DAYTONA
BEACH, Fla. (May 14,
2026) – The
Grand National
Championship battle
powers into the
inaugural
ThrottleFest, a
unique moto festival
with America’s
Original Extreme
Sport® at its core.
For four days, May
14-17, racing fans
will revel at Budds
Creek Motocross Park
in Mechanicsville,
Maryland, the
festivities of which
all build up to
Saturday, May 16th’s
Parts Unlimited
ThrottleFest
presented by Carter
CAT, Round 6 of the
2026 Progressive
American Flat Track
season, sanctioned
by AMA Pro Racing.
Half-Mile,
Not Half-Measure
Following five
consecutive Short
Tracks to open the
‘26 season,
ThrottleFest will
feature the first of
four Half-Miles to
be contested over
the next five races,
a run that is
destined to play a
crucial role in
deciding this year’s
Mission AFT
SuperTwins title
fight.
While TTs are very
much their own
discipline,
Half-Miles sit
squarely between the
Short Tracks and
Miles in more than
mere length. Short
Tracks are all about
close-quarters
combat, rewarding
aggression and
lightning quick
reflexes. Miles,
meanwhile, require
prodigious
acceleration and
speed, wielded with
high-level tactical
acumen.
The Half-Mile
combines all of
these demands into a
single discipline,
making it the
fullest test of
rider and machine
that dirt track
racing has to offer.
Looking at the
current crop of
contenders,
pinpointing who is
likely to have the
upper hand is not
easily deciphered.
Harley-Davidson has
reigned supreme at
the Short Tracks,
reeling in 11 of the
most recent 12 ST
wins dating back to
last season. Yamaha,
meanwhile, has held
a decided advantage
at the Miles,
securing two of
three wins and eight
of nine podiums at
the big tracks a
year ago.
There’s a relative
lack of recent HM
results to go by,
however. Despite
Half-Miles being the
traditional backbone
of the series – and
there have been far
more Half-Miles than
any other discipline
throughout the
history of the
series – last year
was something of an
anomaly in that
sense. There were
just two Half-Miles
on the ‘25 slate,
both waged on Lima’s
idiosyncratic pea
gravel.
That weekend, the
Yamaha MT-07 DT and
Harely-Davidson
XG750R split top
honors. But more
data is needed
before we can begin
to assess the
relative merits of
the machinery at
that distance.
We can, however,
take a closer look
at the historical
records of the
pilots in question.
Prior to his
Indian-era
all-around
excellence and
late-career Mile
mastery, 10-time
Grand National
Champion Jared Mees
assembled a Hall of
Fame-worthy career
based largely on his
status as a
Half-Mile
extraordinaire
Mees racked up
multiple
premier-class crowns
by owning the
Half-Miles and
walked away from the
sport with more HM
wins (37) than any
other rider in
Progressive AFT
history.
However, during
their overlapping
stints as factory
Indian riders, Briar
Bauman (No. 3
Super.com/RWR
Harley-Davidson
XG750R) quite
clearly eclipsed
Mees in outright
Half-Mile success –
a fact Mees himself
acknowledged.
In terms of the
numbers, from
2019-2022, Bauman
claimed 11 Half-Mile
wins to Mees’ six.
However – and
somewhat
unintuitively –
being better than
the best Half-Milers
of all-time doesn’t
automatically make
Bauman the best
Half-Milers going
today.
Since reigning
Dallas Daniels (No.
1 Estenson Racing
Yamaha MT-07)
stepped up to the
premier class, he
and Bauman sit level
with four Half-Mile
wins a piece.
And just because
Bauman comes in with
consecutive
victories in hand
while Daniels is
seeking answers
following a pair of
(still thoroughly
decent) results
below his usual
standard, that
doesn't
automatically make
Bauman the favorite
this weekend.
For Daniels, the
shift to HMs
represents an
opportunity to
regroup, reset, and
prepare to lock
horns at venues less
likely to play to
his opponents’
favor. That notion
alone could work
wonders for his
mindset.
Of course, we
haven’t even
mentioned the
Mission AFT
SuperTwins title
leader, Kody Kopp
(No. 12 Latus Motors
Racing
Harley-Davidson
XG750R).
While this weekend
will mark his maiden
premier-class
Half-Mile, that’s
the distance at
which he made his
name in KICKER AFT
Singles competition.
