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American FLAT TRACK

www.americanflattrack.com

Progressive American Flat Track is America’s Original Extreme Sport as well as the guardian of the Grand National Championship series, formally established in 1954 but with roots reaching back to motorcycling’s original speed demons of a century ago.

 

Dallas Daniels Crowned 2025 Grand National Champion 

American Flat Track / Tim Lester]

[Photo: American Flat Track / Tim Lester]

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 13, 2025) – Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) fulfilled his lifelong ambition of becoming Grand National Champion as a thrilling 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, came to its conclusion in tonight’s Arby's Lake Ozark Short Track presented by Arrowhead Brass at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Missouri. 

 

Competing before packed grandstands as a featured attraction of the 19th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest, Daniels needed to finish seventh or better to lock up the title in the event of a victory on the part of his Mission AFT SuperTwins title rival, Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R). 

 

And as expected, Bauman did all he could to pile the pressure on Daniels, locking down the top spot on the charts all day long. 

 

Daniels grabbed the lead early but the potential for disaster was quickly made evident. With multiple riders dicing for the lead and only inches separating them, James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) crashed following contact with Bauman. 

 

Ott’s bike caromed off the wall in the incident, creating a chain reaction that also collected Billy Ross (No. 29 Mission Foods/Digitrace Kawasaki Ninja 650), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Racing Unlimited/Parts Bros Kawasaki Ninja 650), and Logan McGrane (No. 14 Schaeffer's Motorsports KTM 790 Duke). 

 

While Daniels came into the night having finished inside the top five in 47 consecutive races, the collective misfortune of his fellow competitors and subsequent red-flag delay forced him to sit and contemplate what might possibly go wrong. 

 

When the race was restarted, Daniels resumed in the lead temporarily. However, he was quickly overhauled by Bauman, who subsequently raced off to victory. Bauman was followed home by Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) to give Harley-Davidson a season finale 1-2 and the 2025 Mission AFT SuperTwins Manufacturer Championship. 

 

Daniels, meanwhile, held off a charging Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp) – fresh off his Springfield stunner – to secure the final spot on the box and his first Grand National Championship in the process. 

 

Just behind, Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Mike Butler Racing/Mission Foods Yamaha MT-07) finished fifth, with Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha MT-07), Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), and Ben Lowe (No. 25 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07) rounding out the top ten. 

 

This season marks the culmination of the first stage of Daniels’ professional career. The Estenson Racing Yamaha star was widely projected as a future premier-class king as early as his amateur days, in which he became the first rider to win the Nicky Hayden AMA Horizon Award in both flat track and roadracing. 

 

He’s only continued to accumulate accomplishments since joining the pro ranks. Daniels became the first-ever two-time AFT Singles champion and followed that up by authoring a run that ranks as among the greatest first four seasons the Mission AFT SuperTwins category has ever witnessed. 

 

In winning the 2025 crown, Daniels now stands as the seventh youngest rider to earn a first-career Grand National Championship, both as measured by age and experience. He’s been a title contender throughout the entirety of his time in the class, proving himself a historically relentless and constant threat at the front of the pack, regardless of time or place. 

 

Additionally, Daniels joins “King” Kenny Roberts (1973 & 1974) to become just the second rider to win the sport’s greatest prize aboard Yamaha racebikes exclusively. 

 

The new champ said, “The emotions are overwhelming. It’s been a bit of an overwhelming season. Last year, I really had a breakout season and was doing really good. I had a nice little points lead and then had a huge heartbreak. When we came into this year, we did really good at Daytona, and from then on the season was super tough for a lot of reasons. A lot of it was on me, trying to come back from an injury, and Briar was firing on all cylinders immediately. 

 

“When I look at this season – it was kind of like today – just a grind. We struggled with a lot of stuff, and it was such a tough season, but the whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team never gave up, and I never gave up on them. We believed in each other.  

 

“I don’t even know how to put this into words… I’ve got to thank my parents and my whole family, who have sacrificed so much. I’ve dreamed of this my whole life. I’d go to sleep at six years old wanting to be Grand National Champion. It almost slipped away at times this year, but I never lost belief in myself, and I never lost belief in my team. I worked my whole life to be here.” 

 

While ultimately unable to overcome Daniels’ peerless consistency, Bauman closed out a spectacular season that only further enhanced the reputation of the two-time Grand National Champion. In ‘25, Bauman and his Rick Ware Racing team took the previously winless Harley-Davidson XG750R and won more races than any other rider this season (eight) while giving Daniels and the Estenson Racing squad all they could handle until the very end.  

 

Bauman said, “I’ve got to give a huge thanks to the Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus/Latus Motors team. I ask so much of these guys. We had high hopes and a lot of heart. Congrats to Dallas Daniels and the whole Estenson Racing team. They are so good. This was the best year of my career statistically, and it wasn’t good enough. That’s crazy.” 

 

Daniels won the 2025 Mission AFT SuperTwins title with 313 points. Bauman ended up second with 307, followed by Robinson at 217. 

 

Meanwhile, Lowe secured Mission AFT SuperTwins Rookie of the Year honors by finishing a superb fourth overall with 186 points. 

AFT Singles presented by KICKER 

 

While Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) locked up the 2025 AFT Singles presented by KICKER title two rounds early, there was still much in play at the ‘25 finale.  

 

Even with the remainder of the field seeking both personal milestones and momentum to carry into the offseason, Drane continued to own the spotlight. 

 

However, earlier in the contest, the rider of ‘25 found himself chasing a couple of riders of the future. Second-year pilot Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) took the early advantage before being displaced by rookie ace Kage Tadman (No. 288 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450). 

 

At half-distance, newly crowned champ Drane switched up his line, cutting down low entering Turn 1 and making up big chunks of ground in the process. Once in striking distance, he used the same line to dive under Pfanders to take control of second before attempting to do the same to Tadman in first. 

 

The Californian had an answer the first time around, squaring Drane back up to reclaim the lead. However, the Estenson Racing star made it stick on his second attempt. 

 

A curveball was thrown moments later in the form of a red-flag reset with just 59 seconds remaining on the clock following a crash on the part of Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R). 

 

Even though that development put Tadman back out in front for the staggered restart, Drane immediately slung it low entering Turn 1 to snatch the lead right back. 

 

The restart still had significant implications as it thrust a previously quiet Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) back into the fray near the front. Given new life, Santero nudged ahead of Tadman to take over second. He then subsequently gave Drane a scare to the checkered flag before finishing as the race’s runner-up. 

 

Drane’s victory closed out his historic ‘25 campaign with a record-tying eighth win on the season, equaling the previous best marks of Dallas Daniels and Kody Kopp. It also represented his 19th-career win in the class, tying him with Shayna Texter-Bauman for second all-time. 

 

His victory also sealed the 2025 AFT Singles Manufacturer crown for Yamaha. 

 

Afterward, Drane said, “I can’t thank my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy team enough. They worked their butts off all year and gave me a great bike. That race, I got to the front earlier, but for the restart, I had to reset my mind. I had to get out there, get the start, and take the lead as quick as I could. Once I was there, I felt I could lead and be comfortable at the front. It was really good.” 

 

Tadman held on for third, with Pfanders and Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) completing the top five. 

 

As a result of tonight’s order, Tadman and Santero ended the season equal with 175 points apiece in their battle for fourth in the final rankings, trailing only the previously decided 1-2-3 of Drane, Brunner, and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R). 

 

That position ultimately went to Tadman via the tiebreaker due to his race-winning Progressive AFT debut. 

 

Build. Train. Race. 

 

Royal Enfield’s Build. Train. Race. (BTR) program, which serves to highlight, celebrate, and encourage the involvement of women in flat track racing, closed out its 2025 season with a double finale at Lake Ozark Short Track. 

 

Main Event 1 saw Madicela Rodriguez (No. 113 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) fend off Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) by a narrow 0.009 seconds at the checkered flag with Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited) less than a second in arrears in third. 

 

Little got her revenge in Main Event 2, shaking loose to win ahead of Gottsch and Rodriguez and secure the 2025 BTR championship. 

 

Next Up: 

 

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://flosports.link/aft. 

 

FOX Sports coverage of the Arby's Lake Ozark Short Track presented by Arrowhead Brass, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, September 20, at 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT). 

 

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com. 

 

 

 

 

American Flat Track/Tim Lester]

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 31, 2025) – Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp) scored Honda’s first twin-cylinder premier-class victory in more than a quarter century in a momentous and pivotal Springfield Mile II presented by Drag Specialties, the penultimate round of the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. 

 

Lowe dove past long-time leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) entering Turn 3 on the race’s final lap and then held off the Mission AFT SuperTwins title contender by a scant 0.026-second margin at the checkered flag. 

 

Despite that minor disappointment, it was still a huge day for Daniels at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, when taking the bigger picture into consideration.  

 

While seven riders finished within a second of the win, three of the race’s most significant figures weren’t included among them. Early leader Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (No. 123 Happy Trails Racing, Carver's BBQ Kawasaki Ninja 650) was the first to pull out with mechanical issues. He was joined a few minutes later by AFT Singles champ Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), who was ensconced in the lead pack in his premier-class debut before being forced out with problems of his own. 

 

Moments later – and most consequentially of all – then-Grand National Championship leader Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) was black-flagged while racing up front as a result of smoke that billowed from his machine. 

 

Daniels’ runner-up, combined with Bauman being credited in 14th, completely alters the championship outlook with just a single race remaining. The Estenson Racing Yamaha rider now leads his Rick Ware Racing Harley rival by 13 points with only 23 points left in play. That means even if Bauman wins the finale, Daniels needs to finish just seventh or better in order to defeat him for the ‘25 Mission AFT SuperTwins crown. 

