DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. (April
23, 2026) – Progressive
American Flat Track,
sanctioned by AMA
Pro Racing, will
descend on Ventura
Raceway for the
fourth annual
Memphis Shades
Ventura Short Track
presented by 805
Beer this Saturday,
April 25.
While still a
relative newcomer on
the Progressive AFT
scene, Ventura,
California, has
quickly established
itself a dirt track
destination.
Combining
breathtaking views
of the Pacific
Ocean, jam-packed
grandstands, and
thrilling action,
the Memphis Shades
Ventura Short Track
is a singular
highlight of the
Grand National
Championship
calendar.
Venture
Forth
Reigning Mission AFT
SuperTwins champion
Dallas Daniels (No.
1 Estenson Racing
Yamaha MT-07) comes
into the weekend
having earned the
first victory of his
title defense last
time out.
The win was
especially
meaningful to
Daniels, Estenson
Racing, and Yamaha,
as it represented
the first time the
brand had taken a
premier-class
victory at its home
track, Senoia
Raceway.
While that fact made
plenty of headlines,
somewhat more under
the radar was the
fact that it
simultaneously
brought about the
conclusion of a
remarkable streak
scored by rival
manufacturer
Harley-Davidson.
Prior to Daniels’
triumph in Georgia,
Harley-Davidson
stacked up a full
season’s worth of
consecutive Short
Track victories. The
run opened with a
1-2 that marked the
XG750R’s maiden
Mission SuperTwins
win at the ‘25
Yamaha Senoia Short
Track and was
rounded out with a
double victory –
courtesy of rookie
phenom Kody Kopp
(No. 12 Latus Motors
Racing
Harley-Davidson
XG750R) – at the
Royal Enfield Short
Track at DAYTONA I &
II to open the ‘26
season.
The ST streak
stretched out to
nine consecutive
Main Event wins
before Daniels
finally brought it
to an end. The run
was nearly extended
to ten, as Kopp
pushed Daniels to
the checkered flag
at Senoia,
threatening to
become the first
rider to not only
win his first
premier-class race,
and his second, but
also his third.
As a result of his
stunning 1-1-2
career Mission
SuperTwins start,
Kopp comes to
California with the
Grand National
Championship points
lead. The Ventura
Short Track – a race
he won in KICKER AFT
Singles action back
in 2023 – provides
another opportunity
to cement himself a
genuine title threat
and draw nearer to
Brad Andres’ record
of five rookie GNC
Main Event wins.
But don’t expect
Daniels and company
to simply move aside
for the emergent
challenger,
particularly at a
track where the
class champ has
previously stood
atop the podium
himself (also in
2023).
The Rider to
Beat
With all due
apologies to Daniels
and Kopp, however,
the rider most
deserving of
pre-race favorite
honors is two-time
Grand National
Champion Briar
Bauman (No. 3
RWR/Jacob
Construction/Parts
Plus Harley-Davidson
XG750R).
Six of those nine
straight Short Track
wins reeled in by
the XG750R were
secured by Bauman,
including the one he
picked up here at
Ventura Raceway a
year ago.
Additionally, the
California native
also obliterated the
competition at the
venue the prior
year, then armed
with a KTM 790 Duke.
Bauman’s ‘26 title
campaign has gotten
off to a
slower-than-anticipated
start as a result of
uncharacteristic
finishes of seventh
and sixth in
Daytona. However, he
returned to the
podium in Georgia
and should continue
to flex his true
force as he and new
crew chief Bryan
Bigelow get more
time to gel.
With over a month
between rounds to
continue to build
that bond, expect
Bauman prove
formidable in
Ventura once more.
Harley-Davidson Vs.
Yamaha (Continued)
As the respective
reigning champion,
points leader, and
defending race
winner, Daniels,
Kopp, and Bauman
stand as the
headliners. However,
they are not alone
in defending the
honors of Yamaha and
Harley-Davidson.
17-time
premier-class race
winner Brandon
Robinson (No. 44
Mission Roof Systems
Harley-Davidson
XG750R) has finished
inside the top five
the last two times
the series hit the
Pacific Coast,
including a fourth
last season that saw
him finish just over
a second back of the
win.
Robinson also has an
ace up his sleeve in
Ventura native Kayl
Kolkman. Besides
wrenching Robinson’s
bikes, Kolkman
proved beyond
question he knows
the quick way around
the track, having
clocked the fastest
time in practice and
qualifying sessions
on multiple
occasions in past
visits to Ventura
Raceway.
Meanwhile, Mission
SuperTwins rookie
Aidan RoosEvans (No.
