5/12/2024
Sooner Late Model Series
Godsey turns back late challenge to win Sooner feature at Caney
By John Rittenoure (Photo by Sheri Scimeca Montgomery)
CANEY, Kans. (May 11, 2024) - A lap 21 restart almost cost Joe Godsey the lead in Saturday’s 25-lap APEX Healthcare Partners Sooner Late Model Series feature at Caney Valley Speedway. Joseph Gorby pulled outside of Godsey coming off turn two. There was contact, but Godsey remained in the lead and picked up his third Sooner career win.
“I was a little conservative there running around the bottom. We did not see anybody,” Godsey said of his race out front before the restart. “On that restart he (Gorby) charged the top and seemed a little tight. I drove it in across the bottom and slide up. I thought I cleared him, but I didn’t. I quarter paneled him.”
Godsey led from the start and had to deal with lapped traffic along the way. Fortunately Godsey stayed out of trouble.
“The track was amazing,” Godsey said. “It was really good. I have a lot of fun at this place. This is my first race of the year.”
Gorby started sixth due to a top eight redraw but had little trouble working his way into contention for lead. Gorby moved to third on lap five and took over second from Kenny Sweet after a lap 16 restart. It became a two-car race until lap 21.
“The car was really good when I could carry my momentum and do what I needed to be doing,” Gorby said of his run toward the lead. “But when a guy who is leading makes his car wide it makes it hard.
“I hope we put on a show for everybody. I felt like I had a good car.”
Sweet ran second for most of the race a restart on lap 16 then dropped fourth before pulling out on lap 19. Zach Nickell wheeled into third where he finished. Kylan Garner drove from seventh to finish fourth and Ryan Johnson charged from 14th to fifth.
The APEX Healthcare Partners Sooner Late Models are back in action next weekend with a stop at Longdale Speedway on Friday and a Saturday visit to Oklahoma Sports Park in Ada.
Sooner Late Model Series Results
Caney Valley Speedway - Caney, Kansas
May 11, 2024
APEX Healthcare Partners A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 14-Joe Godsey[2]; 2. 9-Joseph Gorby[6]; 3. 55-Zach Nickell[9]; 4. USA128-Kylan Garner[8]; 5. 7-Ryan Johnson[14]; 6. 6D-Dustin Dixon[11]; 7. 36D-Mark Daye[5]; 8. B1-Dustin Bolster[4]; 9. 4X-Dalon Helm[7]; 10. 26-Adrien Hickman[10]; 11. 12G-Garrett Vannoster[24]; 12. 33S-Mike Schierlman[13]; 13. 19-Shane Cook[23]; 14. 87-Kenny Sweet[3]; 15. 99-Gary Gorby[12]; 16. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[16]; 17. 18B-Bob Bills[1]; 18. 229-Damian Patocka[17]; 19. 51-Andy Gerstenkorn[15]; 20. H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[18]; 21. (DNS) 2B-Jordan Barbee; 22. (DNS) 10J-Lynn Jones; 23. (DNS) 27X-Ron Brown; 24. (DNS) 36-Jason Redman
Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. 9-Joseph Gorby[3]; 2. 4X-Dalon Helm[1]; 3. 55-Zach Nickell[2]; 4. 33S-Mike Schierlman[5]; 5. (DNS) 36-Jason Redman; 6. (DNS) USA128-Kylan Garner
Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. B1-Dustin Bolster[1]; 2. 18B-Bob Bills[5]; 3. 26-Adrien Hickman[4]; 4. 7-Ryan Johnson[2]; 5. H1-Steve Hewitt Sr[6]; 6. 229-Damian Patocka[3]
Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. 36D-Mark Daye[2]; 2. 87-Kenny Sweet[3]; 3. 6D-Dustin Dixon[1]; 4. 51-Andy Gerstenkorn[4]; 5. 19-Shane Cook[6]; 6. (DNS) 2B-Jordan Barbee
Heat 4 (10 Laps): 1. 14-Joe Godsey[2]; 2. USA128-Kylan Garner[7]; 3. 99-Gary Gorby[3]; 4. 9XX-Dakota Dellinger[4]; 5. 12G-Garrett Vannoster[6]; 6. (DNS) 27X-Ron Brown; 7. (DNS) 10J-Lynn Jones
Lap Leaders: Joe Godsey 1-25?
Margin of victory: 0.976.
2024 Winners: 4/6 - Kip Hughes; 4/13 - Jon Herring, Jr. 5/11 - Joe Godsey.
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.
APEX Healthcare Partners
Specializing in Multidisciplinary Care Across Specialties, at APEX Healthcare Partners, a team of skilled and experienced providers, therapists, and support staff work together to provide personalized and compassionate care for patients with spinal and neurological conditions in Oklahoma City and the surrounding areas.
Article Credit: John Rittenoure