 

Despite that shift, this day belongs to Lowe, who delivered the Big Red SuperTwins program its first win since kicking off the initial development of a Honda Transalp-based racebike ahead of the 2024 season. It was also the first for Lowe, who had already made a strong impression in his first full premier-class season. 

 

The Indiana native’s win was the first for a Honda twin-cylinder since Rich King claimed victory at the 1998 Joliet Half-Mile aboard a Honda RS750. It was also the first such podium since King finished second at the Springfield Mile later that same year. Honda’s last win of any kind in the premier-class came back in 2016 with Jake Johnson riding a Honda CRF450R at the DAYTONA Short Track II. 

 

Afterward, Lowe said, “First and foremost, I want to thank my whole team. I’ve been a little bit of a pain, but there has to be a little bit of conflict in the pit area just to kind of get everything going. I’m serious, they’re serious. We all want to figure this out.  

 

“I have to give a huge shout out to Mission Foods, Jerry Stinchfield, Mike Turner and the whole Turner family, Steve Watt, Kenny Coolbeth, Randy Triplett, Mike Lozano, the whole Maxwell Industries crew, and Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda… I’m just so thankful for this. These guys put so much into this. It just means a lot to finally get one here.” 

 

Meanwhile, Brandon Price (No. 92 HRP Racing/Duffs Speed Machine Yamaha MT-07) closed out a remarkable comeback weekend with a third to add to yesterday’s runner-up.  

 

He was followed closely to the line by Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha MT-07), Henry Wiles (No. 911 1st Impressions Racing KTM 790 Duke), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R). 

 

Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) was the last rider to finish in the lead pack, just 0.548 seconds off the win yet relegated to seventh in the final order. 

AFT Singles presented by KICKER 

 

With the 2025 championship already decided, the AFT Singles presented by KICKER category simply delivered a Springfield Mile classic. A huge pack of riders went bar-to-bar for ten minutes plus two laps, with 11 riders taking the checkered flag within a second of victory. 

 

But despite the extraordinarily close margin, victory once again belonged to the newly crowned class king, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F). 

 

The Australian cemented his reputation as a young master of the Springfield Mile, now boasting five wins in the last six AFT Singles Main Events contested at the venue (and that’s even after compacting yesterday’s 1-1-1 into a single victory). 

 

Other than a single, momentary stint outside the top five, Drane factored heavily at the front throughout, trading the lead with fellow front-row runners Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), and polesitter Kage Tadman (No. 288 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450). 

 

Meanwhile, Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R), Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio/Sluggo/Unsettled Racing KTM 450 SX-F) poked at them from meters behind, with Walker Porter (No. 100 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F), Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/Reel Medics Yamaha YZ450F), and Ryder Reese (No. 244 Mission Foods Roof Systems) a double draft away from pulling the upset. 

 

Despite the seeming unpredictability of the contest, Drane calmly positioned himself where he needed to be on the final lap, pulling in behind late leader Brunner as the pack negotiated the race’s final two corners. 

 

The Estenson Racing star pulled out at just the right moment, soaring past in time to grab the checkered flag by 0.028 seconds over the Turner Honda pilot. 

 

“I’ve had a really good run here,” Drane said. “Ever since we first came here in ‘22, I’ve always done well here. I had a great bike underneath me, which really helped. Big thanks to my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy team. They’ve put in a lot of work and given me a really fast bike. It’s been amazing. We’ve had a really good year.” 

 

Cose edged teammate Tadman once again for third, the two taking the stripe 0.086 and 0.150 seconds behind Drane, respectively. 

 

Raggio edged Lowe and Pfanders for fifth, while Porter, RoosEvans, and Bauer rounded out the top ten. Rookie Reese missed out on a third-career top ten despite finishing just 0.892 behind race winner Drane. 

 

Speaking of Drane, he now has seven race wins on the season and 18 for his career, putting him in position to tie Dallas Daniels and Kody Kopp for most single-season wins and Shayna Texter-Bauman for second in career AFT Singles Main Event wins in two weeks at the ‘25 season finale. 

 

Next Up: 

 

Progressive American Flat Track will conclude an epic 2025 Grand National Championship season with the Arby's Lake Ozark Short Track presented by Arrowhead Brass at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Missouri, on Saturday, September 13. 

 

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/lake-ozark-short-track-126438 to purchase your tickets now. 

 

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://flosports.link/aft. 

 

FOX Sports coverage of the Springfield Mile I presented by Drag Specialties, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, September 6, at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT). The Springfield Mile II presented by Drag Specialties will air the following Saturday, September 13, at  10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT) 

 

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com. 

 

 

American Flat Track/Tim Lester]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 30, 2025) – The Grand National Championship is now separated by just two points following an epic and unpredictable Springfield Mile I presented by Drag Specialties, Round 14 of the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. 

 

Home-state hero Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) fought through adversity to come up huge in the clutch and reignite his Mission AFT SuperTwins title hopes at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. 

 

Last Chance Qualifier 

 

Things got mighty serious even before the first Main Event of the Mission Triple Challenge. A deep field packed with some high-profile recent retirees and part-timers – including the legendary Jared Mees (No. 1 Howerton Motorsports Kawasaki Ninja 650), Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (No. 123 Happy Trails Racing, Carver's BBQ Kawasaki Ninja 650), Brandon Price (No. 92  

HRP Racing/Duffs Speed Machine Yamaha MT-07), and Henry Wiles (No. 911 1st Impressions Racing KTM 790 Duke) – pushed some of the class’ leading riders into the Last Chance Qualifier during qualifying. 

 

That list included title leader Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R), who managed to survive that near scare with a narrow victory over Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) in the LCQ. 

 

Fifth-ranked Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) wasn’t so fortunate, dropping out of a qualifying position with mechanical woes on the race’s final lap. Even worse, he was soon joined by fourth-ranked Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), who had dibs on the lone provisional starting slot due to his superior championship positioning. That advantage was awarded via the tiebreaker, as both riders came into Springfield all even at 158 points. 

 

Main Event 1 

 

The new-for-‘25 Mission Triple Challenge format, which features three successive Main Events – a 10-lap sprint, a 15-lapper that pays double points, and a final 20-lap Main which concludes the meeting with triple points – was employed for the third and final time this season on Saturday at Springfield. 

 

However, it didn’t include one of its designers – 10-time Grand National Champion Mees – as his day ended prematurely; transmission issues encountered during qualifying ruled him out before he could even take the grid for Main Event 1. 

 

With the modern-day Springfield master removed from the equation – as well as Fisher, whose backup bike went up in smoke early in Main Event 1 – Daniels jumped into first off the line. 

 

However, Carver and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp) soon took control at the head of a seven-rider pack. But just when it looked like they might escape into a fight of their own, they were tracked down by James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) who promptly beat them both to the checkered flag. 

 

Daniels held on for fourth, followed by Price, and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R). 

 

Bauman finished seventh despite crossing the stripe just 0.836 seconds behind Ott. 

 

Main Event 2 

 

Main Event 2 brought the action early and never relented. From the start, a four-rider lead pack formed featuring Carver, Ott, Lowe, and Price, followed by a heavy-hitting next pack consisting of Daniels, Bauman, Robinson and Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTB Racing Yamaha MT-07) about a second behind. 

 

The race’s shape was upended when Carver bumped the elbow of Ott while attempting to take the lead, instantly transforming the contest into an eight-rider battle for the win. 

 

At that point, title leader Bauman made his move, working his way up to the lead on the final lap. While he was ultimately unable to fend off Lowe – who put the Honda Transalp on top of the box – he did hold on for second while rival Daniels could only manage seventh. 

 

Price finished third, followed by Bender, Ott, and Robinson. 

 

Following his moment with Ott, Carver came home behind Daniels in eighth. 

Main Event 3 

 

A tense and enthralling Main Event 3 closed things out with massive championship implications. 

 

Once Main Event 2 winner Lowe dropped out with a mechanical, the 20-lapper took shape as a five-rider fight at the front with Harley-Davidson-mounted Bauman faced up against the Yamahas of Daniels, Bender, Ott, and Price. 

 

Bauman repeatedly featured in first, slicing his way back through whenever Bender and Ott – and later Daniels and Price – clawed their way forward. 

 

However, Bauman’s brilliant riding was overmatched by sheer speed when it mattered the most. Despite leading with two laps to go, Bauman lost out in the final shuffle; he was dropped all the way down to fifth at the flag while rival Daniels blasted up to hit the stripe in first. 

 

Price finished second (0.092 seconds), followed by Ott (0.146), Bender (0.183), and Bauman (0.194). And with triple points in effect, that re-racked the day’s Overall results in nearly in that same order, with Bauman ahead of Bender for fourth the only alteration. 

 

As a result, Bauman’s championship lead has been reduced to just two points (280-278) with just only races remaining. Robinson remains third at 186. 

 

An emotional Daniels said, “The beginning of the day today has just been the story of the season. It’s been tough, but I’ll tell you one thing, it’s making us a helluva lot stronger. We proved that we don’t give up. That’s the motto for sure. I kind of had my head down after the second Main Event, and my dad grabbed me and said, ‘Hey dude, we’re not out of this.’ 

 

“Briar was so good in (Turns) 3 and 4, I was just nervous. I didn’t know where to place myself. But when Brandon (Price) got up there, I knew it was time to go. On the last lap, I knew I had to cut the best Turns 3 and 4 I did all day, and I really felt I did. Winning the Springfield Mile is pretty cool.” 

 

AFT Singles presented by KICKER 

 

Australian Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) became the first non-American champion in any class in the long history of Progressive American Flat Track, securing the AFT Singles presented by KICKER title a full two rounds early today in Springfield. 

 

He did so by being both faster and more consistent than any other rider, racking up podiums at a historic rate while rapidly climbing his way up the career victory ranks. 

