AMA AND OTHER SERIES

Fisher Over Drane by 0.009 in Caterpillar Springfield Mile II Finale Thriller

Tim Lester ama

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 6, 2026) – Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) scored his second-career Mission AFT SuperTwins victory in a thrilling Caterpillar Springfield Mile II that closed out a spectacular 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, in fine style.

As with his first – taken at the 2021 Charlotte Half-Mile – Fisher did so in a season-ending stunner. The difference is this one came in Springfield, Illinois, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds’ fabled Springfield Mile.

Equally noteworthy was the overall makeup of the podium, which did not feature any of the three Grand National Championship protagonists who dominated the headlines and garnered all previous 15 victories leading into the last race of the year.

While champion Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) and title rivals Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR/Rocket Doctor Harley-Davidson XG750R) and Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) played their roles in the race, Fisher ultimately earned the win by fending off KICKER AFT Singles superstar and Mission AFT SuperTwins wild card Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) at the flag.

Fisher and Drane went back and forth for first over the back half of the contest, where it became increasingly obvious that Fisher needed to keep Drane behind him entering Turn 3 on the final lap to have any hope of taking the win. And he did exactly that, a fact that allowed him to edge the talented Australian by a meager 0.009 seconds at the flag.

Fisher said, “Tom (Drane) put up a heck of a fight. I just can’t thank the whole Rackley team enough for just chugging away at this and putting the KTM on the top of the box. My long-time sponsor Bob Lanphere from Beaverton Motorcycles made the trip here, and he told me, ‘I’m here to watch you win the Mile.’ And we did that.

“It’s pretty cool going into the offseason on top. I get to look at the scoreboard all year long, just like I did after Charlotte. It’s been a while since I got a win. It was long overdue, and it feels so great.”

2025 Springfield winner Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) finished in third just 0.057 seconds further adrift to back up his Saturday podium with another on Sunday.

As for the title fighters, Bauman frequently ran at the head of the multi-rider lead pack until he was forced out with an apparent mechanical issue with just over four minutes remaining.

Daniels, meanwhile, lost touch with the lead group just prior to half-distance. He dropped nearly two seconds back at one point before executing a late charge aided by the back-and-forth antics of Fisher and Drane at the front. That enabled him to latch onto the tail of the draft with two laps to go, bringing him near enough to zap Kopp on the final lap for fourth.

Despite that setback, fifth was more than enough for Kopp to overtake the unlucky Bauman and finish his rookie premier-class campaign ranked second in the Grand National Championship.

Behind, Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) took a lonely sixth, while Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) won out in a tight all-Yamaha battle for seventh, finishing just ahead of Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) and Chad Cose (No. 49 PRO Roofing/Parker Racing Yamaha MT-07).

The “Wizard” Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (No. 123 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) earned a popular top ten in his return to action at the Springfield Mile.

Daniels concluded his second-consecutive championship-winning campaign with 309 points. He was followed by Kopp (274) and Bauman (270). 

Fisher rounded out a fine season in fourth with 216 points, followed by Lowe at 178.

KICKER AFT Singles

The KICKER AFT Singles category held out until its final Main Event of the season to unleash its wildest race of 2026.

Twelve riders went back and forth for ten minutes and (nearly) two laps, swapping the lead at the end of almost every straight. That intensity reached its boiling point on the final lap, at which point Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Mark Tepper Racing/Pags Powersports KTM 450 SX-F) got sucked up the track and collected Jordan Beaulac (No. 156 Picotte Motosport/Dofralex GASGAS MC 450F), sending both riders into the air fence.

The incident brought out a red flag while double class champ Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) held the lead negotiating the race’s final lap. 

However, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) had actually taken the white flag to open that lap inches ahead of both Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) (0.038 seconds back) and Drane (0.039) as the massive group maneuvered to set up their last-gasp sprints to a checkered flag that would never wave.

As a result, the win was awarded to Saathoff in what might prove to be an unexpected conclusion to an epic, years-long KICKER AFT Singles rivalry should one or both graduate to premier-class duty in 2027.

After picking up his second victory of the season, home-state hero Saathoff said, “It still feels great to win. I’m super grateful, and I do feel we would have had a chance at the line. I can’t thank the whole team enough; it’s been a great year. I’m very blessed to be up here right now, even though it was by a technicality… it happens.”