26 FRA Trust
Advisors
Harley-Davidson
XG750R) has flashed
frontrunning speed
himself, furthering
Harley-Davidson’s
ambition to reclaim
the dominant
position it enjoyed
in the sport for so
many decades.
Daniels won’t be
alone in fighting to
prevent that
possibility. Along
with premier-class
podium finishers
Brandon Price (No.
92 Memphis
Shades/Vinson
Construction Yamaha
MT-07), Declan
Bender (No. 70
Memphis
Shades/Vinson
Construction Yamaha
MT-07), and Chad
Cose (No. 49 Parker
Racing/Pro Roofing
Yamaha MT-07,
Mission SuperTwins
race winner Bronson
Bauman (No. 37 Dick
Ford Racing/Mission
Foods Yamaha MT-07)
will make his first
appearance of the
season this weekend.
Rounding out that
strength is Canadian
Hunter Bauer (No. 24
G&G Racing/Yamaha
Racing MT07), who is
slated to make his
debut with the G&G
Racing Yamaha squad
this weekend.
But Really,
It’s Anybody’s Game
As previously
mentioned, KTM has
enjoyed its fair
share of success at
Ventura Raceway. In
addition to Bauman’s
victory two years
back, Jarod
VanDerKooi guided
the Duke to a close
third in last year’s
showdown.
The bike’s
preeminent pilot of
the present, Davis
Fisher (No. 67
Rackley Racing/Bob
Lanphere’s BMC
Racing KTM 790
Duke), has not fared
quite so well in
Ventura, however.
Last year’s seventh
was his best finish
yet at the venue, a
modest record he’ll
look to rectify this
weekend.
Form is on his side.
Fisher is off to a
fine start in 2026,
logging three
straight top fives,
including a podium
in Daytona.
Several others stand
a real chance to
shine as well,
especially at a
track that hasn’t
elevated one
particular platform
above the rest.
As stated above,
Yamaha, KTM, and
Harley have each
taken one win apiece
at Ventura Raceway.
On top of that, the
now-retired Indian
FTR750 and
present-day
challengers Royal
Enfield Twins FT and
Suzuki GSX-8S have
finished inside the
top five at the
track.
That track record of
parity bodes well
for the likes of
Springfield winner
Trent Lowe (No. 48
American
Honda/Mission Foods
Honda CB750 Hornet),
2019 KICKER AFT
Singles champ Dalton
Gauthier (No. 79
Parts Bros/D&D
Cycles/Fairway Ford
Aprilia Tuareg 660),
and premier-class
rookie Evan Renshaw
(No. 95 Moto Anatomy
X Powered by Royal
Enfield 650).
A Night to
Remember
As if the
world-class racing
and remarkable
beachside vibes
weren’t enough,
there will be plenty
more reasons to
celebrate at the
Memphis Shades
Ventura Short Track.
The day will feature
a pair of Thrashed
Kids Freestyle Shows
headlined by X Games
Gold Medalist and
Ventura Short Track
Grand Marshal Tyler
Bereman.
The event will also
serve to honor the
lives of Ventura
native and Landspeed
legend Chris
Raschke (1964-2005) via
“Chris Raschke Day,”
and Salinas native
and flat tracker
Jess Garcia
(1993-2020) with the
Jess Garcia Memorial
Challenge featuring
the fastest four
KICKER AFT Singles
racers.
Fans can also expect
a multitude of
vendors, big screen
viewing, designated
motorcycle parking,
and a variety of
food and beverage
options.
Get Your
Tickets Today
General Admission
tickets are just $50
(kids 12 and under
free) all taxes and
fees included.
Reserved Grandstand
tickets are just $15
more (all ages).
Students with proof
of a valid student
ID can purchase a
General Admission
ticket for just $30
at the door. There’s
also a
Military/First
Responder Discount
available, allowing
GOVX fans to
purchase tickets at
reduced rates.
The Opening
Ceremonies Trackside
Fan Experience is
available for
purchase for $135
(all ages) or $95 as
an add-on. This
premium option
includes GA seating,
full event pit
access, a guided
tour of the infield
podium and
start/finish line
with photos opps,
and up-close viewing
of Opening
Ceremonies and a
portion of the
night’s race action.
And don’t miss out
on the 805 Pit
Party, a premium
ticket add-on
designed to elevate
raceday hospitality.
Available for $75,
the 805 Pit Party
provides guests with
access to a
dedicated
hospitality area
featuring a variety
of beverage options,
along with snacks
available throughout
the event.
Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-ventura-short-track-168769 to
reserve your seats
today.
Gates will open for
fans at 5:00 p.m.
ET/2:00 p.m. PT with
Opening Ceremonies
scheduled to begin
at 10:00 p.m.
ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
