Mission Foods CTR Flat Track Series Opener
The growl of a Florida Panther can be intimidating, but every January in Callahan, Florida a louder roar echoes through the ether. Flat track motorcycles erupt to life for the annual Mission Foods Cory Texter Promotions Winter Throwdown. Hosting north of 800 entries across a weekend, the event took on an added level of prestige this year. Already an AMA major event, in 2025 the Winter Throwdown also kicked off a new AMA Championship: The Mission Foods CTR Flat Track Series.
Racing began Thursday Night with the King of the Throwdown 1v1 Bracket Race where Three-Time American Flat Track Singles Champion Kody Kopp took top honors over Chad Cose. The Mica, Washington rider is set for a change of scenery in 2025, competing in the MotoAmerica Talent Cup, but Kopp showed he has not lost a step on the dirt.
With inclement weather looming Saturday, race and track officials made the decision to move the entire rest of the weekend of racing to Friday. Thus, the 16 hours of Callahan commenced.
Nicknamed “Shark Bait” Cruise Texter morphed into the apex predator of the 50cc Classes, sweeping the weekend in the 50cc Air Cooled and 50cc Chain Classes. Not to be outdone, Bakersfield, California’s Jackson Joiner added a double sweep of his own in the 65cc and 85cc Classes.
Several other riders cleaned up at the Throwdown. Davey Durelle collected four total wins in 50+ and 60+ Classes. Shawn Raggio was dominant in the Hooligan class while William Cato (30+) and Greg Boyle (40+) also left Callahan Speedway with two race wins.
Logan Higgins claimed a victory and the Overall Championship in the SuperMini Class but was bested by Cash Carter in the second main event of the weekend. Eli Block and Jackson Settle would split Open Novice wins with Block leaving as the Overall Winner.
After finding success in the first Vintage Main Event, Benjamin Miller went down in his heat race for the second program, opening the door for Alex Childs to take the race and weekend Overall.
Braxton Ragan’s attempt to defend his 250 Amateur Throwdown Title started strong, but a 5th-Place in main event two allowed Ryder Bitz-Hay to claim that win his first of two Overall Championships on the weekend. After cruising from California to race, Bitz-Hay cruised to victory in the first 450 Amateur Main Event and the Overall, even with Adam Costan’s triumph in Main Event Two.
Aaden Savage and Ethan Salmon took home wins in the Open Amateur Main Events but the consistency of Stockton, California Rider, Jaymes Arnaiz (2-4) secured him the Weekend Championship.
Chad Cose rebounded from his King of the Throwdown runner-up, to claim a Premier Expert and Open Expert Main Event win, as well as the Premier Expert Weekend Title. Other Expert winners included Justin Jones and Jared Lowe with Lowe the Weekend Champion for the Open Expert Class.
The Mission Foods CTR Series will resume May 16-17, 2025 in Salem, Ohio at Western Reserve Motorcycle Club.
