Progressive AFT Arrives at Historic Silver Dollar Speedway for Inaugural Event
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 30, 2024) – The 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, picks right back up this week with the Silver Dollar Short Track in Chico, California, on Saturday, May 4.
The occasion marks the inaugural Grand National Championship round at the fabled Silver Dollar Speedway. While new to the Progressive AFT circuit, the track boasts six decades of history and has earned iconic status among numerous auto racing superstars, including the likes of Kyle Larson and Brad Sweet, who now serve as the venue’s co-promoters along with business partner Colby Copeland (together SLC Promotions).
The ‘24 Mission SuperTwins title fight was widely expected to be a sequel to last year’s epic featuring all-time great Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750) and the prodigious Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT).
And both riders have come out swinging, Daniels logging a win among his perfect podium record, and Mees finishing first and second in his last two outings. That said, they actually find themselves chasing the red-hot Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), who leads the early-season championship chase with two victories to highlight his run of four consecutive podium finishes.
The shape of the season to date might just call for another rider to step forward and claim top honors this weekend; the Silver Dollar Short Track is the fourth ST on the calendar and the three previous each saw a different rider come out on top (the aforementioned Daniels, Robinson, and Mees).
Two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke) leads a large contingent of riders eager to do just that, a group that also includes the likes of Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750), and Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650).
There’s no shortage of potential storylines, including the return of Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Dodge Bros. Racing/Castrol Harley-Davidson XR750), who will make another attempt at giving the legendary Harley-Davidson XR750 a 503rd win after coming oh-so-close to doing so in Daytona.
Meanwhile, Mission SuperTwins rookies Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing KTM 790 Duke), Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R), Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), and Morgen Mischler (No. 13 Big Red Super Twins/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp) should face better odds of impressing this weekend as the entire field heads in looking to learn the nuances of the circuit.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Two-time defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER king Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) has utilized a rare combination of speed and consistency to rule over the category the past two-plus seasons.
That trend is very much alive and well in 2024 as Kopp boasts a sizable early lead thanks to alternating runs of first and second this season.
His five nearest rivals are pretty much exactly those most would have predicted prior to the start of the season: Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R), Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450).
But if any of them hope to challenge Kopp for the crown, they’ll need to start beating him on track with regularity. Drane has shown himself capable of doing so since the middle of last season, although he needs a bit more luck on his side for that to be reflected in the points.
Saathoff, meanwhile, comes in with his confidence boosted after having finally earned his maiden Progressive AFT victory while simultaneously motivated to claim his first actual checkered flag following last weekend’s red-flagged affair.
Jared Lowe (No. 63 BigR/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) is another rider stepping up his game, fresh off his first career Progressive AFT top-five and eager to follow it up with a second in the span of seven days.
There will be plenty to keep spectators entertained off the track as well, including numerous vendors, plenty of food and beverage options, live music, activities for kids, and extensive motorcycle parking.
General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under free), while Reserved Grandstand tickets are $40 (all ages), Trackside Box tickets are $60 (all ages), and Pit Grandstand tickets offer premium viewing experiences for $70 (all ages).
Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/silver-dollar-short-track-89147 to reserve your seats today.
Gates will open for fans at 6:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET (7:00 p.m. PT). You can catch the livestream of all the weekend’s racing activities on FloRacing. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2024. 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.
FansChoice.tv remains Progressive AFT’s home for video-on-demand and archived content, including the addition of Road to AFT amateur races and select American Hillclimb rounds in 2024.
FOX Sports coverage of the Silver Dollar Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, May 12, at 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. PT).
For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.
About Progressive American Flat Track
Progressive American Flat Track 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. Progressive American Flat Track is televised on FOX Sports and streams live via FloRacing. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on X, and check us out on Instagram.
