Kage Tadman (228) claims the
holeshot at Ventura Raceway
during the AFT Singles presented
by KICKER Main Event
[Photo: American Flat
Track/Scott Hunter]
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.
(June 24, 2025) – Progressive
American Flat Track,
sanctioned by AMA Pro
Racing, will see the
rising stars of the AFT
Singles presented by KICKER
championship venture into the
unknown at the Lima
Half-Mile I & II at the
Allen County Fairgrounds
in Lima, Ohio, on
Friday, June 27, and Saturday,
June 28.
Mission Impossible-er
While sitting outside the top
five in the AFT Singles points
standings, Kage Tadman
(No. 288 Roof Systems/Old Oak
Ranch KTM 450 SX-F) gets top
billing until someone actually
beats him to the checkered flag
– be it heat race, challenge
race, or Main Event.
The class’ emerging ace did the
near impossible, not just
winning but utterly dominating
his first-ever Progressive AFT
event at the Ventura
Short Track.
He then did what had previously
proven impossible, sweeping the
proceedings again on less
familiar turf to make it an
unprecedented two-for-two at the
Silver Dollar Short
Track.
Now Tadman faces the biggest
test of his young pro career,
attempting to make it
three-for-three at the
notoriously challenging Lima
Half-Mile, which presents a
bigger track, pea-gravel
surface, and more than half a
nation separating him from his
home state of California.
Is this where the rookie finally
actually looks like a rookie?
There will be zero shame – nor
decrease in shine – if that
turns out to be the case. But
again, we’re not going to bet
against him until someone
actually proves it’s possible.
Are You Up for the
Challenge?
While Tadman will need to
quickly come to grips with Lima
if he hopes to contend with a
field loaded with riders who
have a great deal more
experience on the Allen County
Fairgrounds circuit’s fabled
cushion surface, his chances are
likely provided at least
something of a boost by the
novel Mission Triple
Challenge format
that’ll keep everyone guessing
on Friday night.
The three-race, expanding-length
format opens up more
opportunities to experiment and
learn, which should play in
Tadman’s favor. The fact that
he’s not in the championship
picture due to his midseason
debut, also means he’s better
positioned to swing for the
fences without being overly
concerned about his title
chances.
Maybe that leads to a
strikeout.
Or perhaps it results in
a(nother) homerun.
Points Potential
While Friday and Saturday will
utilize different formats,
they’ll both pay full points,
which means nearly 30% of the
season’s points to date will be
earned this weekend in Ohio.
That presents each of the AFT
Singles title fight’s big three
– Tom Drane
(No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha
YZ450F), Chase Saathoff
(No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus
Honda CRF450R), and
Trevor Brunner (No. 21
American Honda/Mission Foods
CRF450R) – a chance to make a
significant move with a huge
weekend.
And that’s right – we’ve
graduated from a big two to a
big three after Brunner finished
ahead of both Drane and Saathoff
at the Silver Dollar Short Track
to close within 14 points of the
lead.
There’s equal opportunity to
make a big move in the wrong
direction with a disastrous
weekend, and the three-race
Mission Triple Challenge offers
lots of ways to slip up.
Hey, that’s how it goes.
Successfully navigating the
unknown and stepping up when the
pressure is the greatest is what
winning a championship is all
about.
Interestingly, it’s top-ranked
Drane who may be most in need of
a breakout weekend. He’s yet to
win this season and – like his
Mission AFT SuperTwins teammate,
Dallas Daniels
– despite performing at a very
high level, he’s yet to match up
to the stratospheric
expectations he was burdened
with in the preseason.
But also like Daniels, Drane
returns to Lima with good
memories. Last season, he fended
off a surging Kody Kopp,
making his escape when the two
powered past a downed rider late
in the race.
Lima is reminiscent of the sort
of tracks Drane grew up racing
on in Australia. Back-to-back
races here could prove the key
to unlocking the sort of form
the gifted pilot has been
searching for in 2025.
Delayed Gratification
There was plenty of hype for the
long-awaited debut of reigning
Nicky Hayden AMA Flat
Track Horizon Award
winner Walker Porter
(No. 100 American
Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R)
prior to the Short Track
at Lucas Oil Speedway.
And with its rescheduling, that
long-awaited debut was made even
longer-awaited, shifting the
hype to this weekend’s Lima
Half-Mile.
The hype exists for a reason:
Porter has the potential to join
Tadman in making this a rookie
class for the ages.