 

Even in the event of a Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) victory, the Estenson Racing Yamaha ace needed just a ninth-place finish on Saturday to wrap up his first AFT Singles crown. 

 

But finishing ninth isn’t really Drane’s style… 

 

Main Event 1 

 

Drane made his intentions clear from the start, grabbing the holeshot to open Main Event 1 with Brunner slotting in behind him. 

 

They were joined by 1st Impressions teammates Kage Tadman (No. 288 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) to create a five-rider breakaway at the front. 

 

Try as they might, no one could move Drane out of first for long, and the Estenson Racing star grabbed the checkered flag with relatively little drama. 

 

Tadman edged Brunner for second, followed by Cose and Pfanders. 

 

Main Event 2 

 

Tadman powered by Drane on the opening lap, signaling the start of a very different race for top honors in Main Event 2. The two shook free of the pack almost immediately, with the lone exception of Cose, who managed to reel the two back in and join the fight for the win. 

 

With Cose lurking just behind, Tadman and Drane went back and forth throughout. Tadman registered his final pass for the lead with two to go, while Drane returned the favor entering Turn 1 on the final lap.  

 

Drane’s task was then made a bit easier when Cose slipped up the inside of his young teammate as they negotiated Turns 3-4 for the final time. 

 

Behind the Drane-Cose-Tadman 1-2-3, Brunner picked up fourth after coming out on top of a massive melee for the position with just 0.643 seconds separating fourth from tenth. 

 

Main Event 3 

 

The decisive Main Event 3 saw its lead pack ebb-and-flow – eight to three back up to seven as packs split and merged. All the while, Drane, Brunner, and Tadman dominated the front three positions, repeatedly trading first position. 

 

The 20-lap Main was red flagged with eight laps to go when fourth-placed Pfanders crashed after getting sucked up in the draft just as Tadman closed down in front of him. The resultant staggered restart changed what was a long haul into a sprint race with the championship on the line. 

 

From there a big pack stuck tight to the flag, but the end result was still the same; Drane had a counter for every move Brunner and Tadman threw at him, and he took the checkered flag – and the 2025 title with it – via a 0.017-second victory over Brunner. 

 

After earning the #1 plate with his sixth win of the season, Drane said, “I’ve got a great team behind me. I can’t thank any of them enough. Tommy (Hayden) and Tim (Estenson) gave me this opportunity, and I wouldn’t be here without them. The whole Estenson Racing team worked hard all year to get this bike underneath me. And I can’t thank my family enough. All the sacrifices my mum and dad have made for me to be here is just awesome. It’s amazing.” 

 

Despite getting edged by Drane, Brunner jumped up to second in the Overall results. 

 

Meanwhile, Cose again pipped teammate Tadman for third, both in Main Event 3 and the event at large. Pfanders, who fought his way back up into contention from the back of the pack, came home fifth in Main Event 3 and Overall. 

 

While the title is now taken care of, Drane still has a chance to tie Dallas Daniels and Kody Kopp for most wins in an AFT Singles season (eight) and Shayna Texter-Bauman for second all-time class race wins (19) before the year is out. 

 

Next Up: 

 

Progressive American Flat Track will be right back in action here in Springfield tomorrow, Sunday, August 31, for the 2025 season’s penultimate round, the Springfield Mile II presented by Drag Specialties. 

 

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/springfield-mile-day-2-125375 to purchase your tickets now. 

 

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://flosports.link/aft. 

 

FOX Sports coverage of the Springfield Mile I presented by Drag Specialties, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, September 6, at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT). The Springfield Mile II presented by Drag Specialties will air the following Saturday, September 13, at  10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT) 

 

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

 

American Flat Track / Tim Lester]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 10, 2025) – Newly crowned champion Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and the rest of the AFT Singles presented by KICKER contenders will conclude the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, at the Arby's Lake Ozark Short Track presented by Arrowhead Brass at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Missouri on Saturday, September 13. 

 

Still in Play: Drane 

 

If Drane decided to take an early vacation, he’d have already cemented his place as one of AFT Singles’ all-time greats. 

 

In addition to wrapping up the ‘25 title two rounds early, Drane also boasts the two longest podium streaks in class history, is tied for most AFT Singles Mile wins all-time, and stands as one of six riders to hit the AFT Singles Grand Slam, among a great many other accomplishments. 

 

But that doesn’t mean Drane can’t add to that already lengthy list this weekend. 

 

Should he win the Lake Ozark ST as he did one year ago, he’ll tie Dallas Daniels and Kody Kopp for most wins in a single season by upping his ‘25 tally to eight. A win would also increase his all-time wins total to 19, moving him equal with Shayna Texter-Bauman for second all-time. Additionally, it would up his active podium streak record to 12 and tie Kopp for the second-longest win streak in AFT Singles history at four. 

 

Can he do it? 

 

The better question might be, can anyone stop him? 

 

Still to Play II: Best of the Rest 

 

Even prior to the start of the ‘25 campaign, a clear pecking order had already been established. 

 

Drane, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R), and Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) were widely expected to vie for the crown, and as it’s turned out, they have already locked down the top three positions in the final ‘25 standings. 

 

The question was whether or not any one from a long list of potential challengers might join them. The answer has been… no… kinda… it depends. 

 

Among those listed as the most likely to do so, Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R), Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F), Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F), Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), and Evan Renshaw (No. 65) are currently ranked inside the top ten with one round remaining. 

 

However, the rider who has the inside line at fourth in the standings wasn’t even a consideration when the season kicked off. 

 

Kage Tadman (No. 288 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) joined the fray four rounds in and immediately set the class alight with back-to-back victories in his first career pro races. 

 

While he came back down to earth somewhat since, he’s streaked forward in low earth orbit at the least. Tadman now owns eight top fives in all, including seven top fours, four podiums, and, of course, those two wins. 

 

As a result, he’s already long since locked up 2025 AFT Singles Rookie of the Year. And while unlikely, if you do the math, it’s not impossible to think that he might have had a chance to finish ranked inside the championship top three this weekend had he participated for the entire season. 

 

But there’s still work left for Tadman. While he sits ranked fourth at the moment, Santero, Pfanders, RoosEvans, and Lowe all have an opportunity to move ahead of him with a big weekend. 

 

Still in Play III: Maiden Win 

 

A few riders who have previously taken AFT Singles podiums are still seeking their maiden victory this weekend. 

 

Santero owns a previous best finish of second, while Pfanders and Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/Reel Medics Yamaha YZ450F) have each previously finished third. 

 

You just know a maiden win ranked high among their preseason goals. They’ve each got one more shot in 2025. 

 

Still in Play IV: Maiden Podium 

 

Meanwhile, several others in the field who have previously finished inside the top five are still looking to claim their first-career AFT Singles podium. 

 

RoosEvans leads that bunch with multiple fourths to his name… not to mention an appearance on the box at the Jackpine Gypsies Super TT. However, he later had the result stripped due to a non-compliant fuel violation, which in turn handed Pfanders his first, and to date, only, career top three weeks after the fact. So consider Pfanders an honorary member of this mix as well. 

 

Others who fit the bill include Lowe, rookie Walker Porter (No. 100 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio/Sluggo/Unsettled Racing KTM 450 SX-F). 

 

Still in Play V: Build. Train. Race. 

 

The Lake Ozark Short Track will also serve as the season finale for Royal Enfield’s immensely successful Build. Train. Race. (BTR) program. Throughout its history, BTR has injected new talent and excitement into the series as it highlights, celebrates, and encourages the involvement of women in flat track racing.  

 

Thus far in 2025, there have been three races and three different winners: Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited), Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited), and Madicela Rodriguez (No. 113 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited). 

 

Will the ‘25 season finale make it four in four? 

 

It’s Best to Rest Before BikeFest 

 

There will be no shortage of entertainment options at the 19th Annual Lake of the Ozarks BikeFest in general and the Lake Ozark Short Track in particular.  

 

Along with the season-ending action on track culminating in the crowning of the 2025 Grand National Champion, fans will be treated to Jumbotron-enhanced viewing, dedicated motorcycle parking, numerous food and beverage options, the Fans Zone – complete with a face painter – and a fireworks display to conclude the evening’s activities. 

 

Your Ticket to the Land of Oz(ark) 

 

General Admission tickets are just $40 (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult General Admission ticket). Students can get a GA ticket for just $20 ticket at the gate with a student ID, while qualified individuals can take advantage of the Military/First Responder discount to purchase $20 General Admission tickets via the GovX link found on the event ticket pages.  

 

Reserved Grandstand tickets, which are located along the front stretch of the racetrack with ideal sightlines, are just $50 (all ages). 

 

H.O.G. members can purchase a H.O.G. Membership Ticket for $30 (all ages), which grants access to both a dedicated parking area and dedicated grandstand seating, along with a meet and greet and photo opportunity with the Harley-Davidson racers and a private infield tour. 

 

Finally, there’s the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experience ($99), which includes General Admission seating with full pit pass access, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line, photo opps, and up-close viewing of Opening Ceremonies and the night’s race action. 

 

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/lake-ozark-short-track-126438 to purchase your tickets today. 

 

Gates will open for fans at 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies set to begin at 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT). 

 

How to Watch 

 

FloRacing 

 

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2025. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast. 

 

FS1 

 

FOX Sports coverage of the Arby's Lake Ozark Short Track presented by Arrowhead Brass, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, September 20, at 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT). 

 

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com. 

 

Who Will Be Crowned Grand National Champion? 2025 Progressive AFT Season to Conclude at Lake Ozark Short Track 

American Flat Track / Tim Lester]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 9, 2025) – The Grand National Championship will be decided when the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, concludes with the Arby's Lake Ozark Short Track presented by Arrowhead Brass at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Missouri on Saturday, September 13. 

