MEEKER, Okla. — Defending champion Kip Hughes picked up where he left off last season with a dominant performance in the Sooner Late Model Series season opener Saturday at Red Dirt Raceway.
Hughes started Saturday’s main event outside of pole sitter Damian Patochka but quickly shot into the lead only to have a yellow flag stop the action due to a spin between turns three and four. A second lap-one yellow waved after three cars tangled in the same spot as the previous delay.
The third green flag stayed out and Hughes quickly shot into the lead followed by Jason Redman. However, Redman soon had his hands full Patochka. The two swapped the runner-up position before PÂ took over for good on lap five as Redman came to a stop out of turn four to bring out another yellow.
On the restart, Patochka chased after Hughes until the closing laps when Kyle Sweeney closed in. Sweeney took over second leading Patochka with third at the finish. Bobby McGehee and Steve Hawkins rounded out the top five.
The finish:
Kip Hughes, Kyle Sweeney, Damian Patockha, Bobby McGehee, Steve Hawkins, Sammy Wilson, John Somers, Eric Brill, Wayne Bush, Johnny Reed Jr., Jim Hardison, Jason Redman, Zach Nickell, Nate Jantz.Â