9/14/2025
Sooner Late Model Series
Gorby cruises to Sooner victory at Caney
By John Rittenoure (Rickety Roach photo) - CANEY, Kan. (September 13, 2025) - It has been awhile since Joseph Gorby visited victory lane with the Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation Sooner Late Model Series. But he made it look easy Saturday at Caney Valley Speedway.
“It is never easy. There were quite a few good cars,” said Gorby of his start-to-finish run to victory. “I hope it was a good show.”
“It got a little one lane toward the end of the feature. At the start of the feature you could kind of move around.”
A pair of drivers tried their hand at chasing Gorby but could not mount a challenge. Geoff Aitken ran second for the first 13 laps then gave way to Brandon Conkwright. Conkwright held on to finish second, Atiken dropped to fourth giving up third to Dan Smith. Dalon Helm ended up with fifth.
Gorby’s victory was import to him for a couple of reasons.
“It is always nerve racking when you are out front,” Gorby said. “I really wanted to win this one. We lost our grandma last weekend and I really wanted to win it for her. It has been a tough couple of weeks.
“I was (also) trying to take notes for the Memorial race next weekend. Everything was working pretty good. I just have to decide what to change for next weekend.”
Sooner Late Model Series
Caney Valley Speedway - Caney, Kansas
September 13, 2025
Hayden Ross Motorsports Foundation A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 9-Joseph Gorby[1]; 2. 24C-Brandon Conkwright[4]; 3. 92S-Dan Smith[6]; 4. 16-Geoff Aitken[3]; 5. 4X-Dalon Helm[2]; 6. 92-Delbert Smith[8]; 7. 2B-Jordan Barbee[10]; 8. 99-Gary Gorby[9]; 9. 122-Damian Patocka[5]; 10. 19-Jason Anderson[11]; 11. 65-Eric Brill[14]; 12. 3-Derrek Wilson[13]; 13. 22-Rob Hough[12]; 14. 51-Andy Gerstenkorn[15]; 15. 36D-Mark Daye[7]
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 16-Geoff Aitken[1]; 2. 4X-Dalon Helm[5]; 3. 122-Damian Patocka[7]; 4. 36D-Mark Daye[6]; 5. 99-Gary Gorby[8]; 6. 19-Jason Anderson[4]; 7. 3-Derrek Wilson[3]; 8. (DNS) 51-Andy Gerstenkorn
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 9-Joseph Gorby[5]; 2. 24C-Brandon Conkwright[1]; 3. 92S-Dan Smith[4]; 4. 92-Delbert Smith[7]; 5. 2B-Jordan Barbee[6]; 6. 22-Rob Hough[2]; 7. 65-Eric Brill[3]
Lap Leaders: Joseph Gorby 1-25.
Margin of victory: 2.372.
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; 6/28 - Eli Ross, Thunderbird Speedway; 7/5 - Terry Phillips, Enid Speedway; 7/19 - Jon Herring, Jr., Longdale Speedway; 8/9 - Kip Hughes, Enid Speedway; 8/22 - Dusty Leonard, SaltCity; 8/23 - Dusty Leonard, SaltCity; 9/6 - Kip Hughes, Enid Speedway; 9/13 - Joseph Gorby, Caney Valley Speedway.
2025 Top 10: 1. Dan Smith 6277; 2. Delbert Smith 6140; 3. Eric Brill 4270; 4. Damian Patocka 3435; 5. Dalon Helm 3375; 6. Steve Hewitt, Sr. 3165; 7. Nate Jantz 2905; 8. Kip Hughes 2720; 9. Jon Herring, Jr. 2965; 10. Gary Lowe 2395.
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 Arkansas.
Article Credit: John Rittenoure