Tadman was credited with second while Drane officially finished third – a tough luck end to his seven-race Mile win streak aboard the YZ450F.

Trevor Brunner (No. 21 JMC Motorsports/Fairway GMC KTM 450 SX-F) and Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) rounded out the top five in that order.

Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Texas Utility Studies/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R), Jett Katarzy (No. 117 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Kaleb Martin (No. 93 GETMOREBIKE Honda CRF450F) were listed sixth through tenth, respectively, in the official results.

Despite Sunday’s minor disappointment, Drane had already locked down a record-breaking nine-win season to round out a second consecutive crushing title triumph. He ended his campaign with 303 points, followed by Saathoff at 257 and Tadman with 226.

How to Watch

FloRacing

For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.

FS1

FOX Sports coverage of the Caterpillar Springfield Mile I, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, September 13, at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT). The Caterpillar Springfield Mile II will air the following Sunday, September 20, at  11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT)

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

Tim Lester ama

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 5, 2026) – A destiny promised is now a destiny realized. Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) joined the exclusive ranks of multi-time Grand National Champions with a victorious performance in Saturday’s Caterpillar Springfield Mile I at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois. 

Racing in front of his home-state fans at the crown jewel of the Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, Daniels once again did exactly what he needed to do when it mattered the most.

Main Event 1

The Mission AFT SuperTwins competitors lined up for the season’s third and final Mission Triple Challenge contending with not just one another but near-triple-digit temperatures to boot. That extreme heat carried over into the competition, which was scorching hot from the opening lap.

An initial ten-lap sprint properly set the tone for the day with an eight-rider lead pack scrapping for top honors as the contest settled in. Two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR/Rocket Doctor Harley-Davidson XG750R) grabbed the holeshot but was immediately overhauled by last year’s hero of Springfield, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet). 

Daniels took his turn at the front soon after but saw Lowe and Fisher simultaneously rip past on either flank with seven laps to go. Those three would then proceed to slowly stretch out an advantage over the remainder of the field.

Fisher kicked in up another gear late, shaking free over the final two laps to claim an unchallenged victory in the first of three Mission Triple Challenge Main Events.

Daniels edged Lowe for second by just 0.059 seconds, while KICKER AFT SuperTwins champion Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) did his part to help out his teammate, drafting past Bauman and Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) on the final lap to steal away fourth.

Main Event 2

An even better race played out in the 15-lap Main Event 2 – and one that ultimately proved to have massive championship implications.

From the early going, this one was a six-rider affair. Fisher immediately dropped to the back of the group following a poor start from pole that sent him spinning up the track, while Daniels powered under Lowe to secure the lead.

Daniels proceeded to control the race from the front but never had room to breathe with Lowe, Drane, Kopp, Bauman, and Fisher running in tight formation on his rear wheel.

With four laps remaining, title hopeful Bauman raised his hand, indicating a problem. Moments later, he pulled out of the race, further opening the door for Daniels’ quest for a second-consecutive crown.

He raced through that opening to close out Main Event 2, holding Lowe at bay by 0.111 seconds to claim the win.

Kopp edged former 450cc rival Drane for third while Main Event 1 winner Fisher came home fifth, finishing just 0.564 seconds off the win despite struggling to keep his bike tidy and low in the rematch.

Behind, Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) ran a lonely race to sixth, with Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07), Chad Cose (No. 49 PRO Roofing/Parker Racing Yamaha MT-07), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), and Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke) rounding out the top ten.

Main Event 3

While his shattered championship aspirations couldn’t be resurrected, Bauman did get a significant measure of revenge in Main Event 3.

Starting from the back of the field, Bauman clawed his way into contention, slotting into sixth after the opening lap.

Working a slightly higher line, the RWR Harley-Davidson ace continued to pick his way forward, taking his position at the front of a seven-rider pack shortly after the race hit its half-way point.

Meanwhile, Daniels had bigger concerns, finding himself in a dogfight with Fisher, Lowe, and Drane as he calculated what he needed to do to secure the day’s overall win and the 2026 Grand National Championship along with it.

While Fisher repeated his Main Event 2 fade, Lowe and Drane didn’t go anywhere. Bauman managed to break the draft with Daniels, Lowe, and Drane racing side-by-side for second over the contest’s final three laps.

