American Flat Track heads to the Illinois State Fairgrounds August 30-31 for the Springfield Mile I & II doubleheader.
This is a race preview provided by American Flat Track…
Daytona Beach, FL (August 26, 2025) – A thrilling Grand National Championship fight is well and truly racing down the backstretch as it arrives for the Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, on Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31.
The victory of Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) over Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) at the 78th World Famous Peoria TT was big in terms of their ongoing Mission AFT SuperTwins title conflict.
This weekend’s Progressive American Flat Track doubleheader, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, at the series’ crown jewel event promises to have even bigger implications.
The Stage is Set
As a result of Bauman’s win in Peoria, he now leads Daniels by 11 points (266-255). With just three races remaining, that puts the Estenson Racing Yamaha ace in a position where he needs to win out to be assured of the crown.
Considering the form of Daniels and his machine at the season’s only other Mile (DuQuoin) – further amplified by the desperation of his current situation—he’s likely viewed as the favorite this weekend.
However, even if he doubles in Springfield, he could still potentially face a scenario in which he’d need to win over Bauman at the Lake Ozark Short Track finale. And there he’s destined to be swapped into the role of underdog considering that Bauman has beaten Daniels head-to-head in each of the five most recent Short Tracks.
Still, even if Bauman is completely confident in his ability to overcome Daniels in Missouri, he can’t feel overly comfortable coming into Springfield due to some complicating factors.
More on those in a bit.
King Maker
The Springfield Mile has always loomed large in determining the Grand National Championship. That’s only been made truer since being slotted in as a late-season doubleheader.
Last season, Jared Mees came into Springfield with just a six-point championship advantage. A pair of wins later, he left up 22 with just Lake Ozark remaining to secure his unprecedented tenth premier-class crown.
In 2023, Mees led Daniels by just a single point prior to the Springfield Mile double finale. His 1-2—contrasted by his young challenger’s 5-4—stretched the final separation open to 16.
In 2021 (the event was rained out in ’22), Mees used a Springfield sweep to springboard his comeback title campaign. Down 25 points at the time, Mees won both races in Springfield and then in Sacramento to turn the tables on Bauman.
In 2019 and 2020, Bauman proved it possible to weather a Springfield championship drubbing, although under considerably different circumstances than what he now faces. 2019 saw Bauman go into Springfield with a massive 38-point advantage. Mees’ 1-1 vs. his 3-2 slashed the difference down to a still hefty 25.
And in ’20, Bauman came in up three points and left down 13, as a result of his 7-3 vs Mees’ 2-1. However, the Springfield Mile doubleheader came early that season due to the pandemic scheduling shakeup, and Bauman managed to respond with four consecutive wins to get his championship campaign back on track.
Complicating Factors
As previously alluded, Springfield is a special case. While Bauman has finished first or second in 11 of 13 races this season (with one of the two misses being a third in which he had to race up through the field after being placed at the back of the pack), this weekend poses a steeper climb toward that end goal.
Bauman finished fifth at the ‘25 DuQuoin Mile and looked rather overmatched in doing so. Even though DuQuoin and Springfield have their own particular characteristics, that recent data point has to be a bit alarming for the Rick Ware Racing outfit.
And at Springfield, if you’re off by even a fraction, it can cost you huge in the points payout.
Looking for some numbers to back up that assertion? How’s this?:
In the last 30 Springfield Miles:
23 have been decided by less than a second at the checkered flag.
18 of those 23 had at least three riders finish within a second of victory.
11 of those 18 featured at least five riders within a second of victory.
Home track hero Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (No. 123 Happy Trails Racing/Carver’s BBQ Kawasaki Ninja 650), won the Springfield Mile in 2018 over Mees by 0.819 seconds. The following year, he finished 0.653 seconds behind race winner Mees… and finished tenth!
And that wasn’t the only such race, as there were two among the 11 that saw 10 riders take the checkered flag within a second of the win.
A similar outcome for Bauman (or Daniels) would likely prove catastrophic to their championship chances.
The Cascade
That sort of variability is liable to have ramifications all throughout the championship tables.
At the moment, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) is relatively secure in third with 176 points compared to the twin 158-point efforts of 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).
However, he’s arguably somewhat less secure than he was two rounds back when he led them 158-141-128. That current 18-point advantage sounds even shakier when you factor in the possibility of a 15-point shift a la Carver in 2019.
There’s also a tight race for sixth waged by Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), 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).
Lowe leads them in that order, 137-131-128-127.
Behind those four, Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha MT-07) sits a distant tenth at 83 after joining the chase halfway in.
Daniels and Yamaha would love to see Ott and Bender make big moves this weekend, ideally replicating their DuQuoin 1-2-3. There, a Yamaha podium lockout was significant. Here, it could be of Grand National proportions.
Even assuming a win at Lake Ozark, Bauman needs to score at least 31 points in Springfield to fend off a 1-1-2 season’s finish by Daniels. Two thirds would do it. A third and a fourth would not.
It may not prove to be podium or bust for Bauman, but he should probably plan on viewing it as such.
The Magic is Back
And if all that doesn’t make for enough intrigue, this weekend will mark the racing return of the one, the only, and the aforementioned Jeffrey “The Wizard” Carver, Jr.
Carver’s entry at Springfield marks his first premier-class race since 2022. While he’ll be pressed to quickly brush off whatever rust has accumulated in the time since, he’s a spectacular natural talent and one of the more entertaining riders the sport has produced in recent times.
Carver’s bona fides are legit. He’s a four-time Mission AFT SuperTwins winner and 22-time podium finisher. Additionally, he won the AFT Singles crown in 2010.
