7/2/2023
Sooner Late Model Series
Luck turns around for Gorby with Sooner victory at Enid
(Maxx Ramsey photo) John Rittenoure - ENID, Okla. (July 1, 2023) - Mechanical issues have plagued Joseph Gorby for much of the racing season, but it all came together on Saturday with a Complete Well Testing Sooner Late Model Series presented by Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation victory at Enid Speedway.
Gorby roared into second on lap 14 and chased down race leader Kip Hughes. With two laps remaining Gorby dived inside of Hughes entering turn three and took away the lead notching his first victory of the season.
With the laps winding down Gorby felt he had a chance to pass Hughes.
“He just started messing up and little bit and i just waited till the right time and took my shot,” Gorby said of his move by Hughes for the lead. “His car seemed to be slowing down some.
“He is hard to pass, especially on his hometown track, and that made it that much better.”
The victory was a turnaround from what has been a slow start for the Bartlesville, Oklahoma racer.
“The car was working good for a change,” Gorby said. “All year we have had bad luck, but finally luck went my way. I tore the radiator up there times and I don’t know how many front end parts.”
The run from 8th starting to victory earned Gorby the Marks Machine Shop Hard Charger award.
Hughes held on to second just ahead of rookie Eli Ross in third. Ross battled for the runner-up spot throughout the race running second for four laps before settling for third. Lap 2-3 leader AJ Brochu fell to fourth and series points leader Brett Hansen rounded out the top five. Adam Popp lead the opening lap before falling to sixth at the finish.
Complete Well Testing, Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation
Sooner Late Model Series Results
Enid Speedway, Enid, Oklahoma
Complete Well Teating A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 9-Joseph Gorby[8]; 2. 60-Kip Hughes[5]; 3. 66-Eli Ross[2]; 4. 22-AJ Brochu[4]; 5. 7H-Brett Hansen[6]; 6. 10 4-Adam Popp[1]; 7. 88S-Richard Shepler[7]; 8. 31-Gary Lowe[14]; 9. 26-Adrien Hickman[12]; 10. H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[17]; 11. 078-Dustin Dixon[9]; 12. 65-Eric Brill[13]; 13. 23-Kerney Weaver[11]; 14. B1-Dustin Bolster[10]; 15. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[15]; 16. 81-Troy Bynum[3]; 17. 27X-Ron Brown[16]; 18. 151-Theron Boswell[18]; 19. (DNS) 57-Jerry Derr
OReilly Auto Parts Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 7H-Brett Hansen[1]; 2. 66-Eli Ross[6]; 3. 88S-Richard Shepler[2]; 4. B1-Dustin Bolster[7]; 5. 65-Eric Brill[3]; 6. 27X-Ron Brown[4]; 7. (DNS) 57-Jerry Derr
Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 81-Troy Bynum[1]; 2. 60-Kip Hughes[4]; 3. 9-Joseph Gorby[2]; 4. 23-Kerney Weaver[6]; 5. 31-Gary Lowe[5]; 6. H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[3]
Design One Racewear Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 10 4-Adam Popp[1]; 2. 22-AJ Brochu[6]; 3. 078-Dustin Dixon[5]; 4. 26-Adrien Hickman[4]; 5. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[2]; 6. (DNS) 151-Theron Boswell
Lap Leaders: Adam Popp 1; AJ Brochu 2-3; Kip Hughes 4-23; Joseph Gorby 24-25.
Margin of Victory: 1.633
Marks Machine Shop Hard Charger: Joseph Gorby +7
Next Event: July 15, Longdale Speedway
2023 Winners
4/14 - Kip Hughes - Thunderbird Speedway
4/15 - Brett Hansen - Tulsa Speedway
4/29 - Brett Hansen - Monett Raceway
5/6 - Brett Hansen - Thunderbird Speedway
6/2 - Kip Hughes - Outlaw Motor Speedway
6/9 - Kip Hughes - Humboldt Speedway
6/10 - Kip Hughes - 81 Speedway
6/24 - Jace Parmley - Salina Highbanks Speedway
7/1 - Joseph Gorby - Enid Speedway
Top 10 Standings: 1. Brett Hansen 3715; 2. Eli Ross, 3570; 3. Richard Shepler, 3445; 4. Dakota Dellinger, 2900; 5. Eric Brill, 2830; 6. Joseph Gorby, 2815; 7. Ron Brown, 2750; 8. Gary Lowe, 2550; 9. Kip Hughes, 2350; 10. Kerney Weaver, 2230.
About Complete Well Testing
Based in Oklahoma, Complete Well Testing is a family owned and operated company specializing in hydrostatic tubing testing and EMI tubing scanning.
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 Arkansa
Article Credit: John Rittenoure
