Sent on behalf of
HappyTrails Racing
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.
(March 6, 2023) -
Jeffrey Carver’s Happy
Trails Racing is
thrilled to announce it will
field reigning British
National Champion Gary
Birtwistle at the DAYTONA
Short Track doubleheader,
which kicks off the
2023 Progressive American Flat
Track season this Thursday,
March 9, and Friday, March 10.
Birtwistle with compete in
the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles
presented by KICKER class aboard
the #111 Happy Trails
Racing/Jeffrey Carver Husqvarna
FC450.
Birtwistle is one of the most
accomplished flat track riders
currently racing outside of the
United States. He’s set to make
his Progressive AFT debut fresh
off claiming both the Singles
and Twins DTRA national
championships in 2022.
Previously, he earned multiple
Hooligan titles, including the
UK and European championships.
Carver elected to support
Birtwistle after first being
impressed by the British rider’s
skill and later suffering an
injury that derailed “the
Wizard’s” own plans to return to
the Progressive AFT scene
full-time in 2023.
“Going into 2023, my goal was to
race the full Progressive AFT
circuit again,” Carver said.
“Unfortunately, events happen,
and I suffered a severe injury
in December. Acknowledging my
position in life, I have decided
to step back from racing
Progressive AFT for 2023 to heal
my body properly. In the process
of this new shift, Gary reached
out looking for support to come
race the first two rounds. For
me, it has been a dream to
support riders from other
countries to come race in
America after my flat track
school “Happy Trails Racing” has
taken me around the world
sharing my gifts. I won’t be on
the bike this time, but I will
be casting my spells to give
Gary the best opportunity to
live out his dreams.”
“When Jeffrey came over to ride
the last round of our
championship, I had no idea how
fast I was going to be compared
with a top U.S. pro – I was
pretty scared to be honest,”
Birtwistle admitted. “But we ran
pretty similar lap times and
went back and forth a bunch of
times in our semi. That ride
gave me the confidence to want
to enter a Progressive AFT
round. I’m super excited to be
taking on this challenge with
the help of Jeffrey – it’s a
huge bucket list tick for me. I
don’t expect to set the world
alight, I just want to take in
the experience and enjoy
myself.”
Carver will serve as Crew Chief
with Jason Watkins onboard as
Mechanic.
Carver and Happy Trails Racing
would also like to thank their
sponsors REZRO, Bell Helmets,
Carvers BBQ, Dirt Craft, Pro
Plates, Kullyco, Oakley,
MyPITBOARD, and Woody Kyle
Racing.
For more information and ways to
support, please visit https://www.sideburnmagazine.com/post/birtwistle-to-do-daytona.
