American Flat Track makes its return to Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, this Saturday, July 11.
This is a race preview provided by AFT…
Progressive AFT Powers Back to Historic Hotbed
Daytona Beach, FL (July 10, 2026) – The 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, picks right back up this weekend with the Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half-Mile at Williams Grove Speedway, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, July 11.
Hopping Back into the Hotbed
The round marks the series’ first race in Pennsylvania since the 2022 Port Royal Half-Mile, and its first at Williams Grove Speedway since 2020.
Any stop in the state carries outsized significance due to its historic status as one of the planet’s preeminent motorcycle dirt track talent hotbeds. The list of all-time superstars the state has produced is stunning, headlined by none other than ten-time Grand National Champion Jared Mees.
And Pennsylvania continues to crank out seriously fast riders to this day, with a hugely impressive list of active riders who hail from the state.
The following are just some of the native Pennsylvanians who have competed in Progressive AFT this season:
- 17-time Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Event winner Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R)
- 2019 Kicker AFT Singles champion Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650)
- 2023 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner Evan Renshaw (No. 95 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650)
- Progressive AFT podium finisher Cameron Smith (No. 34 Fredericktown Yamaha/Thee Kathy Gray Yamaha MT-07)
- Four-time World Championship ICE Racing Series champion Logan McGrane (No. 14 Schaffers MotorSports/Ryan Varnes Racing KTM 790 Duke).
And this list becomes all the more impressive if you include transplants as well…
Home Cookin’
Chief among the home-state heroes is two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR/Rocket Doctor Harley-Davidson XG750R).
It’s a tough beat for the opposition that Bauman was able to kickstart a five-race win streak with back-to-back victories in front of his home fans at Ventura Raceway and Silver Dollar Speedway, and he’ll now look to start another in front of his home fans at Williams Grove Speedway on the other side of the country.
While a native of Salinas, California, Bauman resides in Pennsylvania and has made the state his home for essentially half of his life at this point. And if you think Bauman’s four consecutive California wins is indicative of how fiercely he defends his home turf, get a load of his race record in Pennsylvania:
The Rick Ware Racing star enters this weekend boasting a six-race win streak in Pennsylvania, including two at Port Royal (‘21 and ‘22) and four straight at Williams Grove (’18, 19, and ’20×2).
In fact, the last time he failed to stand atop the podium inside the state’s borders was in 2017, when he finished third to a pair of factory Indians while aboard a private Kawasaki.
And Bauman could definitely use some home cookin’ about now. Earlier this season, he trailed Kopp by 22 points but surged to take the lead courtesy of the aforementioned five straight victories.
He now finds himself 20 points back of Kopp and aiming to win his way back out of a hole yet again. And with some friendly tracks ahead, he’s certainly capable of pulling it off.
The Title Leader and the Title Defender
You know the Pennsylvania of it all looms large when we get this far before mentioning Mission AFT SuperTwins points leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) or reigning Grand National Champion Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07).
Kopp’s latest achievement puts him in rarified air. He’s now tied with Jim Rice, Dave Aldana, and Steve Eklund for second all-time in terms of rookie GNC Main Event wins at three.
If he continues along this trajectory, Kopp will have a strong claim for the most impressive rookie season the sport has ever witnessed. And the fact that he’s doing so while pit up against a pair of peak-level Grand National Champions in Bauman and Daniels makes it all the more impressive.
Kopp’s title chances received a huge boost with his win in DuQuoin, which not only padded his advantage but demonstrated just how much progress the XG750R has made in terms of its Mile prowess. That’s a pivotal development considering the season will be decided with a doubleheader in Springfield.
Meanwhile, Daniels continues to hang in there, still only eight points back despite the lingering feeling he’s yet to completely hit his stride in ’26.
Whatever the situation, you can always trust that he’ll fight and claw his way for every point possible in a Mees-ian fashion. And like Bauman, some of his favorite tracks are just ahead. Daniels could yet be unleashed before this year is out.
