10/7/2023
Sooner Late Model Series
Mullens picks up Sooner late model victory on first try
(Rexx Ramsey photo) John Rittenoure - LONGDALE, Okla. (October 6, 2023) - No one is more surprised than Tanner Mullens after his Complete Well Testing Sooner Late Model Series victory Friday at Longdale Speedway.
An accomplished modified racer, Mullens climbed into a late model for the first time in four years on Friday and led all 25 laps from his pole starting position thanks to drawing the number one pill in the redraw.
“I ran one a couple of times four years ago, but nothing until now,” said Mullens who made the victory run look easy. “I did not expect to win tonight. We are just doing the best we can.
“We have a lot of people helping and telling us what to do. It has been fun so far.”
Jon Herring, Jr. followed in second for the first two laps before giving way to Californian Lance Mari driving the Ross McCartney 42R. On lap 9 Joseph Gorby wheeled into second but lost the spot back to Mari after a lap 13 restart. Mari remained in second with Gorby third. Herring fell to fourth and Eric Brill was fifth.
Mullens saw a potential challenger only once in the 25-lapper.
“Lance (Mari) got beside me on a restart, otherwise I did not see anybody.” Mullens said.
Driving a late model was a long time coming for Mullens.
“I always loved them and my little boy, Tripp, is almost three and that is all he will watch. That is what kind of led me to do it.,’ explained Mullens.
“Our main focus will be our modified stuff, but when we have time we will do this.”
Comparing driving a late model to a modified is like night and day.
“This is totally different,” Mullens said of late model racing. “I looked terrible in hot laps, a little bit better in the heat race, and I did not feel much better (in the feature) but we managed to stay in the lead.”
Gorby came from sixth to finish third and closed within 10 points of second place Richard Shepler who finished 8th.
“That was good, but I am not too concerned about points,” Gorby said of his finish. “It is just about racing and having fun.
“I thought I had a good shot at winning it, but chose the wrong spot on a restart. I just chose the wrong line.”
Complete Well Testing Sooner Late Model Series Results
Longdale Speedway, Longdale, Oklahoma
October 6, 2023
Complete Well Testing A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 02-Tanner Mullens[1]; 2. 42R-Lance Mari[5]; 3. 9-Joseph Gorby[6]; 4. 96-Jon Herring Jr[2]; 5. 65-Eric Brill[7]; 6. 9J-Jared Jelsma[9]; 7. 26-Adrien Hickman[14]; 8. 88S-Richard Shepler[11]; 9. 31-Gary Lowe[8]; 10. 4X-Dalon Helm[13]; 11. 42C-Courtney McCartney[12]; 12. 10W-John Willard[21]; 13. H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[18]; 14. 229-Damian Patocka[4]; 15. 10 4-Adam Popp[3]; 16. 1M-Darren Moses[10]; 17. 11S-Steve Johnson[15]; 18. A2-Randy Wilson[19]; 19. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[17]; 20. 27X-Ron Brown[23]; 21. (DNS) 60-Kip Hughes; 22. (DNS) 81-Troy Bynum; 23. (DNS) X-Cole Traugott
O’Reilly Auto Parts Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 96-Jon Herring Jr[2]; 2. 42R-Lance Mari[4]; 3. 65-Eric Brill[7]; 4. 1M-Darren Moses[1]; 5. 4X-Dalon Helm[6]; 6. 60-Kip Hughes[3]; 7. A2-Randy Wilson[5]
Design One Racewear Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. 10 4-Adam Popp[1]; 2. 229-Damian Patocka[8]; 3. 31-Gary Lowe[4]; 4. 88S-Richard Shepler[6]; 5. 26-Adrien Hickman[3]; 6. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[2]; 7. 81-Troy Bynum[7]; 8. (DNS) X-Cole Traugott
Gage Diamonds Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 02-Tanner Mullens[4]; 2. 9-Joseph Gorby[7]; 3. 9J-Jared Jelsma[2]; 4. 42C-Courtney McCartney[5]; 5. 11S-Steve Johnson[3]; 6. H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[1]; 7. 10W-John Willard[8]; 8. (DNS) 27X-Ron Brown
Lap Leaders: Tanner Mullens 1-25
Margin of Victory: 4.660
Marks Machine Shop Hard Charger: John Willard +9
2023 Winners
4/14 - Kip Hughes - Thunderbird Speedway
4/15 - Brett Hansen - Tulsa Speedway
4/29 - Brett Hansen - Monett Raceway
5/06 - Brett Hansen - Thunderbird Speedway
6/02 - Kip Hughes - Outlaw Motor Speedway
6/09 - Kip Hughes - Humboldt Speedway
6/10 - Kip Hughes - 81 Speedway
6/24 - Jace Parmley - Salina Highbanks Speedway
7/01 - Joseph Gorby - Enid Speedway
7/15 - Brett Hansen - Longdale Speedway
7/22 - Kip Hughes - Caney Valley Speedway
7/29 - Brett Hansen - Enid Speedway
8/12 - Brett Hansen - Enid Speedway
8/19 - Joseph Gorby - Longdale Speedway
8/25 - Shayne Bailey - Tulsa Speedway
8/26 - Dusty Leonard - Caney Valley Speedway
9/09 - Darren Moses - Enid Speedway
9/16 - Dusty Leonard - 81 Speedway
9/23 - Bryan Glaze - Crawford County Speedway
9/30 - Joseph Gorby - Creek County Speedway
10/6 - Tanner Mullens - Longdale Speedway
Top 10 Standings: 1. Brett Hansen 8520; 2. Richard Shepler 7925; 3. Joseph Gorby, 7915; 4. Eric Brill, 6965 5, Dakota Dellinger, 6675; 6. Eli Ross 5745; 7. Gary Lowe, 5600; 8. Steve Hewett, Sr., 5585; 9. Ron Brown, 5575; 10. Adrien Hickman, 5195.
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.
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