 

And the season finale will once again play out in suitably festive surroundings, serving as a centerpiece of this year’s 19th Annual Lake of the Ozarks BikeFest, an event destined to attract some 125,000 motorcycle enthusiasts to the area from September 10-14. 

 

The Grand. National. Championship. 

 

Any concerns that Mission AFT SuperTwins would lose a bit of intrigue and drama after ten-time class king Jared Mees rode off into the sunset have not just been proven unfounded but resoundingly so. 

 

Over the course of an unforgettable ‘25 title fight, Mees’ latter-day foils, Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R), established their own rivalry which could potentially define the sport for the next decade. 

 

Their battles have been epic and at times not without controversy or acrimony. Momentum has been seized and reseized. And each has faced down adversity while making their respective bids to assume Mees’ throne this season. 

 

The tides turned yet again – and in a big way – at the Springfield Mile doubleheader. 

 

Bauman powered into Springfield on a high following his triumphant performance in Peoria. He left in disappointment, an 11-point advantage transformed into a 13-point deficit. That margin puts his chances for a third Grand National Championship in serious peril, a reality he’s all too aware of. 

 

However it plays out, Bauman has already done as much this season to cement his legacy as an all-time great as any of his prior campaigns, including the two in which he defeated Mees for the title. 

 

This season, Bauman and his Rick Ware Racing team took a previously winless Harley-Davidson XG750R and made it a genuine title threat on the strength of seven wins to date. But it goes beyond the numbers – the manner and style in which he’s done it left even the gifted Daniels and the powerhouse Estenson Racing team behind him at times bewildered. 

 

Perhaps paradoxically, Bauman was never more impressive than he was in Springfield, where he routinely sliced and diced the world’s elite motorcycle flat trackers up through the corners just to cling to contention down the straights. 

 

However, overpowered on Saturday and luckless on Sunday, Bauman now faces a steep climb to the title this weekend despite his overall brilliance in 2025. 

 

1.56% 

 

Just how steep? 

 

If Bauman wins this weekend – and he should be viewed as the favorite considering the desperation of his situation along with his status as the winningest Short Track rider in series history – he’ll end the year with 307 points and a tiebreaking eight wins. 

 

That would mean Daniels would have to finish seventh or better to accumulate at least 308 points, and along with it, the 2025 Grand National Championship. 

 

And just how likely is that? 

 

Consider the following:  

 

Daniels has participated in 64 Main Events throughout the entirety of his near four-season premier-class career. During that span, he has finished outside the top five just once. That outlier took place during the 2022 Volusia double finale weekend, in which he crashed from fourth and ultimately finished 12th. 

 

Since that time, the Estenson Racing star has finished fifth or better in 47 consecutive races – 42 of those on the box. 

 

As has been said many times – by Bauman and many others – it’s not so much Daniels’ speed (which is remarkable) or his talent (which is considerable), but rather his unprecedented consistency that is his greatest attribute as a title fighter. 

 

One bad day. One bad race. One bad moment. Give Daniels an opportunity, and he’ll make you pay. 

 

Bauman had a bad day in Springfield. 

 

However, it’s not over just yet. Pile on the pressure of a lifelong goal, and the chance that the unthinkable happens might increase a percentage point or ten. 

 

It’s happened before; the racing annals overfloweth with stories of less likely scenarios coming to fruition. 

 

Give The Man His Due 

 

Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) has spent the bulk of the season lost in the shadow of the fascinating Daniels/Bauman showdown. 

 

However, step back and admire another campaign that has only furthered his argument for eventual inclusion in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. 

 

26 points up on fourth, Robinson has already locked in his fifth Grand National Championship ranking of third or better. He’s also added five more podiums to his career tally, including a long-sought  first win on the Harley-Davidson XG750R he helped usher into the series eight years back. 

 

While no doubt frustrated after taking a step back from 2024’s title contention, Robinson has quietly penned another strong season in a career that’s gradually elevated him up to some pretty lofty statistical territory. 

 

Lowe Man Wins 

 

Much has been made – and deservedly so – of Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp) scoring Honda’s first twin-cylinder premier-class win of the millennium with his Springfield surprise. 

 

But perhaps lost in that excitement was just how much his huge weekend transformed his championship standing outlook. 

 

Prior to Springfield, Lowe was locked in a tight fight for sixth with James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07), Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), and Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650). 

 

Meanwhile, Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) and Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) still held outside hopes of edging Robinson for third at the time. 

 

Lowe’s stunning success combined with twin misfortune for Fisher and ‘VDK,’ has painted a very different picture with just one race to go. As it stands, it’s now Lowe who sits fourth with 172 points, followed closely by Fisher (169) and VanDerkooi (167). 

 

Even before the breakthrough victory, Lowe’s top-five finish at the Lucas Oil Short Track was likely good enough to consider 2025 a positive one of the Big Red SuperTwins program. The victory more than assured that. 

 
But fourth in the overall standings? That would certainly be something. 

 

Rookie of the Year 

 

Lowe’s Springfield triumph also handed him a commanding lead in the chase for Mission AFT SuperTwins Rookie of the Year honors. 

 

Lowe and Ott have gone back and forth in a two-rider tilt all year long, but Lowe’s big win pushed him 18 points out in front with just the finale to go. In other words, it would take a monster result from Ott and utter catastrophe from Lowe to prevent the Honda pilot from being named premier-class Rookie of the Year. 

 

That said, congratulations to Ott, who has been hugely impressive in his own right. With one race left to shine, the Californian has already racked up four top fives on the G&G Yamaha – highlighted by a pair of podiums – in his first Mission AFT SuperTwins campaign. 

 

It’s Best to Rest Before BikeFest 

 

There will be no shortage of entertainment options at the 19th Annual Lake of the Ozarks BikeFest in general and the Lake Ozark Short Track in particular.  

 

Along with the season-ending action on track culminating in the crowing of the 2025 Grand National Champion, fans will be treated to Jumbotron-enhanced viewing, dedicated motorcycle parking, numerous food and beverage options, the Fans Zone – complete with a face painter – and a fireworks display to conclude the evening’s activities. 

 

Your Ticket to the Land of Oz(ark) 

 

General Admission tickets are just $40 (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult General Admission ticket). Students can get a GA ticket for just $20 ticket at the gate with a student ID, while qualified individuals can take advantage of the Military/First Responder discount to purchase $20 General Admission tickets via the GovX link found on the event ticket pages.  

 

Reserved Grandstand tickets, which are located along the front stretch of the racetrack with ideal sightlines, are just $50 (all ages). 

 

H.O.G. members can purchase a H.O.G. Membership Ticket for $30 (all ages), which grants access to both a dedicated parking area and dedicated grandstand seating, along with a meet and greet and photo opportunity with the Harley-Davidson racers and a private infield tour. 

 

Finally, there’s the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experience ($99), which includes General Admission seating with full pit pass access, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line, photo opps, and up-close viewing of Opening Ceremonies and the night’s race action. 

 

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/lake-ozark-short-track-126438 to purchase your tickets today. 

 

Gates will open for fans at 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies set to begin at 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 a.m. PT). 

 

How to Watch 

 

FloRacing 

 

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2025. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast. 

 

FS1 

 

FOX Sports coverage of the Arby's Lake Ozark Short Track presented by Arrowhead Brass, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, September 20, at 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT). 

 

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com. 

 

 

General Admission & Standing Room Tickets Now on Sale for the 2026 DAYTONA Short Track

American Flat Track / Tim Lester] 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 8, 2025) – On the heels of last weekend’s Springfield announcement of Progressive American Flat Track’s first-ever visit to Budd’s Creek Motocross Park in Mechanicsville, Md., fans now have another reason to start looking ahead to 2026. 

 

General Admission and Standing Room Only (SRO) tickets are officially on sale for the 2026 DAYTONA Short Track I & II, set for March 5-6, 2026, at Daytona International Speedway. The high-intensity season opener will once again launch the Progressive American Flat Track season with a back-to-back doubleheader under the lights. 

  • 2-Day Pass: Buy Now
  • Thursday, March 5 – DAYTONA Short Track I: Buy Now
  • Friday, March 6 – DAYTONA Short Track II: Buy Now 

Fans who want first crack at the best seats and premium experiences can sign up now for exclusive pre-sale access to all other ticket types: Pre-Sale Sign-Up. 

 

Reserved ticket renewals will be offered first to all 2025 ticketholders before opening to the general public. 

 

Even with the 2025 season still in full swing but coming to an end soon, anticipation is building for what’s to come in 2026. From the brand-new Maryland showdown at Budd’s Creek to the traditional Daytona doubleheader kickoff, the stage is being set for another unforgettable season of bar-banging, dirt-slinging, heart-pounding racing. 

 

Lock in your spot now for the DAYTONA Short Track and get ready to be part of the thunder when the 2026 season roars to life.

 

But First: 

 

Progressive American Flat Track will conclude an epic 2025 Grand National Championship season with the Arby's Lake Ozark Short Track presented by Arrowhead Brass at Lake Ozark Speedway in Eldon, Missouri, on Saturday, September 13. 

 

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/lake-ozark-short-track-126438 to purchase your tickets now. 

 

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://flosports.link/aft. 

 

FOX Sports coverage of the Springfield Mile II presented by Drag Specialties will air this Saturday, September 13, at  10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT).

 

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.

Rookies Run Riot: The AFT Singles Rookie Class of ‘25

American Flat Track / Scott Hunter]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 8, 2025) – The earliest signs that a rookie wave was about to hit the 2025 AFT Singles presented by KICKER class registered as barely more than a ripple.

