Progressive American Flat Track (AFT) Bridgeport Half-Mile

Bridgeport Speedway

Swedesboro, New Jersey

July 22, 2023

Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Challenge Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Tom Drane (Yam), 4 laps

2. Trevor Brunner (Yam), -0.585 seconds

3. Chase Saathoff (Hon), -0.880

4. Jared Lowe (Hon), -1.352 seconds

 

 

Provisional Mission SuperTwins Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Davis Fisher (Ind), 4 laps

2. Jared Mees (Ind), -0.055 second

3. JD Beach (Yam), -0.283

4. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -0.314

 

 

Provisional Hooligans Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Shawn Baer (BMW), 8 laps

2. Raun Wood (Har), -3.576 seconds

3. George Price (Har), -5.063

4. Shane Livingston (Har), -6.044

5. Ben Ludlow (Tri), -11.030

6. Andrew Morano (Har), -15.110

7. Robert Reese (Yam), -15.718

8. Eric Yurejefcic (Har), -17.771

9. Bryan Ames (Har), -1 lap

10. Frank DiSantis (Har), -1 lap, 9.237 seconds

11. Kevin Maloney (Har), -5 laps, DNF

12. Beau Woodrick (Har), -8 laps, DNF

 

 

Provisional Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Morgan Monroe (Roy), 8 laps

2. Zaria Martens (Roy), -3.636 seconds

3. Kenzie Luker (Roy), -5.402

4. Shasta L’Heureux (Roy), -5.468

5. Makenna Hiatt (Roy), -7.344

6. Erin Ferris (Roy), -14.287

7. Anna Serena (Roy), -15.992

8. Morgan Piller (Roy), -16.984

9. Moriah Hummer (Roy), -1 lap

10. Mia Reese (Roy), -1 lap, 13.760 seconds

11. Justine Marsh (Roy), -8 laps, DNF

 

 

Provisional Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Tom Drane (Yam), 26 laps

2. Trevor Brunner (Yam), -0.827 second

3. Max Whale (KTM), -1.930 seconds

4. Chase Saathoff (Hon), -2.005

5. Trent Lowe (Hon), -3.156

6. Kody Kopp (KTM), -5.214

7. Morgen Mischler (Hon), -5.254

8. Chad Cose (Hus), -6.230

9. Jared Lowe (Hon), -6.667

10. Shayna Texter-Bauman (KTM), -7.367

11. Travis Petton (KTM), -8.399

12. Dalton Gauthier (KTM), -8.950

13. Cole Zabala (Hon), -9.515

14. Tarren Santero (Hon), -9.700

15. Aidan RoosEvans (Hon), -12.202

16. James Ott (Hus), -12.326

17. Justin Jones (KTM), -13.650

18. Damon Ream (KTM), -15.721

19. Aidan Brown (Hon), -1 lap

 

 

Provisional Mission SuperTwins Main Event Results (all on Dunlop tires):

1. Dallas Daniels (Yam), 32 laps

2. Jared Mees (Ind), -0.095 second

3. JD Beach (Yam), -0.423

4. Davis Fisher (Ind), -0.812

5. Brandon Robinson (Ind), -2.224 seconds

6. Briar Bauman (KTM), -3.282

7. Jarod Vanderkooi (Ind), -6.885

8. Henry Wiles (Ind), -9.659

9. Ben Lowe (Ind), -10.517

10. Cameron Smith (Yam), -10.799

11. Bronson Bauman (KTM), -14.594

12. Johnny Lewis (Roy), -14.624

13. Brandon Price (Yam), -15.518

14. Kolby Carlile (Yam), -16.496

15. Dan Bromley (Yam), -1 lap

16. Jordan Harris (KTM), -1 lap, 19.403 seconds

17. Billy Ross (Kaw), -8 laps, DNF

18. Cody Johncox (Yam), -14 laps, DNF

19. Ryan Wells (Roy), -25 laps, DNF

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by AFT:

Daniels Strikes Back at Bridgeport Half-Mile

 

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 22, 2023) – Rising star Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) claimed a cathartic victory in the Drag Specialties Bridgeport Half-Mile as Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, made an unforgettable debut at Bridgeport Speedway in Swedesboro, New Jersey.