Once in position, Daniels again proved a difficult quarry. And he indeed came home in second, finishing some 0.289 seconds behind Bauman and 0.059 seconds ahead of Lowe.

That (2-1-2) was all Daniels needed to do to lock down the Caterpillar Springfield Mile I overall win and another #1 plate. 

The victory was Daniels’ fourth in a row and moved him equal with Bauman at six on the season. Afterward, he said, “It was a tough year. It was really long, and it was hard. The guys I’m racing against are so good. Each year you expect to take a step (forward), but your competition does too. I didn’t know if it was going to happen today.

“I could talk about the day, or I could talk about the season, but really, I want to thank my whole team. The Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team – Tommy Hayden and Tim Estenson – gave me the opportunity of a lifetime to come out here and do what I love and make a living doing it. I also want to thank all of my supporters… This year came together late, but winning four in a row and the Springfield Mile, it’s awesome. 

“This is an emotional time for me. I dreamed of this for a long time. It’s cool.”

Lowe finished the day second overall (3-2-3) to claim his first podium of the season. Meanwhile, Bauman’s victory more than made up for his second race 15th, springing him all the way up to third (5-15-1) on the combined order. Fisher finished fourth (1-5-6) with Drane rounding out the top five (4-4-4).

With one race to go, Daniels now holds an unassailable 27-point lead over Bauman (295-268). Kopp is third at 261 and still well within striking distance of second heading into Sunday’s finale.

KICKER AFT Singles

Two-time KICKER AFT Singles champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) continued his unprecedented revision of the record books with yet another Springfield Mile performance to remember.

Saturday’s Main Event was predictably frenetic with a huge pack of motivated riders holding the throttle wide open around the fabled Mile. A red flag brought the action to a momentary halt after promising rookie Charlie Jaques (No. 110 J&M Logging/Miller Racing Honda CRF450R) crashed from fourth after briefly running in the lead.

When the race resumed, it took shape as a five-rider breakaway. Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) did manage to open up a gap of more than a half-second as the race took the halfway flags but was quickly hunted down by the chasing Drane, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 JMC Motorsports/Fairway GMC KTM 450 SX-F), and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Mark Tepper Racing/Pags Powersports KTM 450 SX-F).

All but Eisenhard held the lead at one point or another as the contenders rehearsed last-lap strategies with the laps ticking away. Eisenhard finally fell off the lead pack with less than a minute to go, as the jockeying continued at the front.

As the last lap opened, Tadman sailed ahead of Drane entering Turn 1 to reclaim the lead but was helpless as Drane rushed back by on the entrance to Turn 3.

Drane tucked in low coming off of Turn 4, hoping to beat his pursuers to the checkered flag. The gambit worked, as he blasted past the checkered flag mere fractions of a second ahead of second-placed Saathoff (.037 seconds back) and third-placed Brunner (0.067 seconds back).

The victory was the Estenson Racing star’s ninth of 2026, establishing a new single-season wins record for the category. It also upped the Australian’s Mile win streak to seven and his Springfield-specific streak to six.

Tadman, despite leading on the final lap and finishing just 0.085 seconds back of the win, didn't even earn himself a trip to the podium in fourth.

Eisenhard managed to come home with a top five but only just, as Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer's Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F) closed in to finish 0.035 seconds behind him in sixth.

Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) battled from the back to an eventual seventh, while Jordan Beaulac (No. 156 Picotte Motosport/Dofralex GASGAS MC 450F), Jett Katarzy (No. 117 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), and Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F) completed the top ten.

Next Up

The 2026 Progressive AFT season will conclude tomorrow with the second half of this weekend’s double finale, the Caterpillar Springfield Mile II.

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/day-2-springfield-2026-165643 to secure your seats now.

How to Watch

FloRacing

FS1

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

Kristen Lassen

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 4, 2026) – An epic, triple-star Grand National Championship battle will be decided during this weekend’s Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6.

And there’s no more fitting place for this monumental occurrence to be staged than the crown jewel of the Progressive American Flat Track calendar, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, where America’s Original Extreme Sport® will compete before a massive crowd at a venue that consistently delivers unforgettable action.

Go for Broke or Play the Odds?

With three successive wins in his favor, reigning Mission AFT SuperTwins king Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) has established himself the odds-on-favorite after spending the majority of his title defense in chase mode.