 

The Progressive American Flat Track DAYTONA double season opener was meant to serve as a glorified torch-passing ceremony, with three-time reigning class champ Kody Kopp – who was preparing to embark on a roadracing career – slated to hand the reins over to his dueling heir apparents, Tom Drane and Chase Saathoff.

 

Instead, Kopp used the opportunity to clock a pair of extended victory laps, adding two more wins to his all-time class record before tossing said torch into the dirt for Drane and Saathoff to scrap over in his absence.

 

Nearly lost to that bright spotlight was the performance of Lucky Thumb M/C’s Ethan Kitchen, who managed to sneak into the bottom of the top ten in his debut weekend.

 

The wave next hit not just like a tsunami, but one of historic proportions.

 

Beachside Ventura Raceway served as a scenic backdrop framing the raw brilliance of Kage Tadman, who set the scene alight with a dominant victory in his very first attempt.

 

Very few riders had managed that in the history of the class. And no one had ever done what he would do days later – repeat the remarkable feat at Silver Dollar Speedway.

 

In doing so, Tadman set the stage for what has proved to be an unusually impactful rookie class.

 

Read the complete story and 2025 Singles Rookie breakdown HERE.

MotoAmerica AMA

www.motoamerica.com

The MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer, former vice president of motorsports operations at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA), and former managing director of Team Roberts in the Grand Prix World Championship Chuck Aksland; executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum Terry Karges; and energy sector investor and businessman Richard Varner.

 

 

 Formula DRIFT

www.formulad.com

Formula DRIFT (also known as Formula D or FD) is a United States-based motorsport drifting series. Formula DRIFT was co-founded by Jim Liaw and Ryan Sage in 2003 as a sister company to Slipstream Global Marketing, the same partnership that introduced D1 Grand Prix to the United States. The new entity would solely own, operate and launch the first official drifting series in North America. Formula DRIFT is not associated with the FIA series of formula racing championships

 

DEANE WINS 2025 FORMULA DRIFT PRO CHAMPIONSHIP & BUCHANAN IS 2025 PROSPEC CHAMP IN UTAH

 

Formula DRIFT Utah was equal parts celebration, error and disappointment in a cocktail served warm under a blazing desert sun that gave teams and drivers nowhere to hide. This was certainly the case in the Final Round 4 of the Formula DRIFT Link ECU PROSPEC Championship, which took place at the newly named Burt Brothers Motorpark, Grantsville, UT – one of the fastest tracks on the calendar. With a revised track layout, the course ruthlessly punished transgressions. In fact, the title was effectively decided by drivers running into the dirt, taking themselves out of contention.

And while we expected to crown the PROSPEC Champion in Utah, in 22 years the series has never decided the PRO title before the Final Round 8. But James Deane (Ireland) was a man on a mission, determined to lock it up early and become the first ever five-time Formula DRIFT Champion, etching his name deeper into the history books.

 

PROSPEC SEEDING BRACKET QUALIFICATION

In both the Link ECU PROSPEC and PRO Championships, the first 20 competition places were locked in based on finishing positions from the previous Round. The remaining drivers would then compete in tandem Seeding Bracket qualification runs to secure one of 12 competition places. 

In PROSPEC, there was a full contingent of 16 drivers battling for survival, which meant four would be thrown to the lions. And those unfortunate few included DJ Stubstad (USA), Feras Qartoumy (USA), Sam Maghmoumi (Lebanon) and Allen Boss (USA) based on their Top 16 loss and Seeding Bracket ranking.

Of the 12 survivors, Coty Demster (USA) fought his way to the top in the Fuelab / Team Infamous C6 Corvette. He got off to a difficult start, calling a 5min Competition Timeout after his first run in the Top 16 to rectify a technical issue. However, he overcame the adversity to defeat Adam Heishman (USA) in a panel-banging Final that saw the cars collide on their first run. And while mistakes were made on both sides, Demster emerged the worthy winner.

Third place Dustin Miles (USA) lost to Demster in the Final 4 heats but bagged some valuable points in his Championship chase since every qualifying heat win accumulates three points (ten points in competition). And with his win, Demster came off best with a 12-point haul after qualifying.

 

PROSPEC COMPETITION

With a three-way tie at the top of the FD Link ECU PROSPEC Championship table, there was an expectation that either Nate Chen (USA), Cole Richards (USA) or Dmitriy Brutskiy (USA) would claim the 2025 title. But nobody told Cody Buchanan!

Richards was the first challenger to falter when he was knocked out of the Top 32 heats by Camren Sorensen (USA) in a tight fight that saw Richards’ Koruworks / Richards Racing Toyota GR86 leave the track in Outside Zone 4 (OZ4). With zero points gained, Richards finished the night 17th and dropped to fifth overall. Adding insult to injury, only the top three PROSPEC drivers automatically receive a PRO license, if they choose to advance into the senior Championship. And so that opportunity also slipped through Richards’ fingers.

Misery loves company, so Richards invited Chen and Brutskiy to his pity party when both were knocked out of the Top 16 heats. Chen lost a One More Time (OMT) battle to Amanda Sorensen (USA) in the US Air Force / Sorensen Motorsports BMW. Chen would finish the event in ninth driving his NCR STEK / Moroso Performance / Fuelab / NCR Toyota 86 but his consolation prize was second in the 2025 PROSPEC Championship with the option to join the FD PRO ranks in 2026.

Brutskiy’s Never Settle BMW was dispatched by Collin Zielinski (USA) on his way to the Round 4 podium. As a result, the double PROSPEC Champion placed tenth on the night and third in the title race. And while Brutskiy already does double duty, competing in both PROSPEC and PRO, he has the option to continue double-dipping into 2026.

In the absence of the title leaders, Cody Buchanan (USA) stormed to the Round 4 win in his 272 Motorsports / Sandbeck Race Developments Nissan 350Z, simultaneously swiping the 2025 Championship from their grasp. 

Buchanan arrived in Utah on 80 points (20 behind Chen) and finished the season with 130 (20 ahead of Chen). After joining the series in 2023, Utah represented Buchanan’s first FD Round win, first podium and first Championship title.

“We did the thing! We won the event and the Championship. I was hoping to do better than fourth this season and we did it!” Buchanan told us after the trophy ceremony.

“The event started for me with a One More Time with Jack Davis, which just gave me more practice time. I was stressed because I felt we could have lost that battle, and everything other battle, but we kept pushing. Our mindset was one run at a time, don’t worry about the Championship. And it worked! We had some bad luck at previous rounds but it all worked out in the end. I couldn’t be more stoked,” he continued. 

“It’s been a wild year and I definitely want to thank all my sponsors but I have no idea about next season. My goal has always been PRO but we need the funding to run the longer season, so we’ll take a look and try to make it happen.”

PROSPEC Rookie Zielinski finished second in the Fitment Industries Nissan S14.5 after a close Final against Buchanan. Again, this was the driver’s best FD result and first podium, elevating Zielinski from 11th to seventh overall.

Cory Talaska (USA) placed third in the Talaska Creative E36 BMW 2JZ and could have been the Champion himself if he’d defeated Buchanan in the quarter-final. But he finished third in Utah and stood on the Round 4 podium, clinching fourth overall thanks in part to his Opening Round victory in Atlanta.

The 2025 Rookie of the Year award went to Jerry Johnson (USA) driving the Cage Kits / LVRY Motorsport Toyota GT86. He again reached the Top 8 in Utah but was again defeated by Buchanan in a repeat of Round 3. Despite that, Jerry again placed fifth on the night, keeping him sixth overall and ahead of fellow Rookies Zielinski in seventh and Collete Davis (USA) in ninth. The youngest driver to ever compete in Formula DRIFT, Rookie Camren Sorensen, placed 16th in Utah, 14th overall and was fourth in the Rookie race.

 

PRO SEEDING BRACKET QUALIFICATION

The Type S PRO Seeding Bracket runs to the same format as PROSPEC, with the top 20 drivers locked in. For Round 7, there were 13 qualifiers, which meant only one would catch an early flight. And unfortunately, the axe fell on Rudy Hansen (USA) in the Team Hansen supercharged Nissan S13 after he was defeated in the Top 16 by Ken Gushi (Japan). However, he stuck around to help wife Chellee who competes in PROSPEC.

Just as at the previous Round in Seattle, spectators were greeted by the unusual sight of former Championship contenders needing to qualify. Among the bigger names were former teammates “Odi” Bakchis and Simen Olsen, who would meet in a tense Final, which Olsen won after Bakchis misjudged his entry into OZ4, with a de-beaded tire either the culprit or the conclusion. 

Olsen’s win netted him 12 PRO Championship points, which would hopefully be added to further points amassed in Saturday’s Competition heats, while Bakchis claimed second and Brutskiy was third.

There were fierce battles throughout the Seeding Bracket, with the Top 8 heats between Ken Gushi (Japan) and Jonathan Hurst (USA) being repeated twice after the judges requested OMT on two occasions. The decision was eventually awarded to Hurst after Gushi also left the track at OZ4. However, Hurst simultaneously suffered engine failure and had to withdraw, allowing Bakchis to reach the Final unchallenged.

 

PRO COMPETITION

James Deane arrived in Utah for Round 7 of the 2025 FD PRO Championship with a healthy 40-point lead over second place Fredric Aasbo (Norway). And with 50 points available to the Round winner, the pressure was on Deane’s rivals to close the gap and remain in contention

Unfortunately, Aasbo’s run of misfortune continued when his Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra was again knocked out of the Top 32, this time after a frantic battle with Nick Noback (USA). In that moment, Aasbo scored no points and left the chat. His Championship challenge over and he dropped to equal-third in the standings.

The focus then shifted to Matt Field and LZ in equal third place on 150 points – 70 behind Deane. One of them would need to not only win Utah but also the Final Round 8 to claim the crown. And they almost made it!

