DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — There’s some remarkable symmetry at play as Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, comes into this weekend’s Orange County Half-Mile at Orange County Fair Speedway, in Middletown, N.Y. on July 8.
The Grand National Championship last visited the venue in July of 1988. And on that day, the iconic Scott Parker took the victory, one of the record-setting 35 Half-Mile wins of his Hall of Fame career. And now 35 years later, Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) storms in having just earned his 35th career Half-Mile win to match Parker’s mark and poised to claim sole possession of the all-time lead.
The reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle king is on an absolute tear, boasting four wins in his last five races and six on the season. Despite that form, he’s still trying to claw his way back to the top of the championship order. While he’s now just five points shy of doing so, it’s been a difficult task that doesn’t figure to get any easier due to the unwavering performance of second-year Mission SuperTwins ace Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT).
Daniels hasn’t finished off the podium all season long with three wins, six runner-ups, and two thirds representing his 2023 tally to date. That said, the Estenson Racing pilot is looking for answers of his own, as he’s now six races removed from his most recent win and with his once healthy title advantage under threat of disappearing altogether.
What had been a two-man, two-manufacturer duel at the front has since taken on a new look. Two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke) has battled for race wins aboard the increasingly potent Rick Ware Racing KTM three weekends in succession and seems likely to make a strong run down the stretch.
J.D. Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), and Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Corbin/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) were all in the podium hunt this past weekend in West Virginia and will look to pick up right where they left off in New York. It was somewhat surprising that Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) was not, although he’s proven time and again he can stand atop the podium on any given weekend.
And Robinson is not the only potential frontrunner looking to return to the top five at Orange County Fair Speedway with prior premier-class winners Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750), Henry Wiles (No. 17 BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750), Johnny Lewis (No. 10 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 790 Duke) all lining this weekend’s stacked Mission SuperTwins entry list.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Just a few weeks ago, the pack was closing in around Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER points leader Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F). That’s no longer the case. The defending champ comes into this weekend working a two-race win streak while having opened his title lead up from just nine points to 40 with those back-to-back triumphs.
Rather than look behind, Kopp can now look ahead as he eyes a goal he narrowly missed achieving during last season’s successful title run. In 2022, the factory KTM ace racked up seven wins, one short of Dallas Daniels’ single-season class record.
Kopp already owns five on the 2023 season with several venues well suited to his strengths fast approaching on the schedule, including this weekend’s trip to Orange County Fair Speedway.
While Kopp has won nearly half of the year’s 11 Main Events, the other six wins have gone to a collective consisting of second-ranked Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F), fifth-ranked Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F), sixth-ranked Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and seventh-ranked Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).
That said, three of the hottest riders in the class are still seeking their first… of the season in the case of Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and of their careers for Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450).
Meanwhile, some of the category’s biggest names – namely Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team/Husqvarna Racing FC450), Morgen Mischler (No. 13 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Shayna Texter-Bauman (No. 52 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 450 SX-F) – are just looking to get back on track following some uncharacteristically quiet outings.