DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The time has finally arrived for the annual running of the World Famous SC2 Peoria TT presented by Backyards Saloon at the Peoria Motorcycle Club’s spectacular natural amphitheater in Peoria, Illinois, on July 28.
One of motorsports’ longest running and most fabled events, the 77th edition will serve as Round 11 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
The Grand National Championship outlook entering this weekend’s Peoria TT shifted radically with the shocking news that championship leader and local hero Dallas Daniels will be unable to participate for the foreseeable future after suffering a broken femur in a training accident on Sunday.
Now recovering after undergoing successful surgery on Monday, the development is obviously a devastating blow to both Daniels and the Estenson Racing outfit after the rising star had built up 19-point advantage in the Mission AFT SuperTwins title fight on the strength of a perfect podium record.
While their premier-class championship ambitions have almost certainly put on hold until the 2025 season, Estenson Racing will move forward in the best possible manner this weekend by recruiting J.D. Beach to rejoin the effort in substitute duty. Beach, who shifted his focus back to Superbike racing this season, is one of the greatest TT riders in the history of the sport and the winner of the last three Peoria TTs while competing for Estenson Racing.
Daniels’ misfortune also has a massive impact on the quest of Jared Mees to secure an unprecedented 10th Grand National Championship. A victory this weekend would move him that much closer to history while providing him with one of the few significant accomplishments he has yet to attain during his decorated dirt track career. The reigning champ has come close to winning here on numerous occasions over the years, having finished as the race’s runner-up a full seven times.
To do so, Mees will not only have to get past Beach, he’ll also need to overcome his long-time rival, Briar Bauman. Bauman stood atop the podium at Peoria in 2019 and has repeatedly reminded the world of that form in the years since, regularly pushing Beach at the front.
The weekend will also be pivotal for third-ranked Brandon Robinson. Unlike his championship foes, Robinson does not come in with an extensive history of TT success. However, he has improved his form at Peoria in recent seasons, developing himself into a regular top-ten finisher. He needs to continue that upward trend and push for a top five in order to reignite his title hopes, currently just 11 points shy of Mees and with six rounds left in which to close that gap.
Several riders have spoiler potential, led by the likes of Jarod Vanderkooi, who has taken three consecutive top fives at Peoria.
Other veterans to keep tabs on include Davis Fisher, Dalton Gauthier and Dan Bromley.
Meanwhile, a pair of 450cc winners at Peoria have stepped up to the Mission AFT SuperTwins ranks in ’24 with the high-profile additions of Trevor Brunner and Max Whale.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
No matter who wins this weekend in Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER competition, it is guaranteed that a new name will achieve Peoria TT immortality with no past event winners gracing this year’s entry list.
Prior to Brunner’s victory a year ago, both reigning class champion Kody Kopp and rival Tom Drane appeared destined to grab their first Peoria TT checkered flags before their respective efforts were undone by a pair of red flags. Title leader Kopp and third-ranked Drane – who have combined to win eight of ten races this season in addition to last year’s Peoria TT speed – are rightly viewed as the pre-race favorites.
Meanwhile, Illinois native Chase Saathoff comes in fresh off a home-state victory in DuQuoin with hopes of making it two straight with his friends and family cheering him on. Saathoff has yet to podium at Peoria, but his fifth- and sixth-place finishers in his two prior attempts made his potential to excel at the circuit obvious.
The lack of a proven Peoria master leaves the door wide open for others to step forward and further their championship standing. Sitting just behind the top three is Trent Lowe, who is still seeking his first win on the season after claiming a pair a year ago.
James Ott has at last found his form, taking his first podium of the year last time out. That result came as his fourth top five in his most recent five starts, allowing him to both close on Lowe in fourth and open up a bit of separation in fifth ahead of fellow Californians Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F), Tarren Santero and Tyler Raggio.
And rising forces Evan Renshaw and Logan Eisenhard) would love to make waves this weekend with a big outing.