Now up 20 points with just the double finale to go, there are all sorts of ways Daniels can accumulate the points necessary to become just the 13th rider in the nearly three-quarter-century history of the series to take the title in back-to-back seasons.

Among all of those options, there’s one that’s the most direct. A victory on Saturday would put Daniels up by at least 24 points with just 23 points left in play. That would guarantee him the crown, regardless of what anyone else managed to accomplish on the weekend. 

And to do that, all he needs to do is repeat last year’s performance in the Mission Triple Challenge.

That’s no doubt that’s how he and Estenson Racing Yamaha would prefer to get it done. Still, a more conservative path must be tempting as well. Even in the worst case for Daniels – one in which second-ranked Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR/Rocket Doctor Harley-Davidson XG750R) sweeps the weekend – Daniels would need to garner a combined 27 points across both days. That’s the equivalent of a fourth and a fifth. 

If you’re a Dallas Daniels fan, you can take comfort in his track record. During the entirety of his five-year premier-class career, Daniels has finished lower than fifth just twice – both coming in his rookie campaign. 

Since then, in 61 starts, he’s finished off the podium just five times, those being two fourths and three fifths.

Now if you’re pulling for Bauman (or Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R), who requires just a bit more help), you’ll need to take solace in Springfield’s history of magnifying misfortune and punishing even the slightest miscalculation.

In the most recent 34 Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Events at the circuit, nearly half (14) saw five or more riders cross the finish line within a second of victory. And on more than one occasion, ten riders hit the stripe within that same small margin.

Even the best can get caught out in the Springfield shuffle. And you don’t need to look back far for evidence of that.

In the opening leg of last year’s Mission Triple Challenge, Bauman finished 0.836 seconds off the win but was only rewarded with a seventh-place finish.

Even more relevantly, in the second leg, Daniels himself finished just 0.629 seconds off the win yet still only mustered seventh.

Make no mistake, Daniels comes in with a commanding advantage. But if any track is going to bite you, this is the one.

The Hunt for 700

Counterintuitively, Daniels’ standing as the heavy favorite might actually increase Harley-Davidson’s shot at making history.

Hours were poured over historic results, various databases, and numerous archives to confirm the records. In doing so, one win was found to be misattributed in the official record.

That win bumped H-D’s all-time Grand National Championship Main Event victory mark to 699.

You can be sure Bauman and Kopp will do everything in their collective power to hit 700 this weekend. 

There’s motivation for both beyond their respective outside shots at stealing away the title.

Bauman comes in with six wins to Daniels’ five. He’ll no doubt be seeking to repeat his status as the season’s winningest rider.

Kopp, meanwhile, could claim a share of the all-time rookie wins record at five with a Springfield double. That would also cement his claim on the single greatest rookie campaign in GNC history.

Lowe Man Wins

With football season rapidly approaching, your television sets are bound to be replete with the cliché, “low man wins.”

While not a common phrase in the racing world, a similar one was in vogue here a year ago.

At last year’s Springfield Mile, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) and Turner Racing’s American Honda-backed Big Red SuperTwins effort spread their wings and flew to victory.

In doing so, Lowe guided Honda to its first twin-cylinder victory in over a quarter century and its first as an official effort at Springfield since Bubba Shobert pulled it off all the way back in 1987.

That performance created huge expectations for 2026 – expectations that have proved difficult to meet. Lowe has enjoyed a nice season – he’s solidly ranked fifth – however, the wins and podiums have not poured in as hoped.

That said, another Springfield stunner would certainly make the season that did unfold go down a whole lot smoother.

Next Best

Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) is flat-out rolling right now.

While a double dip in Rounds 4 and 6 pretty much knocked him out of title contention even before midseason, Fisher has been performing at a championship-caliber level ever since.

He comes into Springfield boasting five podiums in his last seven races, including a second-place finish at the DuQuoin Mile where he finished just 0.012 seconds behind race winner Kopp. 

And as with Lowe, a win in the finale would do a great deal to shift the narrative on what’s already been rounding into an all-around excellent campaign.

Anyone’s Race

The track’s aforementioned tendency toward massive swarms of contenders drafting back and forth to the flag gives rise to the possibility of another upset win.

Next-generation Fast Boy From Illinois Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) finished fourth here last year after coming home third in DuQuoin.

