DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.
(March 7, 2023) – The
world’s greatest motorcycle dirt
trackers are now just days away
from kicking their 2023
Progressive American Flat Track
campaigns off in supreme style,
as the series revives a hallowed
Daytona Bike Week
tradition. The chase for the
Championship is set to begin in
electric fashion as the sport
takes center stage under the
lights of the Flat Track
at Daytona International
Speedway not once, but
twice, with the DAYTONA
Short Track I & II presented by
Daytona Dodge on
Thursday, March 9, and Friday,
March 10, in Daytona Beach,
Florida.
The return of the DAYTONA Short
Track season launch reconnects
the series with a previous era.
Progressive AFT made 0.25-mile
circuits in Daytona Beach the
annual home for its opener from
1989 through 2016, first at
Municipal Stadium, before moving
to the DIS Flat Track – located
just outside NASCAR Turn 2 at
the World Center of Racing – in
2010. The event’s return is an
apt way to open what promises to
be a special season, featuring
jammed packed entry lists loaded
up with an incredible array of
talent and equipment.
Over the decades, the DAYTONA
Short Track opener shined a
spotlight on flat track’s most
legendary riders, with Hall of
Famers Scott Parker, Chris Carr,
Will Davis, and Kenny Coolbeth
all standing atop the podium.
One of the sport’s all-time
greats who has yet to triumph at
the venue, however, is reigning
Mission SuperTwins
presented by S&S Cycle
champion Jared Mees
(No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers
Racing/SDI Racing FTR750). As a
result, Mees will be properly
motivated to add the DAYTONA
Short Track to his extensive
list of career victories while
simultaneously kickstarting his
title defense.
He’ll need to conquer a 25-rider
deep pool of challengers that’s
absolutely brimming with talent.
Headlining that list is two-time
series champion and ‘22
runner-up Briar Bauman
(No. 3 Rick Ware Racing KTM 890
Duke). Bauman comes in just days
removed from the major
announcement that he’ll be
competing aboard KTM equipment,
backed by the powerhouse Rick
Ware Racing operation that
enters the sport after
previously making its mark in
NASCAR, IndyCar, IMSA, NHRA, and
AMA and FIM Supercross, among
others.
Other expected frontrunners
include Estenson Racing
teammates Dallas Daniels
(No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha
MT-07 DT) and JD Beach
(No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha
MT-07 DT), who come into the
season looking to take yet
another step forward following a
breakthrough ‘22 campaign, and
Brandon Robinson
(No. 44 Mission Roof Systems
Indian FTR750), who has taken
multiple wins in each of the
past four seasons.
Another rider to keep tabs on
this week is Sammy
Halbert (No. 69 Martin
Trucking/Castrol Yamaha MT-07).
While no longer a full-time
series contender, Halbert owns a
sparkling history at the venue,
boasting four prior DAYTONA ST
wins.
While no one will be shocked if
any of the aforementioned six
stand atop the podium this week,
the DAYTONA Short Track is also
famous for delivering massive
upsets to start the year. In
fact, before they were
established title fighters,
Bauman and Robinson each earned
their first career premier-class
wins at the event.
There’s a long list of dark
horse picks to back, even if
it’s not exactly accurate to
cast the likes of Jarod
Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC
Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian
FTR750), Bronson Bauman
(No. 37 Fastrack Racing KTM 890
Duke), Johnny Lewis
(No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered
by Royal Enfield 650),
Mikey Rush (No. 15
Maxwell Industries/Triumph Bob
Harley-Davidson XG750R),
Davis Fisher (No. 67
Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s
BMC Racing Indian FTR750), and
Kolby Carlile
(No. 36 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing
Yamaha MT-07) as underdogs.
Parts Unlimited AFT
Singles presented by KICKER
2022 Parts Unlimited AFT
Singles presented by KICKER champion
Kody Kopp (No.
1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
450 SX-FFE) will brandish the #1
plate for the first time at the
DAYTONA Short Track where the
prodigy’s prospects for
successfully defending his crown
will immediately be put to the
test.
The class field is 44 riders
deep and stocked up with the
best 450cc dirt trackers the
world has to offer, representing
six different nations with a
bevy of titles to their names.
Kopp’s biggest rival might just
be his teammate, Australian
Max Whale (No.
18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
450 SX-FFE), a two-time
championship runner-up.
Meanwhile, Whale’s compatriot,
Tom Drane (No.
59 Estenson Racing Yamaha
YZ450F), is widely expected to
be an instant contender as
flashing incredible speed in
limited appearances last season,
as he joins multi-race winner
Trevor Brunner (No.
21 Estenson Racing Yamaha
YZ450F) at Estenson Racing.