Kopp stands as the
winningest
Half-Miler in AFT
Singles history, a
fact that powered
his
back-to-back-to-back
title runs. In 2022,
five of his seven
wins came at
Half-Miles, along
with four of eight
in ‘23, and two of
six in ‘24, adding
up to 17 Half-Mile
wins in all.
He already looks
remarkably at home
on the XG750R. If
anything, the
transition to
slightly more
expansive
battlefields is
likely to only
enhance his comfort
level.
Reversal of
Fortune
The current
situation of Davis
Fisher (No. 67
Rackley Racing/Bob
Lanphere’s BMC
Racing KTM 790 Duke)
is pretty much the
opposite of Daniels.
While the champ
managed to net
third- and
fourth-place results
despite struggling
to tap into his
typical speed and
competitiveness in
California, Fisher’s
results masked his
genuine strength.
The luckless Fisher
suffered multiple
mechanical issues
during the West
Coast swing, all of
which combined to
rob him of a pair of
near-certain podium
finishes, a
potential win, and
his only provisional
start for the
season.
On the bright side,
the Rackley Racing
runner is flying on
his KTM 790 Duke
when it allows him
to do so, and his
form suggests he
could be in line to
score a second
career Half-Mile win
with a bit of (good)
luck. The fact that
he’s 44 points out
of first might even
unshackle Fisher and
allow him to go for
broke.
On The Box
Also in search of a
turnaround is the
OTB Racing duo of
Brandon Price (No.
92 Memphis
Shades/Vinson
Construction Yamaha
MT-07) and Declan
Bender (No. 70
Memphis
Shades/Vinson
Construction Yamaha
MT-07).
Price and Bender
combined for three
podiums among six
top fives a year
ago, despite neither
rider contesting the
full Mission AFT
SuperTwins season.
This year, however,
they both rank
outside the
championship top 15
with just a single
finish better than
10th between them.
You have to think
that’s going to
change and change in
a hurry. Without a
doubt, all involved
would love for it to
come this weekend in
Maryland – the home
state of both OTB
Racing and Price.
Harley’s
“Other” Rookie
While Kopp has
garnered the lion’s
share of the
headlines, fellow
rookie Aidan
RoosEvans (No. 26
FRA Trust Advisors
Harley-Davidson
XG750R) has demanded
his share of
attention as well.
After flashing
front-running speed
on multiple
occasions, RoosEvans
made good on that
promise by rounding
out
Harley-Davidson’s
sweep of the podium
at Silver Dollar
Speedway.
That third was
technically the
first podium of
RoosEvans’
Progressive AFT
career. Yes, he did
come home second in
last year’s KICKER
AFT Singles Main
Event at the
Jackpine Gypsies
Super TT, however,
that result was
later stripped due
to a fuel
infraction.
While he did notch
up several top fives
during his KICKER
AFT Singles days,
it’s pretty
remarkable that he
went six seasons
without a podium on
a 450cc and now has
one after just five
races in Mission AFT
SuperTwins.
Some riders are
simply better suited
to the bigger bike,
and RoosEvans has
immediately meshed
with his XG750R
mount. Additionally,
the two- and
four-wheel racer has
traditionally been
at his best at
so-called “car
tracks” like Senoia
Raceway and Silver
Dollar Speedway.
How he continues to
develop as a
premier-class
contender moving
forward merits close
observation.
Whatever happens,
you almost already
have to mark this
season down as a
smashing success.
Harley’s
“New” Veteran
With Mission Roof
Systems’ star
Brandon Robinson
(No. 44 Mission Roof
Systems
Harley-Davidson
XG750R) still
recovering from a
severe concussion
suffered at Ventura
Raceway, the team
has recruited an
ideal super-sub.
A Half-Mile winner
himself, Jarod
VanDerKooi (No. 20
Mission Roof Systems
Harley-Davidson
XG750R) is set to
ride the
Harley-Davidson at
Budds Creek, and –
provided he’s able
to shake off any
rust – he has it in
him to be an
immediate
frontrunner.
Like his close
friend Robinson,
VanDerKooi can look
back on an extensive
history with the
XG750R before the
shift to an
all-production-based
ruleset saw it
blossom into what
may just be the most
fancied bike in the
field.
With that in mind,
this opportunity
could prove equal
parts redemption and
revenge.
Spoilers
Ahead
It’s not just
Daniels who should
be welcoming the
arrival of the
Half-Miles. The same
could be said of
several podium
threats who have yet
to stand on the box
yet this season.