And he and Daniels won’t have a monopoly on fleet Yamahas, with Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) and Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07) also showing plenty of speed at the Miles.

Meanwhile, Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 Bubba Boswell/Smokey Mountain Harley-Davidson XG750R), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), and Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke) will look to put a convincing conclusion on a year that saw RoosEvans and Gauthier on the box and Lowe in the top five.

Let’s Get Wild

As if there wasn’t enough intrigue already, reigning KICKER AFT Singles champion Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) will be pulling double duty this weekend. In addition to his quest to claim a new single-season record for Singles wins, the Australian will be showcasing his premier-class potential. 

And if you’ll recall, during last year’s wild card entry, Drane immediately proved himself capable of running with the best of the best. A year stronger, wiser, and even more prepared, there’s no doubt Drane could pose a genuine threat to the established order this weekend.

He’ll be joined in both classes by fellow KICKER AFT Singles standout Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), who flashed serious speed in his premier-class debut earlier this season at Williams Grove.

Meanwhile, if all that wasn’t enough magic for you, the “Wizard” Jeffrey Carver (No. 123 Happy Trails Racing Kawasaki Ninja 650) will be back in action. 

While Carver makes relatively infrequent appearances on the grid these days, whenever he does line up, the Illinois native is a threat to win. If you don’t believe it, just ask Springfield Mile co-promoter and ten-time Grand National Champion Jared Mees, who finished second to Carver at Springfield back in 2018.

Get Your Kicks on Route 66

Fans can make their way to the Springfield Mile on Saturday by participating in a special Route 66 Centennial certified ride created and organized by Mees Promotions in partnership with Harley-Davidson.

The ride will depart from Conrad’s Harley-Davidson and travel to the Illinois State Fairgrounds via the historic Route 66. Participation is free with the purchase of a Springfield Mile event ticket. The first 75 to register will also receive an exclusive event t-shirt.

Fans interested in participating in the September 5 ride can register HERE.

The Race for Your Seats is Underway

Bring the whole family and enjoy big-screen viewing, vendor displays, and a wide variety of food and beverage options

You can still get Infield tickets for just $25 per day (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult), while Reserved Grandstand tickets start at $35 per day (all ages). A Pit Pass can be added to any ticket for an additional $40.

For $150 per day, fans also have the opportunity to receive a Hospitality VIP Experience which provides an upgraded Reserved Grandstand ticket of their choice, food and beverage in the VIP area, and all-day access to the pits.

And for $130 per day (all ages), H.O.G. members can enjoy the Harley-Davidson VIP Experience, which provides dedicated H.O.G. parking and an exclusive seating section, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line, photo ops included, a meet-and-greet with the Harley-Davidson riders, and exclusive swag.

Camping is also available through the Illinois State Fairgrounds campgrounds. For reservations or questions, please call 217-524-9894. 

To purchase Caterpillar Springfield Mile I tickets, click HERE.   

To purchase Caterpillar Springfield Mile II tickets, click HERE.  

And for additional savings, purchase your Saturday and Sunday tickets together. To purchase two-day Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II, click HERE. 

For more information or media inquiries, please contact Mees Promotions by phone 217-632-0277 or email: meespromotions@gmail.com. 

Gates will open for fans at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT) both days, with Opening Ceremonies set to begin at 2:40 p.m. ET (11:40 a.m. PT) on Saturday and 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT) on Sunday.

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

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

Tim Lester

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 1, 2026) – Even with the 2026 championship already decided, there’s still much in play as the KICKER AFT Singles class closes out the Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, with the Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, on Saturday, September 5, and Sunday, September 6.

One Last (All) Time

If this weekend proves to be his last in the class, Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) has already made a compelling case for the category’s G.O.A.T. 

That’s not to say the Australian can’t add even more firepower to that claim this weekend. Already holding the class record for most victories all-time (27), and most Mile victories all-time (9), the Australian can break a three-way tie with Kody Kopp and Dallas Daniels and claim sole possession of most single-season wins all-time. One more would do it, upping his ‘26 tally to nine. And a double win would put it borderline out of reach at ten.

What are the odds he pulls it off? History suggests they’re even better than you likely imagine.