That international flair is
further enhanced this week by
the entrances of the reigning
FIM Flat Track World Champion,
Spaniard Gerard Bailo
(No. 317 Asap Risk Brokers/Noyes
Camp Honda CRF450R) and the
world’s third-ranked rider,
Ervín Krajčovič (No.
341 Moto Racing Group Honda
CRF450R) from the Czech
Republic, along with Briton
Gary Birtwistle
(No. 111 Happy Trails
Racing/Jeffrey Carver Husqvarna
FC450), the defending UK DTRA
Pro Singles and Twins champion,
and Canadian Hunter
Bauer (No. 24 KTM 450
SX-F), who scored his maiden
Progressive AFT podium last
season.
The most imposing threat of all
may hail from closer to home,
however, as the American
Honda-backed Turner Racing squad
goes from strength to strength.
It will once again field a
talented trio, adding
Trent Lowe (No. 48
American Honda/Mission Foods
CRF450R) to holdovers
Morgen Mischler (No. 13
American Honda/Mission Foods
CRF450R) and Chase
Saathoff (No. 88
American Honda/Mission Foods
CRF450R).
2019 Parts Unlimited AFT Singles
champion and ‘22 runner-up
Dalton Gauthier (No.
79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450
SX-F) will be a championship
favorite again in 2023, while
2018 class king Dan
Bromley (No. 62 Memphis
Shades/Corbin/Vinson
Construction Yamaha YZ450F) is
doing double duty in DAYTONA,
competing in both classes.
Of course, fans will be thrilled
to witness the return of the
class’ all-time winningest
rider, Shayna
Texter-Bauman (No. 52
Rick Ware Racing KTM 450 SX-F),
who will look to add to her
historic Parts Unlimited AFT
wins tally immediately.
Meanwhile, Texter-Bauman’s
brother Cory Texter has
graduated to management duties
this season as he oversees a
revamped 1st Impressions Race
Team that will field
Chad Cose (No. 49 1st
Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna
Racing FC450) and James
Ott (No. 19 1st
Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna
Racing FC450).
Considering the full list of
realistic podium hopefuls – many
of whom have gone unmentioned –
just making the Main Event will
be an accomplishment of its own
this week.
No matter how it all shakes
down, the season is guaranteed
to open on a high note as ‘22
champions Mees and Kopp will be
awarded their handcrafted
championship rings custom
designed by Thom Duma
Fine Jewelers (TDFJ)
during Thursday’s Opening
Ceremonies.
The action will be further
enhanced by the inclusion of the
Grand National Hooligan
Championship on
Thursday with the Astros
Invitational adding to
the show on Friday.
There will be plenty to keep
fans entertained off the track
as well, including numerous
vendors, plenty of food and
beverage options, live music,
and extensive motorcycle
parking.
Upper Rim Road -
Standing Room Only
tickets are just $25 (kids 12
and under just $5), while
Reserved Grandstand
tickets start at $40.
Purchasing tickets for both days
in advance provides a
Multi-Day Discount that
takes $10 off the final ticket
price.
Visit
https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/daytona-short-track-i-59082
to purchase tickets for the
DAYTONA Short Track I presented
by Daytona Dodge.
Visit
https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/daytona-short-track-ii-59083
to purchase tickets for the
DAYTONA Short Track II presented
by Daytona Dodge.
Visit
https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/daytona-short-track-i-and-ii-59081
to purchase tickets for both
rounds in order to take
advantage of the Multi-Day
Discount.
Additionally, Progressive AFT
has teamed up with MotoAmerica
to offer the America
Super Ticket, which
provides race fans admission to
the DAYTONA Short Track I & II
and the DAYTONA 200 for
$100. You can purchase the
America Super Ticket at
https://bit.ly/3XSrSaj.
Paddock Access Upgrades
are also available for purchase,
which provide all-day access to
the pits where fans can scope
out the world’s fastest dirt
track motorcycles and get up
close and personal with the
stars of the sport.
Gates will open for fans at 3:00
p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT with
Opening Ceremonies scheduled to
begin at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m.
PT on both days. You can catch
the livestream of all the
weekend’s racing activities on
FansChoice.tv.
FansChoice.tv provides
free-to-view livestreaming of
Practice and Qualifying.
FansChoice.tv subscribers will
then be able to watch the drama
unfold from Opening Ceremonies
through the Heats, LCQs, Main
Events, and podium celebrations.
FansChoice.tv offers two
subscription options, granting
unlimited access to premium AFT
content. Monthly subscriptions
start at just $7.99, while a
six-month subscription is
available for $44.99.
FOX Sports
coverage, featuring in-depth
features and thrilling onboard
cameras, will premiere on
FS1 from the
Daytona Short Track I on
March 18 at 10:30 a.m. ET
(7:30 a.m. PT) and
Daytona Short Track II on March
19 at 12:30 p.m. ET
(9:30 a.m. PT).
For more information on
Progressive AFT visit
https://www.americanflattrack.com.
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