And In This Corner…
Just like in Mission AFT
SuperTwins, the Mission Triple
Challenge adds an element of the
unknown and a little extra
opportunity for an upset. Who
are the riders most likely to
strike and claim a maiden
Progressive AFT victory this
weekend?
Fourth-ranked Tarren
Santero (No. 75 Mission
Roof Systems Honda CRF450R)
leads the list, having claimed
his second-career podium finish
a couple races back.
Santero comes in looking for
redemption. That aforementioned
crasher who provided Drane with
the breathing space he needed to
win a year ago? Yep…
The top finisher in last year’s
race who is still in the field
and has yet to be mentioned is
another recent Nicky Hayden AMA
Flat Track Horizon Award
recipient; Evan Renshaw
(No. 65 1st Impressions Race
Team Husqvarna FC450), the
award’s 2023 honoree, enjoyed
one the better outings of his
rookie campaign by claiming
sixth here a year ago. He’s
upped his game by earning a
first-career podium already in
‘25 and is now actively hunting
a victory.
Finishing just behind him were
the presently on-form
Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26
FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha
YZ450F) and Tyler Raggio
(No. 55 Raggio/Sluggo/Unsettled
Racing KTM 450 SX-F), who could
use a couple of strong finishes
about now.
By the way, don’t sleep on
Bradon Pfanders
(No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders
Racing KTM 450 SX-F), who will
make his pro Lima debut after
sitting out most of last season
due to injury.
You Ask, The Riders
Answer
Lima’s fanbase has a reputation
for being among the most
knowledgeable to be found
anywhere in the nation. And
they’ll have an opportunity to
add to that knowledge base via
the Rider Q&A
session that will be included in
each day’s Fan Party,
which will run for approximately
an hour directly preceding
Opening Ceremonies.
That won’t be the only
attraction keeping spectators
entertained between action on
track. There will be music, a
bouncy house for kids, numerous
vendors, and plenty of food and
beverage options, along with
extensive motorcycle parking.
And fans who come out a day
early can watch some of the
future stars of the sport
perform with a day of amateur
racing scheduled for Thursday,
June 26.
Get Your Tickets Today
and Save Some Cash
Fans can save $10 by purchasing
their tickets in advance with
prices slated to return to their
standard rate starting on
Wednesday, June 25. If you act
fast, General Admission
Bleacher tickets are
still $35 each night (kids 12
and under free with a paid adult
GA ticket) with Reserved
Grandstand
tickets $40 and Premier
Reserved Grandstand
$45. Meanwhile, fans who
purchase the two-day ticket save
an additional $5 (two-day
General Admission:
$65/two-day Reserved:
$75/two-day Premier
Reserved: $85).
Those who purchase either a
Reserved ticket or a Premier
Reserved ticket will have the
option to add the VIP
Experience upgrade for
a combined $150. New for 2025,
the Lima VIP Experience includes
a trackside meet-and-greet with
dirt track legend Jared
Mees, infield access
for the Opening Ceremonies and
heat races, all-day pit access,
a climate-controlled VIP lounge,
and free VIP parking.
Camping is also available at the
Allen County Fairgrounds on a
first-come, first-served basis.
Tent Camping is
free while RV/Trailer
Camping, including
water and electric hook-ups, is
$50 per night (cash only).
To purchase Lima
Half-Mile I tickets,
click HERE.
To purchase Lima
Half-Mile II tickets,
click HERE.
And to save $5 by purchasing
Friday and Saturday tickets
together for the Lima
Half-Mile I & II,
click HERE.
Gates will open for fans at 2:00
p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT) with
Opening Ceremonies scheduled to
begin at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m.
PT) on both days. For more
information, ticket purchases,
and updates, visit
www.limahalf-mile.com or
call 419-991-1491
How to Watch
FloRacing
For those that can’t catch the
live action from the circuit,
FloRacing is
the live streaming home of
Progressive AFT. Motorsports
fans can subscribe to FloRacing
to enjoy over 1,000 live
motorsports events in 2025.
FloSports is available by
visiting
https://flosports.link/aft
or by downloading the FloSports
app on iOS, Android, Apple TV,
Roku, Amazon Fire and
Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports
coverage of the Lima
Half-Mile I, featuring
in-depth features and thrilling
onboard cameras, will premiere
on FS1 on
Saturday, July 5,
at 9:30 a.m. ET
(6:30 a.m. PT), with the
Lima Half-Mile II
scheduled to air one week later,
on Saturday, July 12,
at 10:00 a.m. ET
(7:00 a.m. PT).
For more information on
Progressive AFT visit
https://www.americanflattrack.com.