Drane comes into Springfield having won the series’ last six Miles. His Springfield-specific mastery is equally notable, where he’s taken the last five straight (make that seven if you separate out his clean sweep of last year’s Mission Triple Challenge).

But that doesn’t mean it’s likely to come easily. Every single one of the aforementioned victories was measured by – at most – tenths and more often by hundredths and even thousandths of a second.

Incidentally, Drane will be juggling his run at the record books with a glimpse into the future with a Mission AFT SuperTwins wild card entry.

Parting Shots

Outside of equaling Kopp’s back-to-back-to-back titles, there seems to be little left for Drane to accomplish before graduating to the premier-class ranks. And considering the performance of his immediate predecessors – reigning Grand National Champion Daniels and runaway Rookie of the Year Kopp – Drane is a likely candidate to move up a weight class.

If that’s the case, this may be the last chance some old foes have at getting the better of Drane, at least on single-cylinder machinery.

First among rivals is Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who has been butting heads and trading paint with Drane pretty much from the start.

Lost in Drane’s superlative season is another standout year for Saathoff. With two races yet to go, he’s already logged ten podiums, including a win and six top twos.

But that hasn’t put him completely out of reach of a trio of riders who still have an outside shot of swiping second in the standings.

Third-ranked Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), fourth-ranked Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Texas Utility Studies/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R), and Trevor Brunner (No. 21 JMC Motorsports/Fairway GMC KTM 450 SX-F) still all hold a mathematical opportunity to overtake Saathoff. 

It’s unlikely to happen, especially in the case of Brunner, who would practically need to sweep out and have Saathoff sleep in to pull it off. 

But all three could certainly factor in the fight for the wins. Each one took checkered flags within striking distance of Drane here last year, with Brunner walking away with a pair of seconds – one by 0.017 seconds and the other by 0.028.

Year to Remember

Regardless of what happens this weekend, 2026 will go down as breakthrough seasons for both Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F) and Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer's Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F), who joined the prestigious list of KICKER AFT Singles Main Event winners this year.

But what better way to celebrate than via an exclamation point in Springfield?

Even though Pfanders’ maiden win came in the opener, he’s riding consistently stronger than ever before at this stage of the season, racking up five top-five finishes in his last six outings.

And while Kelleher’s first triumph came at a Super TT, you’d be wise to remember that he   initially burst onto the scene with a front-running ride at the ‘24 DuQuoin Mile.

Beyond Santero

While Santero continues to attempt to shed his place atop the list of riders most likely to get their first KICKER AFT Singles win, he’s not alone in growing impatient.

Among the remainder of the field, Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) have flashed the speed needed to win most frequently, and they’ve got two last opportunities to get it done before heading into the offseason.

Rookie of the Year

Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) has already locked up KICKER AFT Singles Rookie of the Year honors. He’s done so on the strength of eight top tens, including three finishes of sixth or better with a fourth-place ride to his name.

And despite coming close, yet he’s still seeking a rookie-season podium finish. Time is running short.

Get Your Kicks on Route 66

Fans interested in participating in the September 5 ride can register HERE.

The Race for Your Seats is Underway

Bring the whole family and enjoy big-screen viewing, vendor displays, and a wide variety of food and beverage options

Move fast and you can save $10 on all tickets purchased prior to Wednesday. Until then, you can still get Infield tickets for just $25 per day (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult), while Reserved Grandstand tickets start at $35 per day (all ages). A Pit Pass can be added to any ticket for an additional $40.

Camping is also available through the Illinois State Fairgrounds campgrounds. For reservations or questions, please call 217-524-9894. 

To purchase Caterpillar Springfield Mile I tickets, click HERE.   

To purchase Caterpillar Springfield Mile II tickets, click HERE.  

And for additional savings, purchase your Saturday and Sunday tickets together. To purchase two-day Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II, click HERE. 

For more information or media inquiries, please contact Mees Promotions by phone 217-632-0277 or email: meespromotions@gmail.com. 

Gates will open for fans at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT) both days, with Opening Ceremonies set to begin at 2:40 p.m. ET (11:40 a.m. PT) on Saturday and 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT) on Sunday.

How to Watch

FloRacing

FS1

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

Dallas Daniels Conquers Caterpillar Springfield Mile I, Repeats as Grand National Champion

Grand National Champion to be Crowned at Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II

Drane Sets His Sights on History at Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II