A Grand National Champion will be crowned at the Springfield Mile I & II at the Illinois State Fairgrounds on September 5 and September 6.
This is a press release from AFT…
Daytona Beach, FL (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.
Drane Sets His Sights on History at Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II
(September 1, 2026) — Daytona Beach, FL (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 of a second 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 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.
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
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.
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