LZ reached the Final 4, only to be knocked out by Deane in a slightly contentious heat that saw several mistakes from the Irishman. However, his speed and precision in the AutoZone Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD were awarded the win and in that moment Deane accumulated enough points to claim the 2025 title. 

Deane’s victory set more Formula DRIFT records. He became the first-ever five-time Formula DRIFT PRO Champion. And the first driver to amass enough points to win the title before the Final Round in the series’ 22-year history. And to underline his dominance, Deane won Round 7, amassing 50 points and an unassailable lead. With three Round wins, Deane is the only driver with more than one victory this season and there’s still one Round remaining!

“We lost one of our best friends, Alan Long, before the start of the season. He was a family friend and this is for him… because he supported me throughout my drifting career… I want to give a huge thanks to the team, sponsors and my family watching at home as well as everyone that supports me,” said an emotional Deane after winning the 2025 FD PRO Championship.

“Round 7 went way better than I ever imagined,” he would later say. “We managed to win the event, as well as a mind-blowing fifth Championship, which I wasn’t expecting. So, all my family and friends are watching at home because I was going to fly them out for the Final Round. But everything just worked out after we pushed hard. I drove with my heart all day long and for Adam Long. And somehow we managed to wrap up the Championship with one Round left!

“I have to give a huge thanks to the RTR Motorsports drift team that keep the car running 110%. It drove unbelievably well. I can’t believe it keeps taking the abuse after we’ve won a lot of battles this year. But I’m so grateful and honored, and want to thank the fans who give me the energy to keep coming back to chase my dreams.”

With the Championship wrapped up, there was still the question of the Round 7 victory, and Matt Field (USA) was all that stood in Deane’s way. But Field was fortunate to be competing after his Borla Performance / GT Radial / Heat Wave Visual / Leen Customs / Drift Cave Motorsports Corvette was mounted by Dylan Hughes in their Final 4 battle. The driver of the Royal Purple Synthetic Oil / GT Radial / 2JZ-powered BMW was pushing hard in the chase position to maintain proximity with Field when the BMW’s front tire climbed up Field’s tire and onto the Vette’s hood. Fortunately, both drivers saw the humor and were able to return to the pits under their own power for repairs once they’d been uncoupled.

“I was looking at the sky and hoping I wasn’t on top of Matt,” Hughes said after surveying the damage. He finished fourth and climbed from ninth to eighth overall.

While Deane won the Final to cap the perfect weekend, Field was able to leapfrog Aasbo and claim second in the Championship standings with 190 points, ten ahead of LZ and Aasbo in equal-third. 

LZ finished third in the Drift HQ E36 BMW and rose from fourth to keep him very much in the conversation for second overall.

Teenage sensation Hiroya Minowa (Japan) celebrated his 16th birthday with a fifth-place finish in the Enjuku Racing / BC Racing / Jerry Yang Racing Toyota GT86. He was defeated in the Top 8 heats by LZ and remains fifth in the Championship table on 150 points but will be hoping to climb higher in the Final Round.

The leading Rookie was again Jack Shanahan (Ireland) who finished 14th in the Kumho Tires BMW 1 Series. The result dropped him to 12th overall but he maintains a healthy 34-point lead over nearest rival, Connor O’Sullivan (USA) in the 2025 Rookie of the Year title race.

In the 2025 Formula DRIFT Auto Cup, BMW has taken the lead despite no factory support but thanks in part to LZ, Hughes and Rome Charpentier. In the Tire Cup, GT Radial further extended its lead.

“Even after 22 years, Formula DRIFT continues to serve up surprises,” said Ryan Sage, President of Formula DRIFT. “Just look at what happened in both the PRO and PROSPEC Championships, for example. We’ve seen our first five-time Champion in James Deane, who’s won it in the shortest time ever during our eight-round format. And we saw some big surprises among the other drivers challenging for the title, with Fredric Aasbo hoping to meet him in the Top 16 but not getting past the Top 32. We also witnessed carnage between Matt Field and Dylan Hughes but somehow they were both able to get the cars running and complete the heat. And while there won’t be a Championship title up for grabs at Round 8 in Long Beach, we’ll still witness a very close battle for drivers vying for second and third in PRO on a brand new track, which will level the playing field considerably.

“PROSPEC saw the gnarliest end to a season in series history, with the leading contenders taking themselves out of contention and leaving the door open for Cody Buchanan, who’s never even won an event before! He got there by taking out Cory Talaska in the Final 4 who, if he’d beaten Buchanan would have been the Champion himself. 

“With Buchanan’s win, we have Chen and Brutskiy in second and third thanks to a tie-breaker in favor of Chen despite their equal points. It’s a fitting end to the best PROSPEC season we’ve ever witnessed, which has clearly demonstrated that more tandem driving for the competitors has accelerated their skill level and gave us a totally unforgettable season.”

 

ROUND 7 FD PRO TOP 16 DRIVER POINTS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

James Deane

50

2

Matt Field

40

3

Adam LZ

30

4

Dylan Hughes

30

5

Hiroya Minowa

20

6

Rome Charpentier

20

7

Chris Forsberg

20

8

Trenton Beechum

20

9

Jhonnattan Castro

10

10

Ryan Tuerck

10

11

Wataru Masuyama

10

12

Conor Shanahan

10

13

Nick Noback

10

14

Jack Shanahan

10

15

Jeff Jones

10

16

Aurimas Bakchis

10 + 9

 

2025 FD PRO TOP 16 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

James Deane

270

2

Matt Field

190

3

Adam LZ

180

4

Fredric Aasbo

180

5

Hiroya Minowa

150

6

Jhonnattan Castro

130

7

Aurimas Bakchis

128

8

Dylan Hughes

120

9

Chris Forsberg

100

10

Branden Sorensen

92

11

Rome Charpentier

90

12

Jack Shanahan

86

13

Ryan Tuerck

80

14

Conor Shanahan

70

15

Dan Stuke

62

16

Trenton Beechum

53

 

2025 AUTO CUP TOP 5 STANDINGS*

BMW 

401

Toyota 

362

Nissan 

312

Ford 

289

Chevrolet 

235

 

2025 TIRE CUP STANDINGS*

GT Radial

463

Kenda

376

Nitto

362

Kumho

208

 

FD PROSPEC ROUND 4 TOP 16 DRIVER POINTS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

Cody Buchanan

50

2

Collin Zielinski

40

3

Cory Talaska

30

4

Trevor Root

30

5

Jerry Johnson

20

6

Amanda Sorensen

20

7

Josh Stuart

20

8

Kaseykohl

20 + 3

9

Nate Chen

10

10

Dmitriy Brutskiy

10

11

Collete Davis

10

12

Brian Wills

10

13

Adam Knapik

10

14

Nik Jimenez

10

15

Adam Heishman

10 + 9

16

Camren Sorensen

10

  

FD PROSPEC TOP 16 DRIVER FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

Cody Buchanan

130

2

Nate Chen

110

3

Dmitriy Brutskiy

110

4

Cory Talaska

100

5

Cole Richards

100

6

Jerry Johnson

85

7

Collin Zielinski

73

8

Trevor Root

70

9

Collete Davis

62

10

Josh Stuart

60

11

Amanda Sorensen

40

12

Adam Knapik

40

13

Alex Jagger

40

14

Camren Sorensen

35

15

Brian Wills

33

16

Nik Jimenez

30

* Preliminary standings. Final results pending official confirmation

 

NEXT ROUND

The Final Round 8: Shoreline Showdown of the 2025 FD PRO Championship will take place on the new course on the Streets of Long Beach, CA on October 17-18. Please visit formulad.com for ticket information, driver profiles, special content, and the event livestream.

2025 FORMULA DRIFT PRO CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION RESULTS FROM ROUND 7 IN UTAH

 

James Deane makes history as first five-time FD PRO Champion, first to take title before the Final Round, and winner of Round 7

 

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025

Location: Burt Brothers Motorpark, Grantsville, UT

Event: Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Round 7 

 

RESULTS FOR FD PRO ROUND 7

  1. James Deane (Ireland) – AutoZone Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD
  1. Matt Field (USA) – Borla Performance / GT Radial / Heat Wave Visual / Leen Customs / Drift Cave Motorsports Corvette
  2. LZ (USA) – Drift HQ E36 BMW

 

NOTES

  • James Deane arrived in Utah with a healthy 40-point lead over second place Fredric Aasbo (Norway). And with 50 points available to the Round winner, the pressure was on Deane’s rivals to close the gap and remain in contention
  • Unfortunately, Aasbo’s run of misfortune continued when his Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra was again knocked out of the Top 32 after a frantic battle with Nick Noback (USA). In that moment, Aasbo scored no points and left the chat
  • The focus then shifted to Matt Field and LZ in equal third place on 150 points – 70 behind Deane. One of them would need to win Utah and the Final Round 8 to claim the crown. And they almost made it!
  • LZ reached the Final 4, only to be knocked out by Deane. And in that moment, the Irishman had accumulated enough points to claim the 2025 title, shifting the focus to who would finish second
  • Deane’s victory set more series records. He’s now the first ever five-time Formula DRIFT PRO Champion. And the first driver to amass enough points to win the title before the Final Round in the series’ 22-year history. And to underline his dominance, Deane won Round 7, amassing 50 points and an unassailable lead. He’s the only driver with more than one victory this season – he now has three wins with one Round remaining
  • “We lost one of our best friends, Adam Long, before the start of the season. He was a family friend and this is for him... I want to give a huge thanks to the team, sponsors and my family watching at home, as well as everyone that supports me,” said an emotional Deane after winning the 2025 FD PRO Championship
  • By reaching the Final, Field was able to leapfrog Aasbo and claim second in the Championship standings on 190 points – ten ahead of LZ and Aasbo in equal-third
  • Field was fortunate to complete the Round after his Corvette was mounted by Dylan Hughes’ Royal Purple Synthetic Oil / GT Radial / 2JZ-powered BMW. It happened with Hughes in the chase position during their Final 4 battle. Pushing hard to maintain proximity, the BMW’s front tire climbed Field’s tire onto the Vette’s hood. Fortunately, both drivers saw the humor and were able to return to the pits under their own power for repairs
  • “I was looking at the sky and hoping I wasn’t on top of Matt!” Hughes said after surveying the damage. He finished fourth and climbed from ninth to eighth overall
  • LZ also rose from fourth to equal-third with yet after another podium finish to keep him very much in the conversation for second overall
  • Teenage sensation Hiroya Minowa (Japan) celebrated his 16th birthday with a fifth-place finish in the Enjuku Racing / BC Racing / Jerry Yang Racing Toyota GT86. He was defeated in the Top 8 heats by LZ and remains fifth in the Championship table
  • The leading Rookie was again Jack Shanahan (Ireland) who finished 14th, which dropped him to 12th overall but with a healthy 34-point lead over nearest rival, Connor O’Sullivan (USA) in the 2025 Rookie of the Year title race
  • In the 2025 Formula DRIFT Auto Cup, BMW has taken the lead for the first time in recent memory despite no factory support, while GT Radial further extended its lead in the Tire Cup

