Progressive AFT and Thom Duma Fine Jewelers Celebrate a Decade of Diamonds in 2023
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Progressive American Flat Track is proud to announce that Thom Duma Fine Jewelers (TDFJ) will serve as the Official Jeweler of Progressive AFT for a tenth consecutive season in 2023.
During that decade-long collaboration, TDFJ has become inextricably linked with the series. In the opening days of the partnership, it established the now-cherished tradition of awarding each season’s champions with handcrafted, commemorative rings.
Over the years, TDJF has continued to elevate the tradition, most notably in 2021, when Tom Duma Jr. and his team of world-class jewelers elected to wait until each championship was decided in order to produce a one-of-a-kind, solid-gold masterpiece custom-designed for each champion, featuring their name and image alongside the traditional #1 and an array of diamonds, to properly celebrate their achievement.
That tradition has been further refined for 2023; for the very first time, the previous seasons’ title-winners will be awarded their rings at the following season’s opener, making this season’s epic DAYTONA Short Tack I & II that much more monumental. The award ceremony is certain to remind this year’s Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S and Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER championship contenders exactly what’s on the line as they begin their quests to receive their own rings at the ‘24 season opener.
“It is an honor and privilege to design and manufacture the championship rings again this year,” said Duma. “I will work directly with both champions at the end of the season to create design elements unique to them. Each ring will be a one-of-a-kind reminder of the battle they had in 2023 to declare them the best in the world.”
“The championship rings are stunning – designed and created with a deep passion and understanding of both fine jewelry and our sport that literally no one else in the world but Tom Duma can boast,” said Gene Crouch, COO of AMA Pro Racing. “I’ve seen first-hand just how much the rings mean to the champions who receive them and we’re looking forward to seeing what Tom dreams up for the competitors to chase this year.”
While ten years of partnership is certainly noteworthy, both Thom Duma Fine Jewelers’ storied history and Duma’s connection to the sport reach much further back in time. TDFJ was originally founded in the late 1800s before being acquired by Tom Duma Sr., nearly seven centuries ago. Tom Duma Jr., enjoyed a professional racing career in Progressive AFT racer from 1976 to 1981. A year before hanging up his helmet, Tom Jr. began to learn the business from the ground up, working alongside his father, before eventually taking over the business himself.
Eager to connect his two worlds, Duma created the “Racer Series,” a line of race-inspired jewelry, including steel shoe pendants, motorcycle tire Pandora-style beads, checkered flag racing jewelry, racing number pendants, and more.
“It is an honor and privilege to design and manufacture the championship rings again this year,” said Duma. “I will work directly with both champions at the end of the season to create design elements unique to them. Each ring will be a one-of-a-kind reminder of the battle they had in 2023 to declare them the best in the world.”
The complete line is available for purchase online at www.TDFJ.com, and you can contact Duma personally via email at [email protected].
The 2023 Progressive American Flat Track season will launch with the hugely anticipated return of the DAYTONA Short Track I & II at Daytona International Speedway on March 9-10.
For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.
How to Watch:
FOX Sports and FansChoice.tv are the official homes for coverage of Progressive American Flat Track. For the 2023 season, all races will premiere in one-hour telecasts on FS1 during highly desirable weekend time slots. The complete schedule can be viewed at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. FansChoice.tv provides livestreaming coverage of every Progressive AFT round at http://www.FansChoice.tv.
About Thom Duma Fine Jewelers
For over a century, Thom Duma Fine Jewelers (TDFJ) has provided the Mahoning Valley community with second-to-none engagement rings, wedding rings, fine jewelry, and luxury watches. First established in 1896 as Klivan’s Jewelers, today Thom Duma Jr. leads his staff of master jewelers and gemologists in honoring his father’s legacy of perseverance through hardship and exceptional jewelry work. Visit TDFJ in Warren, Ohio for an unforgettable jewelry shopping experience and white-glove jewelry services. Get in contact with TDFJ by visiting their website at TDFJ.com, calling their store at (330) 393-4696, emailing [email protected], or stopping by their showroom in person.
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. 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.
