June 29, 2025 | By John Rittenoure

Ross picks up emotional win at Thunderbird Speedway

MUSKOGEE, Okla.—Saturday was a very emotional night for young Eli Ross as well as the throngs of fans that packed the stands at Thunderbird Speedway for the Sooner Late Model Series sanctioned Forever 66 Hayden Ross Memorial race.

The night started for Eli standing with his family in a moment of tribute before the races to his brother Hayden, the 2022 Sooner Series champion who lost his life later that year in a non-racing accident. Next was a full night or racing with a field of 29 competitors on hand to race in honor of Hayden and battle for a purse that paid $6,600 to the winner. And Eli rose to the occasion winning the 20-lap feature named for his brother.

“It is a special night for my family and team,” said Ross, the emotion showing on his face. “I am happy that we could get it done and its over with.”

Ross started seventh in the 23-car field and quickly climbed to third behind leader Morgan Bagley. After a yellow stopped the race after two laps, Ross shot past Bagley for the lead.

“It was just maneuvering traffic.” Ross said of his move to the lead. “I got a good restart on Morgan Bagley and kind of got to him. I started on the top.”

Ross was setting a strong pace but soon had Billy Moyer, Sr. to deal with. Moyer took over second on lap 12 and had plenty of chances at Ross due to eight restarts during the race. Each time Ross would restart with a low run off of turn four while Moyer took a high line around the half-mile. Ross maintained his lead each time, but the constant restarts was upsetting him.

“I was getting mad,” Ross said. “People were spinning out left and right. That is a pretty scary deal when you have one of the best late model drivers ever behind you. I got a little tight at the end and almost hit the wall.”

On lap 15 Moyer came to a stop high in turn two after a tire went down. Bagley regained second until Brett Hansen passed him for the runner-up position. There was not enough time for Hansen to catch Ross who crossed the line for his sixth career Sooner victory.

“The motor was about to give up,” said Ross. “The last lap it felt like it was about to blow. It was starting to lose power. I was trying my hardest.”

At the finish Bagley held on to third, Jon Kirby climbed from 12th to finish fourth and Brennon Willard came from 13th to fifth.


Sooner Late Model Series
Thunderbird Speedway - Muskogee, Oklahoma
June 28, 2025

Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 66-Eli Ross[7]; 2. 7H-Brett Hansen[10]; 3. 14M-Morgan Bagley[3]; 4. 11-Jon Kirby[12]; 5. 3-Brennon Willard[13]; 6. 12-Scott Crigler[2]; 7. 92S-Dan Smith[5]; 8. 9L-Dustin Leatherman[6]; 9. U2-Terry Henson[1]; 10. 122-Damian Patocka[14]; 11. 92-Delbert Smith[17]; 12. M19-JC Mattingly[19]; 13. H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[23]; 14. 31-Gary Lowe[21]; 15. 21M-Billy Moyer Sr[8]; 16. 9M-Nik Morgan[11]; 17. 56-Tony Jackson Jr[9]; 18. 5-Jon Mitchell[4]; 19. ZZ-Sloppy Hog[18]; 20. 16-Geoff Aitken[15]; 21. 21-Christopher Wilhite JR[16]; 22. 99J-Nate Jantz[20]; 23. 23-Michael Foreman[22]

B Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 92-Delbert Smith[2]; 2. ZZ-Sloppy Hog[4]; 3. M19-JC Mattingly[3]; 4. 99J-Nate Jantz[6]; 5. 31-Gary Lowe[1]; 6. 23-Michael Foreman[11]; 7. H2-Chris Hewitt[7]; 8. H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[5]; 9. 95-Zach Nickell[10]; 10. (DNS) 171H-Drew Harless; 11. (DNS) 171-Dax Harless; 12. (DNS) 99-Jeff Hull; 13. (DNS) 7D-Heath Davenport

Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 12-Scott Crigler[6]; 2. 14M-Morgan Bagley[2]; 3. 56-Tony Jackson Jr[3]; 4. 3-Brennon Willard[7]; 5. 31-Gary Lowe[4]; 6. H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[1]; 7. 171-Dax Harless[8]; 8. 95-Zach Nickell[5]

Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. U2-Terry Henson[2]; 2. 5-Jon Mitchell[5]; 3. 7H-Brett Hansen[6]; 4. 122-Damian Patocka[1]; 5. 92-Delbert Smith[3]; 6. 99J-Nate Jantz[4]; 7. H2-Chris Hewitt[7]

Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 9L-Dustin Leatherman[3]; 2. 92S-Dan Smith[5]; 3. 9M-Nik Morgan[2]; 4. 16-Geoff Aitken[1]; 5. M19-JC Mattingly[6]; 6. 23-Michael Foreman[7]; 7. 7D-Heath Davenport[4]

Heat 4 (10 Laps): 1. 21M-Billy Moyer Sr[2]; 2. 66-Eli Ross[3]; 3. 11-Jon Kirby[1]; 4. 21-Christopher Wilhite JR[6]; 5. ZZ-Sloppy Hog[5]; 6. 171H-Drew Harless[7]; 7. (DNS) 99-Jeff Hull

Lap Leaders: 1-2 Morgan Bagley, 3-20 Eli Ross.

Margin of victory: 0.906.

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; 7/28 - Eli Ross, Thunderbird Speedway.

Next Event: July 4-5 Enid Speedway