 

ROUND 7 FD PRO TOP 16 DRIVER POINTS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

James Deane

50

2

Matt Field

40

3

Adam LZ

30

4

Dylan Hughes

30

5

Hiroya Minowa

20

6

Rome Charpentier

20

7

Chris Forsberg

20

8

Trenton Beechum

20

9

Jhonnattan Castro

10

10

Ryan Tuerck

10

11

Wataru Masuyama

10

12

Conor Shanahan

10

13

Nick Noback

10

14

Jack Shanahan

10

15

Jeff Jones

10

16

Aurimas Bakchis

10 + 9

 

2025 FD PRO TOP 16 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

James Deane

270

2

Matt Field

190

3

Adam LZ

180

4

Fredric Aasbo

180

5

Hiroya Minowa

150

6

Jhonnattan Castro

130

7

Aurimas Bakchis

128

8

Dylan Hughes

120

9

Chris Forsberg

100

10

Branden Sorensen

92

11

Rome Charpentier

90

12

Jack Shanahan

86

13

Ryan Tuerck

80

14

Conor Shanahan

70

15

Dan Stuke

62

16

Trenton Beechum

53

 

2025 AUTO CUP TOP 5 STANDINGS*

BMW 

401

Toyota 

362

Nissan 

312

Ford 

289

Chevrolet 

235

 

2025 TIRE CUP STANDINGS*

GT Radial

463

Kenda

376

Nitto

362

Kumho

208

 

* Preliminary standings. Final results pending official confirmation

 

FORMULA DRIFT UTAH RECAP

A recap of all the action from FD UT with event images will be available on Monday.

 

 

FORMULA DRIFT PROSPEC CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL COMPETITION RESULTS FROM ROUND 4 IN UTAH

 

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Friday, August 29, 2025

Location: Burt Brothers Motorpark, Grantsville, UT 

Event: Formula DRIFT Link ECU PROSPEC Championship Final Round 4 

 

2025 FD LINK ECU PROSPEC CHAMPIONSHIP
  1. Cody Buchanan (USA) – 272 Motorsports / Sandbeck Race Developments Nissan 350Z
  2. Nate Chen (USA) – NCR STEK / Moroso Performance / Fuelab / NCR Toyota 86
  3. Dmitriy Brutskiy (USA) – Never Settle BMW

 

RESULTS FOR FD PROSPEC ROUND 4
  1. Cody Buchanan (USA) – 272 Motorsports / Sandbeck Race Developments Nissan 350Z
  2. Collin Zielinski (USA) – Fitment Industries Nissan S14.5
  3. Cory Talaska (USA) – Talaska Creative E36 BMW 2JZ

 

NOTES
  • With a three-way tie at the top of the Formula DRIFT Link ECU PROSPEC Championship table, there was an expectation that either Nate Chen, Cole Richards or Dmitriy Brutskiy would claim the 2025 title. However, Cody Buchanan had written a different script
  • Cole Richards (USA) was the first challenger to falter when he was knocked out of the Top 32 heats by Camren Sorensen (USA) in a tight fight that saw Richards leave the track in Outside Zone 4 (OZ4). He would finish 17th on the night and fifth overall
  • Chen and Brutskiy were both knocked out of the Top 16 heats. Chen lost a One More Time battle to Amanda Sorensen (USA) and finished the event in ninth, claiming second in the 2025 Championship
  • Brutskiy was dispatched by Collin Zielinski on his way to the Round 4 podium. However, the double PROSPEC Champion, who is also competing in the 2025 PRO Championship, placed tenth on the night and third in the title standings 
  • In the absence of the title leaders, Buchanan stormed to the Round 4 win by beating Zielinski in the Final to complete a perfect weekend on the top step of two podiums. He came into Utah on 80 points and finished the season with 130 – 20 ahead of Chen
  • Talaska placed third in Utah and could have been the Champion himself if he’d beaten Buchanan in the quarter-final. But he stood on the Round 4 podium, finished fourth overall and claimed the Opening Round victory in Atlanta
  • The 2025 Rookie of the Year is Jerry Johnson (USA) driving the Cage Kits / LVRY Motorsport Toyota GT86. He again reached the Top 8 but was again defeated by Buchanan in a repeat of Round 3. Despite that, Jerry again placed fifth on the night, keeping him sixth overall but first in the Rookie race ahead of Zielinski in seventh and Collete Davis (USA) in ninth
  • The youngest driver to ever compete in Formula DRIFT, 13 year-old Rookie Camren Sorensen, placed 16th in Utah, 14th overall and fourth in the Rookie race 
  • All teams in the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship must use Link engine management and GT Radial tires

 

FD PROSPEC ROUND 4 TOP 16 DRIVER POINTS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

Cody Buchanan

50

2

Collin Zielinski

40

3

Cory Talaska

30

4

Trevor Root

30

5

Jerry Johnson

20

6

Amanda Sorensen

20

7

Josh Stuart

20

8

Kasey Kohl

20 + 3

9

Nate Chen

10

10

Dmitriy Brutskiy

10

11

Collete Davis

10

12

Brian Wills

10

13

Adam Knapik

10

14

Nik Jimenez

10

15

Adam Heishman

10 + 9

16

Camren Sorensen

10

  

FD PROSPEC TOP 16 FINAL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

Cody Buchanan

130

2

Nate Chen

110

3

Dmitriy Brutskiy

110

4

Cory Talaska

100

5

Cole Richards

100

6

Jerry Johnson

85

7

Collin Zielinski

73

8

Trevor Root

70

9

Collete Davis

62

10

Josh Stuart

60

11

Amanda Sorensen

40

12

Adam Knapik

40

13

Alex Jagger

40

14

Camren Sorensen

35

15

Brian Wills

33

16

Nik Jimenez

30

 

* Preliminary standings. Final results pending official confirmation

 

FORMULA DRIFT UTAH RECAP

FD PRO Round 7 Competition results will be sent tomorrow. A recap of all the action from FD UT with event images will be available on Monday.

 

NEXT ROUND

The Final Round 8: Shoreline Showdown of the 2025 FD PRO Championship will take place on the new course on the Streets of Long Beach, CA on October 17-18. Please visit formulad.com for ticket information, driver profiles, special content, and the event livestream.

 

ABOUT FORMULA DRIFT

Formula DRIFT is recognized as the leading international drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges the driver's skill while demanding a great deal from their vehicle in terms of power and strength. Formula DRIFT provides a series for the best professional drifters from around the globe to compete for the coveted title of Formula DRIFT Champion. As the first official drifting series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting drift fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life, and established itself as the global leader for the sport. For a competition schedule, ticket information, special content and livestream, please visit formulad.com

 

WATCH FORMULA DRIFT

Fans can find the free-to-view event livestream at youtube.com/Formuladrift. FD is also available on Racer/MAV TV (please check with your local provider), and available in Spanish via PX Sports on numerous outlets across Latin America. To find out where it’s broadcast in your country, visit pxsports.com/outlets

 

FOLLOW FORMULA DRIFT ONLINE 

formulad.com

instagram.com/formulad

facebook.com/formuladrift

twitter.com/FormulaDrift

youtube.com/Formuladrift

 

2025 FORMULA DRIFT OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Major Sponsor, Official Vehicle Lighting – TYPE S 

Major Sponsor, Official Energy Drink – Rockstar Energy Drink 

Major Sponsor, Official Military Branch – United States Air Force

Major Sponsor, Official Autoparts Retailer – O’Reilly Auto Parts 

Major Tire Sponsors – GT Radial, Kenda Tire, Kumho Tire, Nitto Tire

Official Sponsors – Ford Performance, Toyota Gazoo Racing, BC Forged, BC Racing (Official Suspension), SIMAGIC (Official SIM Racing Hardware), Fast Orange (Official Hand Cleaner), NEFT Vodka (Official Vodka)

Associated Sponsors – Enkei Wheels, RAYS Wheels, ENEOS Oil, Meguiar’s, NGK Spark Plugs

Official ECU & PROSPEC Title Sponsor – Link Engine Management

Official PROSPEC Tire – GT Radial 

Official PROSPEC Tire Service Partner – Racetreads 

Broadcast partner – MAV TV

Official Education Partner ­– University of Northwestern Ohio

Official Technical Partner – Alpinestars

Official Community Outreach Program – Acceler8

FORMULA DRIFT PRO & PROSPEC CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDING BRACKET QUALIFYING RESULTS FROM UTAH