Any given weekend
could be the next
time Trent Lowe (No.
48 American
Honda/Mission Foods
Honda CB750 Hornet)
stands atop the box.
Meanwhile, Ben Lowe
(No. 25 Rackley
Racing/Roof Systems
KTM 790 Duke) has
been rounding into
form as he and
Fisher continue to
develop the KTM 790
Duke into a serious
flat track weapon.
And don’t discount
the chances of Logan
Mcgrane (No. 14
Schaffers
MotorSports/RVR
Racing KTM 790
Duke), Dalton
Gauthier (No. 79
Parts Bros/D&D
Cycles/Fairway Ford
Aprilia Tuareg 660),
Evan Renshaw (No. 95
Moto Anatomy X
Powered by Royal
Enfield 650), or
Hunter Bauer (No. 24
G&G Racing Yamaha
MT-07), all of whom
have broken into the
top ten and have the
potential to do
considerably more
damage than that.
Full
Throttle. Full
Festival
ThrottleFest is a
motorsports and
music festival
unlike any other.
With Progressive
American Flat Track
at its center, Budds
Creek Motocross Park
will be loaded up
with two-wheeled
racing all day for
four days, including
amateur flat track,
motocross, pit bike
racing, endurocross,
hare scrambles, and
a stunt show.
And that’s only half
the fun.
ThrottleFest will
also bring it with
live music,
contests, mechanical
bull riding, Stacyc
and RC racing,
interactive games,
food trucks, vendor
areas, and more.
ThrottleFest is
ready. Are you?
Don’t Miss
This One
General Admission
Standing Room Only
tickets for Saturday
start at $65 with
Reserved Grandstand
tickets available
for $90 and Premium
Reserved Grandstand
tickets $120.
Tickets for kids
five and under are
just $5 in any
section, while
children 6-12 get
their tickets 60%
off.
The Saturday VIP at
ThrottleFest ticket
can be had for $205,
complete with
Premium Reserved
seating,
complimentary food
and refreshments,
and paddock access
to rub elbows with
the best dirt
trackers on the
planet while getting
a close-up view of
their racebikes.
Fans can also
purchase single day
tickets for
Thursday, Friday, or
Sunday, as well as
two-, three-, or
four-day ticket
packages.
Camping is available
for $100 per vehicle
(event passes sold
separately), with
free parking for all
attendees.
Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-throttlefest-saturday-184353 to
choose your
adventure today.
Gates will open for
fans at 3:00 p.m.
ET/12:00 p.m. PT on
Saturday with
Opening Ceremonies
scheduled to begin
at 7:10 p.m. ET/4:10
p.m. PT.
Next Up
Progressive American
Flat Track returns
to action this
weekend with Parts
Unlimited
ThrottleFest
presented by Carter
CAT at Budds Creek
Motocross Park in
Mechanicsville,
Maryland. The
four-day festival
runs Thursday, May
14, through Sunday,
May 17, with
Saturday’s
Progressive AFT
round headlining a
full weekend of
motorsports,
camping, fan
activities and
entertainment.
Fans can visit ThrottleFestUSA.com for
schedules, ticket
information, camping
details and the
latest weekend
updates. Tickets for
Saturday’s
Progressive AFT
event are available
now at https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-throttlefest-saturday-184353.
The series then
heads to
Mechanicsburg,
Pennsylvania, on
Saturday, May 23,
for the Appalachian
Harley-Davidson
Williams Grove
Half-Mile at
Williams Grove
Speedway.
Tickets are
available now at https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-williams-grove-half-mile-185952.
How to Watch
FloRacing
For those that can’t
catch the live
action at the track,
FloRacing is the
live streaming home
of Progressive
American Flat Track.
Motorsports fans can
subscribe to
FloRacing to enjoy
over 1,000 live
motorsports events
in 2026. FloSports
is available by
visiting https://flosports.link/AFT2026 or
by downloading the
FloSports app on
iOS, Android, Apple
TV, Roku, Amazon
Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports will
provide in-depth
coverage of the
Royal Enfield Short
Track at DAYTONA
doubleheader
featuring rider
features and
thrilling onboard
cameras. Stay tuned
for an upcoming
announcement
regarding premiere
airdates on FS1 and
re-airs on FS2. The
full listing of
American Flat
Track’s television
premieres will be
posted to the AFT
website at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports.
