DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The world’s greatest motorcycle dirt trackers are now just days away from kicking their 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 March 9-10.
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.
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.
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. 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 and JD Beach, who come into the season looking to take yet another step forward following a breakthrough campaign, as well as Brandon Robinson who has taken multiple wins in each of the past four seasons.
Another rider to keep tabs on this week is Sammy Halbert. While no longer a full-time series contender, Halbert owns a sparkling history at the venue, boasting four prior DAYTONA ST wins.
Though 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, Bronson Bauman, Johnny Lewis, Mikey Rush, Davis Fisher and Kolby Carlile as underdogs.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles Prepare
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp will brandish the No. 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, a two-time championship runner-up.
Meanwhile, Whale’s compatriot Tom Drane 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 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 and the world’s third-ranked rider Ervín Krajčovič from the Czech Republic, along with Briton Gary Birtwistle and Canadian Hunter Bauer 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 to holdovers Morgen Mischler and Chase Saathoff.
Fans will be thrilled to witness the return of the class’ all-time winningest rider Shayna Texter-Bauman 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 and James Ott.
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.