Catching Fire
Even following weeks in which Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) finished outside the top five, or even top 10, we repeatedly warned that he could catch fire and mix it up with the title contenders at any moment.
That moment has arrived with Fisher logging three consecutive podiums, including a runner-up just 0.012 of a second removed from victory a few days back.
A fully competitive Fisher not only makes things that much more interesting, it creates the possibility for bigger point swings from week to week. While he’s nearly 70 points out of the title fight himself, he still has a role to play in determining who gets crowned this year’s Grand National Champion.
There are several others in the field who could make a similar impact in any given race.
Already this year, Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) and Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07) have finished on the box.
Meanwhile, Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet), Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke), Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07), and Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) are just four more of the 14 riders who have finished fifth or better at least once this season.
And here’s one who hasn’t that you should still keep an eye out for this weekend: Kicker AFT Singles ace Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction/Mission Foods Harley-Davidson XG750R) is set to make his Mission AFT SuperTwins debut in wild-card duty this weekend.
Drane Makes His Case as Kicker AFT Singles Arrive at Williams Grove
Daytona Beach, FL (July 9, 2026) – History is being rewritten on a per race basis as the Kicker AFT Singles championship arrives for the Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half Mile.
Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) will be in the spotlight once again as Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, makes its long-awaited return to Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, this Saturday, July 11.
The Battle for the ’Books
With each successive triumph, Drane not only separates himself from the 2026 field of title hopefuls, he puts himself more and more in direct conflict with the class’s all-time greats.
With six races remaining on the season slate, Drane already has a strong claim as the most decorated rider in Kicker AFT Singles history. In fact, only luminaries Kody Kopp and Dallas Daniels can muster any sort of argument to the contrary.
Here’s how the three stack up in the key categories:
Championships
Kopp: 3*
Daniels: 2
Drane: 1 (with a 41-point lead on the path toward #2)
Main Event Victories
Drane: 25*
Kopp: 23
Daniels: 13
Mile Wins
Drane: 9*
Kopp: 1
Daniels: 0
Half Mile Wins
Kopp: 11**
Drane: 7
Daniels: 5
Short Track Wins
Kopp: 10*
Drane: 7
Daniels: 6
TT Wins
Daniels: 3
Kopp: 1
Drane: 1
(Kopp and Drane are two of the six riders to complete the Kicker AFT Singles Grand Slam)
Notable Win Streaks
Daniels: 6*
Drane: 5
Kopp: 4
Active Win Streaks
Drane: 4 (active streak)
Notable Podium Streaks
Drane: 14*
Drane: 9
Kopp: 8
Daniels: 7
Kopp: 6
Single Season Wins
Daniels: 8**
Kopp: 8**
Drane: 8**
Kopp: 7
Drane: 7
Kopp: 6
Drane: 6 (active)
Daniels: 4
Drane: 4
*Denotes most ever in class history
**Denotes tied for the most ever in class history
While the numbers generally slant in the direction of Kopp and Drane, Daniels’ candidacy is buoyed in part by the fact that he participated in just 40 Kicker AFT Singles races compared with 69 for Kopp and 61 (and counting) for Drane.
Still, Drane is looking pretty good in this comparo, and he’s got time left to run up the score.
Of course, the real battle won’t transpire until he graduates to the Grand National Championship, where Kopp and Daniels are currently ranked first and second in this year’s title fight.
While the two have set the bar sky high, to date Drane has succeeded with flying colors. And his teaser of a Mission AFT SuperTwins performance last year in Springfield suggests that he’s equally capable of making a seamless transition to the premier class.
Gloves Off for Saathoff
Throughout Drane’s Kicker AFT Singles career, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) has served as his primary rival and foil.
Saathoff’s stats have suffered as a result of the large shadow cast by Drane’s historic greatness. If not for Drane, Saathoff would likely be the one making a run at the record books.
In fact, already this season, Saathoff has finished second to Drane on four occasions—the latest by 0.088 of a second—as he continues to hunt his first win of ‘26.