And he’s continued to have an impact on the sport even from the fences; Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATVs and More Yamaha YZ450F) credits Carver with playing a significant role in the breakthrough season his fellow Illinois native has enjoyed in AFT Singles competition this season.
That said, it’ll be fun to see Carver back out on track and flexing those Springfield Mile muscles again.
Up for the (Triple) Challenge
And don’t forget, the Springfield Mile I marks the third and final time this season the Mission Triple Challenge format will be utilized.
The shorter distances involved are likely to only bunch things up even further, creating all the more opportunities for photo finishes and the unexpected.
Grand National Atmosphere
Bring the family and enjoy not only the greatest spectacle on two wheels, but also live music, big-screen viewing, vendor displays, dedicated motorcycle parking, and a variety of food and beverage options.
All ticketholders will have access to the AMCA Motorcycle Swap Meet taking place both days in the infield. In fact, there will be three bike shows in all—the Infield Bike Show as part of the AMCA Motorcycle Swap Meet, the Flat Track Racing Show at the entrance of the grandstands, and the Vintage Iron Rider’s Motorcycle Club display.
The AFT Singles presented by Kicker title fight is on the cusp of being decided on the most high-profile stage possible as Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, arrives at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois for the Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties, on Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31.
The evidence continues to mount in support of Tom Drane’s (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) claim as one of the greatest riders the category has ever seen.
The Australian now ranks third all-time in AFT Singles race wins, a tally he upped to 16 last time out in Peoria. That same victory also saw him become just the third ever rider to complete the AFT Singles Grand Slam.
Additionally, the triumph increased his active podium streak to nine – a number that equaled the all-time record… which also happened to be posted by Drane in a run that started last season and ended earlier this year.
The Estenson Racing star led the class in Main Event wins a year ago (seven) and has a shot at bettering that number this year. If he wins out this season, he’ll both tie Dallas Daniels and Kody Kopp for most wins in a single season (eight) and Shayna Texter-Bauman for second in career wins (19) in the process.
There’s really only one major goal he has yet to accomplish in the class – the AFT Singles national championship. And he is on the verge of doing that at this weekend’s Springfield Mile, a race he has won three times running.
The Magic Numbers
Only two riders – second-ranked Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) and third-ranked Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) – remain within even 100 points of Drane let alone still technically in contention for the throne.
Drane’s advantage currently stands at 42 points over Saathoff and 60 over Brunner.
Should he lead both by 50 points or more following Saturday’s Springfield Mile I, he will officially be the 2025 AFT Singles champion. That minimum margin drops to just 25 points following Sunday’s Springfield Mile II.
And since Saathoff is still on the mend and won’t be able to compete in either race this weekend, he is effectively eliminated from contention as well.
In other words, the chances of it happening not just in Springfield, but on Saturday, are extremely strong.
Drane only needs to pick up nine points for the remainder of the year to extinguish Brunner, even in the event the Turner Honda pilot goes 1-1-1 down the stretch. Nine points can be acquired any number of ways – including a 15-15-15 conclusion to the season – or via a single eighth-place outing.
Keep in mind that Drane finished top three in nine consecutive races, then fourth, and then top three again for nine more races in succession.
No matter what the math says, don’t look for Drane to go cruising around for 15ths or even an eighth. There are still wins and podium records that require breaking.
Still in Play
As mentioned above, Drane has won the three most recent Springfield Miles. However, those were all certified barnburners.
In the first of those three, nine riders finished within 0.637 seconds of the win. In the second, four riders were within 0.147 seconds of victory. And in the most recent, five riders took the checkered flag within 0.770 seconds of the win.
So, in any event, the racing this weekend figures to be fantastic.
And while the championship fight has nearly been put to bed, there’s still much to sort out down the order.
Behind Drane, Saathoff, and Brunner we have:
144 points: Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R)
131 points: Kage Tadman (No. 288 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450)
123 points: Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F)
123 points: Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATVs and More Yamaha YZ450F)
115 points: Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R)
As close as they are and with a strong likelihood of a massive lead pack, there’s going to be a lot of opportunity for movement in Springfield.
Neither Santero nor RoosEvans enjoyed particularly strong DuQuoin Miles, but both are rolling quite nicely now.
Tadman, meanwhile, still has a shot at fourth despite not taking part in the opening three rounds of the season. While he struggled even more mightily in DuQuoin than Santero or RoosEvans, the rookie has an opportunity to show what he learned given another shot at a Mile.
He’ll also do so on a 1st Impressions Husqvarna after signing with the team prior to the Peoria TT. Last season, 1st Impressions-built-and-tuned Husqvarnas finished on the podium at a Mile on three occasions, including twice in Springfield courtesy of Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450).
Speaking of Cose, despite not being included on that list of riders fighting for fourth above, he could easily prove the spoiler of all spoilers this weekend.
At the Springfield Mile, Bikes and Tickets Move Fast
And you had better move fast too because tickets are $10 off if purchased prior to Wednesday. Act now and Infield tickets are still just $20 (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult), while Reserved Grandstand tickets start at $35 (all ages).
For $150, fans also have the opportunity to receive a VIP Experience that provides an upgraded Reserved Grandstand ticket of their choice, food and beverage in the VIP area, and all day access to the pits.
Camping is also available through the Illinois State Fairgrounds campgrounds. For reservations or any questions, please call (217) 725-0120.
To purchase Springfield Mile I tickets, click HERE.
To purchase Springfield Mile II tickets, click HERE.
And to save an additional $5 by purchasing Saturday and Sunday tickets together for the 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 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT) on Saturday and 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
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)
Click here to see all the TV and Live-Stream Racing Listings on Cycle News.
For more information, visit www.americanflattrack.com
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