Daniels’ triumph came by a scant 0.095 seconds over his Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle title rival, Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750), with JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) all in contention for a win.

The victory couldn’t have been better timed for the Estenson Racing ace, as he simultaneously halted Mees’ momentum and reclaimed the title lead, if only by two points (280-278). The outcome was arguably even more important for his psyche after he’d wound up second in a series of prior head-to-head matchups with the legendary rider.

Mees, who controlled the middle portion of the race after getting past early leader Beach, was unable to drop the pack the way he did last time out. That’s in part due to the fact that Beach, Daniels, and Fisher – all desperate to prevent that escape from transpiring – continued to attempt to slide underneath Mees. Those attempts would occasionally see a rider other than Mees sneak into first momentarily but never in a way that the lead change stuck.

That is until Daniels worked out a high line that allowed him to roll through the corners and power down the straights. That line eventually allowed him to storm past Mees and immediately open a small advantage.

But the cagey Mees adapted and closed back in for one last strike. That came in the race’s final corner, where the champ attempted a slide up on the leader’s flank, but Daniels kept it pinned and held Mees at bay by just fractions of a second at the line.

The win was Daniels’ first-ever Half-Mile triumph in the premier class, moving him to within a TT win of the Grand Slam. It also saw him up his season-long podium streak to 13 in the process.

“It’s been one heckuva year,” a jubilant Daniels said. “These Half-Miles are kind of the kryptonite for the Yamaha and for me on a twin. I remember on the 450, I won like six Half-Miles in a row in 2020, but when I got on a twin, it was kind of difficult.

“Jared has just been kicking our butt. He won every Mile and almost all the Half-Miles. This is his forte right here. I had to reach back and grab that one. I was so nervous. That top – you’ve really got to roll it. It’s all about momentum. For a couple laps, I was just trying to get in the lead so I could do it. I knew once I cleared their front, I could roll. It just feels so good. It’s so awesome.”

Beach, Fisher, and Robinson finished third through fifth, respectively, with Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) leading the second half of the top-ten in sixth.

Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750) came home in seventh, followed by Henry Wiles (No. 17 BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Mission Foods Indian FTR750), and Cameron Smith (No. 34 Martin Trucking/Fredericktown Yamaha MT-07).

Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER

Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) continued the torrid start to his Progressive AFT career, scoring a third Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER victory in just 14 attempts.

After dominating his heat and Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Challenge, the young Aussie came into the Main Event as the strong favorite to end the evening atop the box. And while that ultimately proved true, he had to earn it.

Drane found himself mired in fifth following a less than ideal opening lap. He then had to work to erase the gap and systematically fight his way through Jared Lowe (No. 63 Mission Foods/Helmet House Honda CRF450R), Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450), and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) before finally shifting his sights to the race-long leader.

That happened to be his teammate, Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), who had pulled more than a second on the field in his bid to secure a first win of the season.

Drane pushed Brunner’s hope back at least another weekend. He reeled in his Estenson Racing stablemate and then threw a series of slide jobs at him before finally overhauling him in a pass that saw the two make contact mid-corner.

Once out front, the Drane freight train continued full steam ahead and he took the checkered flag with nearly a second in hand.

Drane said, “I was just working the whole race, trying to catch up. And then right towards the end I got close enough to make the move – I didn’t mean to run into him, but that’s just racing. I can’t thank the whole team for all the work they put in throughout the day. Their work makes this all possible. I’m going to keep it going, keep the confidence up, and go into the next race just like this one.”

Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) made it two Aussies in the top three, finishing off his charge up from seventh with a last-corner overtake of Saathoff to steal away the final spot on the podium.

Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) executed an impressive climb of his own, battling his way from the LCQ and an early 13th-place position to round out the top five.

Lowe’s run up through the field came at the expense of reigning class champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), who was a tick off his usual form most of the night.

The Red Bull KTM star finished sixth after winning the previous three races. But despite the minor dip in form, Kopp still boasts a commanding championship lead, which now stands at 45 points (255-210) over Saathoff. Brunner is a close third with 208 points, while the surging Drane has closed to within striking distance of second as well at 207.