In an attempt to turn the tide, Saathoff has ridden for three different teams on two different makes of equipment and done so under the tutelage of some of the most accomplished and experienced figures in the paddock, including 10-time Grand National Champion Jares Mees.
While he’s yet to fully crack the code, this experience should bode him well in his own premier-class future, as he continues to learn to adapt and interpret the advice of a number of sources.
And even if masked by Drane (again), Saathoff has things rolling pretty well at the moment. He comes into Williams Grove riding an active six-race podium streak, which ties him for the ninth longest in class history.
Who Will Step Up?
In recent weeks, Bodie Paige (No. 165 RWR/American Honda/BWR Ranch Honda CRF450R) burst onto the scene in sensational fashion, notching up podium finishes in each of his three Progressive American Flat Track rides.
While he looks to have the makings of a bonafide star, the young Australian won’t be racing the weekend. That creates a bit of space for others to emerge from the pack.
Teammates Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) have impressed mightily on multiple occasions this season, although they’ll be looking to recapture that fire after coming up short of the podium the last couple times out.
The ever-present Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Texas Utility Studies/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) continues to seek his first career victory, while Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Honda CRF450R) is in need of a big weekend after enduring something of a rough patch of late.
All four are big league talents with plenty of motivation. They’re arguably the most likely to step forward and make a run for the checkers this weekend, but here are two more to consider…
Home Stand
Pennsylvanians Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F) and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Eisenhard Racing/Pags Powersports KTM 450 SX-F) will look to use this weekend’s home race as an opportunity to make a big impression.
Both riders came out swinging in ’26. Eisenhard was one of the heroes of the Daytona opener, where he threw down the fastest lap in qualifying, won his heat, and scored a top-five result in the Main.
Pfanders took his turn in the spotlight the following day, breaking through to claim his maiden Progressive AFT victory.
While both have struggled to match that season-opening form, Pfanders in particular has come on as of late, stringing together a pair of top fives his last two times out.
Eisenhard looked capable of pushing for the top five as well, qualifying on the front row of his heat race, but bike issues prevented him from taking part this past Sunday. He’ll now attempt to translate that speed into a maiden podium with his home fans cheering him on this weekend.
Buid.Train.Race…Celebrate
The Williams Grove Half Mile represents the 2026 Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. (BTR) season finale as the program completes its seventh season of highlighting, celebrating, and encouraging the involvement of women in flat track racing.
Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) holds the advantage with three wins and a runner-up in the four races to date.
Meanwhile, Julia Heess (No. 13 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) has given Gottsch all she could handle on more than one occasion this season, racking up three seconds and a third in the process.
However, the series’ most recent winner is none other than Madicela Rodriguez (No. 113 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars), who secured the win at the series’ penultimate round in Nashville.
Flat Trackin’ Fun for the Whole Family
Fans of all ages will be entertained for the entire day at the Williams Grove Half Mile. Beyond the spectacular racing, the event will feature big-screen viewing, numerous vendor displays, a Kid Zone, and a wide variety of food and beverage options.
General Admission tickets are just $40, while Reserved Grandstand Seating and Premium Reserved Grandstand Seating are available for $50 and $60, respectively. Kids 12 and under receive $15 off all ticket options. Additionally, students can get their ticket for just $30 at the door with a valid ID.
The Pit Pass add-on provides fans a chance to get an up-close look at the racebikes and meet the riders and their teams.
The H-D VIP Experience includes GA seating with full pit access, dedicated VIP H-D motorcycle parking, 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. The H-D VIP Experience is available for $135, along with the option to be purchased as a $95 add-on to upgraded seating options.
Fans who choose to camp can reserve a spot for $50.
To purchase tickets for the Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half Mile, visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-williams-grove-half-mile-185952.
For more information about Appalachian Harley-Davidson, visit https://appalachianharley-davidson.com.
Gates will open for fans at 3 p.m. ET/noon PT on Saturday with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m. ET/4:05 p.m. PT.
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 Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half Mile, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, July 25, at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
Click here to see all the TV and Livestream Racing Listings on Cycle News.
