By John Rittenoure
TULSA, Okla. (August 26, 2024) - The APEX Healthcare Partners Sooner Late Model Series returns to action on Saturday for the 11th annual Mark Robinson Memorial at Red Dirt Raceway.
Last year Tanner Mullens of Wichita outran Damian Patocka of Enid to win the 25-lap Sooner feature at Red Dirt Raceway. Zach Nickell of Harrah leads the points race coming into Saturday’s program with just a slim 90 lead over two-time winner 15-year old Eli Ross of Muskogee. Hutchinson, Kansas racer Dakota Dellinger sits in third over Troy Bynum of Enid in fourth and Talon Helm who rounds out the top five.
Pit gates open at 5 p.m. Saturday with racing scheduled for 7:30.
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; 7/27 - Jon Kirby, Tri-State Speedway; 8/3 - Jon Herring, Jr., Enid Speedway.
2024 Top 10: 1. Zach Nickell, 5120; 2. Eli Ross, 5030; 3. Dakota Dillinger, 4210; 4. Troy Bynum, 4055; 5. Dalon Helm, 3825; 6. Kip Hughes, 3680; 7. Ron Brown, 3485; 8. Damian Patocka, 3175; 9. Jon Herring, Jr., 2680; 10. Richard Shepler, 2600.
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.