ross, Enid Speedway; 7/26 - Clayton Stuckey, Thunderbird Speedway. 

2024 Top 10: 1. Zach Nickell, 4350; 2. Dakota Dillinger, 4210; 3. Eli Ross, 4195; 4. Troy Bynum, 3585; 5. Dalon Helm, 3455; 6. Kip Hughes, 3220; 7. Ron Brown, 2775; 8. Damian Patocka, 2345; 9. Jon Herring, Jr., 2205; 10. Steve Hewitt, Sr., 2155.