Next Up:

The stars of Progressive American Flat Track will now tackle one of the most renowned races in two-wheel motorsport with this year’s edition of the famed SC2 Peoria TT at the Peoria Motorcycle Club in Peoria, Illinois, on Sunday, July 30. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/peoriamotorcycleclub/events/peoria-tt-60731 to reserve your seats today.

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FansChoice.tv 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://www.fanschoice.tv.

FOX Sports coverage of the Drag Specialties Bridgeport Half-Mile, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, July 30, at 1:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. PT).

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

About Progressive American Flat Track

Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram and catch all the Progressive American Flat Track racing action on FOX Sports.

 

 

 

More, from a press release issued by KTM Factory Racing:

AFT SINGLES PODIUM FINISH FOR RED BULL KTM AND MAX WHALE AT BRIDGEPORT HALF-MILE

Round 13 – American Flat Track Championship

BRIDGEPORT, N.J. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Max Whale returned to the podium in the AFT Singles Class in Round 13 of the 2023 American Flat Track Championship at the Bridgeport Half-Mile, claiming a third-place result, as teammate Kody Kopp finished the Main Event with sixth position.

Whale was up to speed as soon as his 450 SX-F’s wheels hit the track in New Jersey, with the Australian topping both qualifying sessions to secure P1 heading into the race program.

A third-place score in the first Heat of the night earned him a direct transfer into the Main Event, where he would battle all race long to secure a hard-fought P3 and, as a result, climbed to sixth-place in the 2023 standings with five rounds remaining.

 

 

Max Whale: “The Bridgeport Half-Mile started off unreal for me. I was fastest through the practice and qualifying sessions – everything felt really good straight away. I sat on pole in the Heat Race and rode well in that early on, before I just began to over-ride the track a little bit, and ended with P3. I was disappointed to miss out on a front row start for the main, which is huge in our sport, but lined up on the second row and ended up in ninth by the opening lap. Charged hard and made the move into third on the last lap, and I actually think I caught the leaders too. A little sweet and sour, based off the potential, although I’ll take a P3 and a podium finish tonight.”

Defending AFT Singles Champion Kopp experienced a more difficult day at the races, with a fall in the second practice session hampering his comfort for the remainder of the event. In a gritty performance, however, Kopp qualified eighth, before making it into the Main Event via a fourth-place result in his Heat Race.

The Main Event would see Kopp post a measured ride, crossing the finish line in sixth position for the Bridgeport event, and keeping his championship lead of 45 points over the chasing pack.

 

 

Kody Kopp: “Tough night tonight for me in New Jersey. Hit the ground in practice, which really set the tone for the night – I had to dig myself out of a pretty deep hole with my comfort levels, getting back on the track again. I’ll chalk it up to a learning experience, we have those, although with the sixth-place finish we’re still up 45 points in the championship, so we’ll keep our head down from here. We’re ready to finish strong!”

Next Race: Peoria TT – Peoria, IL – July 30, 2023

Round 13 Results

AFT Singles Main Event

1. Tom Drane, Yamaha

2. Trevor Brunner, Yamaha

3. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

OTHER KTM

6. Kody Kopp, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

10. Shayna Texter-Bauman, KTM

11. Travis Petton IV, KTM

12. Dalton Gauthier, KTM

17. Justin Jones, KTM

18. Damon Ream, KTM

 

2023 AFT Singles Point Standings

1. Kody Kopp, 255 points

2. Chase Saathoff, 210

3. Trevor Brunner, 208

OTHER KTM

6. Max Whale, 196

7. Dalton Gauthier, 187

11. Travis Petton IV, 78

12. Shayna Texter-Bauman, 69

17. Justin Jones, 55

18. Hunter Bauer, 49

19. Logan Eisenhard, 40

23. Declan Bender, 21

24. Hayden Gillim, 14

25. Landen Smith, 13

27. Clarke Morian V, 12

29. Tanner Dean, 9

33. Olin Kissler, 4