 

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025

Location: Burt Brothers Motorpark, Grantsville, UT 

Event: Seeding Bracket Qualification for Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Round 7 and Link ECU PROSPEC Final Round 4 

 

RESULTS FROM FD PROSPEC SEEDING BRACKET

1.   Coty Demster (USA) – Fuelab / Team Infamous C6 Corvette

2.   Adam Heishman (USA) – Wall Hugs Motorsports / Heishman Racing Fuel Ford Mustang

3.   Dustin Miles (USA) – Miles of Style Racing Nissan S13

 

RESULTS FROM FD PRO SEEDING BRACKET
  1. Simen Olsen (Norway) – Simen Olsen Drifting Toyota GR Supra
  2. Aurimas Bakchis (Lithuania) – Feal Suspension / GT Radial Nissan S14.9
  3. Dmitriy Brutskiy (USA) – Never Settle BMW

 

PROSPEC NOTES
  • The Link ECU PROSPEC Championship locked in the first 20 competition places based on finishing positions from Round 3. The remaining 16 drivers would have to compete in tandem Seeding Bracket qualification runs to secure one of 12 competition places
  • The Seeding Bracket got off to a difficult start for Demster, who had to call a 5min Competition Timeout after his first run in the Top 16. However, he overcame the adversity to defeat Heishman in a tough Final that saw the cars collide on their first run. And while mistakes were made on both sides, Demster was the worthy winner in his Fuelab / Team Infamous C6 Corvette
  • Third place Miles lost to Demster in the Final 4 heats but bagged some valuable points in his Championship chase since every heat win accumulates three points. Demster obviously came off best with a 12-point haul from qualifying
  • Thirteen year-old Camren Sorensen (USA) was knocked out of the Top 16 by Miles but his ranking meant he continues into Friday’s Competition heats
  • The four drivers eliminated from Competition were DJ Stubstad (USA), Feras Qartoumy (USA), Sam Maghmoumi (Lebanon) and Allen Boss (USA) based on their Top 16 loss and Seeding Bracket ranking
  • All teams in the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship must use Link engine management and GT Radial tires

 

PRO NOTES
  • The first 20 PRO Championship competition places were locked in according to the drivers’ ranking achieved at the previous Round and the 12 remaining competition places would be decided by the Seeding Bracket qualification. In Utah, 13 drivers were participating, which meant one unlucky entrant would be watching Competition from the sidelines
  • Just as at the previous Round in Seattle, spectators were greeted by the unusual sight of former Championship contenders needing to qualify in the Type S PRO Seeding Bracket. Among the bigger names were former teammates “Odi” Bakchis and Simen Olsen, who would meet in a tense Final
  • Olsen won the Seeding Bracket Top 16 qualifying contest after Bakchis misjudged his entry into Outer Zone 4 (OZ4), with a de-beaded tire either the culprit or the conclusion. Olsen’s win netted him 12 PRO Championship points, to which he will hope to add further points in Saturday’s Competition heats
  • With Bakchis claiming second, third place was awarded to Brutskiy who had lost in the Final 4 to Olsen
  • There were fierce battles throughout the Seeding Bracket, with the Top 8 heats between Ken Gushi (Japan) and Jonathan Hurst (USA) being repeated twice after the judges requested One More Time on two occasions. The decision was eventually awarded to Hurst after Gushi left the track at OZ4. However, Hurst simultaneously suffered engine failure and had to withdraw, allowing Bakchis to reach the Final unchallenged
  • The only driver eliminated from the Type S PRO Seeding Bracket was Rudy Hansen (USA) in the Team Hansen supercharged Nissan S13 after he was defeated in the Top 16 by Gushi and had the lowest ranking of the first heat losers

 

PRO ROUND 7 SEEDING BRACKET RESULTS*

POSITION

NAME

POINTS

1

Simen Olsen

12

2

Aurimas Bakchis

9

3

Dmitriy Brutskiy

6

4

Jonathan Hurst

6

5

Federico Sceriffo

3

6

Dan Burkett

3

7

Austin Matta

3

8

Ken Gushi

3

9

Ben Hobson

0

10

Ryan Litteral

0

11

Andy Hateley

0

12

Derek Madison

0

13

Rudy Hansen

0

 

BRACKET FOR PRO ROUND 7 COMPETITION HEATS 

 

ROUND 4 PROSPEC SEEDING BRACKET RESULTS*

POSITION

NAME

POINTS

1

Coty Demster

12

2

Adam Heishman

9

3

Dustin

6

4

Chris Leonard

6

5

Jayce Habich

3

6

Justin Ruth

3

7

Kasey Kohl

3

8

Matthew Bystrak

3

9

Jack Davis

0

10

Carsen Ruger

0

11

Camren Sorensen

0

12

Brian Hoplamazian

0

13

DJ Stubstad

0

14

Feras Qartoumy

0

15

Sam Maghmoumi

0

16

Allen Boss

0

 

* Preliminary standings. Final results pending official confirmation

 

BRACKET FOR PROSPEC ROUND 4 COMPETITION HEATS 

 

FORMULA DRIFT UTAH RECAP

Competition results from FD PROSPEC will be available on Friday evening. FD PRO Round 7 Competition results will be sent on Saturday. A recap of all the action from FD UT with event images will be available on Monday.

 

NEXT ROUND

The Final Round 8: Shoreline Showdown of the 2025 FD PRO Championship will take place on the new course on the Streets of Long Beach, CA on October 17-18. Please visit formulad.com for ticket information, driver profiles, special content, and the event livestream.

 

ABOUT FORMULA DRIFT

Formula DRIFT is recognized as the leading international drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges the driver's skill while demanding a great deal from their vehicle in terms of power and strength. Formula DRIFT provides a series for the best professional drifters from around the globe to compete for the coveted title of Formula DRIFT Champion. As the first official drifting series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting drift fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life, and established itself as the global leader for the sport. For a competition schedule, ticket information, special content and livestream, please visit formulad.com

 

WATCH FORMULA DRIFT

Fans can find the free-to-view event livestream at youtube.com/Formuladrift. FD is also available on Racer/MAV TV (please check with your local provider), and available in Spanish via PX Sports on numerous outlets across Latin America. To find out where it’s broadcast in your country, visit pxsports.com/outlets

 

FOLLOW FORMULA DRIFT ONLINE 

formulad.com

instagram.com/formulad

facebook.com/formuladrift

twitter.com/FormulaDrift

youtube.com/Formuladrift

 

2025 FORMULA DRIFT OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Major Sponsor, Official Vehicle Lighting – TYPE S 

Major Sponsor, Official Energy Drink – Rockstar Energy Drink 

Major Sponsor, Official Military Branch – United States Air Force

Major Sponsor, Official Autoparts Retailer – O’Reilly Auto Parts 

Major Tire Sponsors – GT Radial, Kenda Tire, Kumho Tire, Nitto Tire

Official Sponsors – Ford Performance, Toyota Gazoo Racing, BC Forged, BC Racing (Official Suspension), SIMAGIC (Official SIM Racing Hardware), Fast Orange (Official Hand Cleaner), NEFT Vodka (Official Vodka)

Associated Sponsors – Enkei Wheels, RAYS Wheels, ENEOS Oil, Meguiar’s, NGK Spark Plugs

Official ECU & PROSPEC Title Sponsor – Link Engine Management

Official PROSPEC Tire – GT Radial 

Official PROSPEC Tire Service Partner – Racetreads 

Broadcast partner – MAV TV

Official Education Partner ­– University of Northwestern Ohio

Official Technical Partner – Alpinestars

Official Community Outreach Program – Acceler8

Technical Partners – PCI Race Radios

 

 

 

International hot rod association  

www.ihra.com

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is the second-largest drag racing sanctioning body after the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).

 

 

   international hot rod association  american  flat track FORMULA DRIFT    The MotoAmerica AMA

2025 international hot rod association schedule

Saturday, 16 March 2024

Penwell Knights Raceway

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Mar30

Saturday, 30 March 2024

Knoxville Dragway

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Apr27

Saturday, 27 April 2024

Beacon Dragway

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Apr27

Saturday, 27 April 2024

South Carolina Motorplex

Sportsman Spectacular

 
May11

Saturday, 11 May 2024

Gleason Raceway Park

Sportsman Spectacular

 
May18

Saturday, 18 May 2024

Kil-Kare Raceway

Sportsman Spectacular

 
May25

Saturday, 25 May 2024

Dragway 42

Sportsman Spectacular

 
May25

Saturday, 25 May 2024

Music City Raceway

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Jun1

Saturday, 01 June 2024

Humboldt County Dragway

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Jun22

Saturday, 22 June 2024

Albuquerque Dragway

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Jul6

Saturday, 06 July 2024

Bunker Hill Dragstrip

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Jul20

Saturday, 20 July 2024

Quaker City Motorsports Park

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Jul27

Saturday, 27 July 2024

Ethridge Motorsports Park

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Aug24

Saturday, 24 August 2024

River Road Raceway

Sportsman Spectacular

2025 FORMULA DRIFT PRO & PROSPEC CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

CHAMPIONSHIP

LOCATION

DATE

PRO

Streets of Long Beach

April 4-5

PRO/PROSPEC

Road Atlanta

May 8-10

PRO

Orlando Speed World

May 30-31

PRO/PROSPEC

Englishtown Raceway

June 19-21

PRO/PROSPEC

World Wide Tech Raceway

July 17-19

PRO

Evergreen Speedway

August 8-9

PRO/PROSPEC

Utah Motorsports Campus

August 28-30

PRO

TBD

October 17-18
2025 motosmerica schedule

2025 ama schedule

 

 

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