Tom Drane (No. 1) wins his second consecutive KICKER AFT Singles Championship after winning the 79th running of the Caterpillar Peoria TT.  [Photo: Tim Lester for AMA Pro Racing] 

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 22, 2026) – Spearheaded by the efforts of Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) and Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Estenson Racing Yamaha pulled off a clean sweep of victories at the 79th World Famous Caterpillar Peoria TT presented by Walters Brothers Harley-Davidson, Round 14 of 16 for the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. 

And as it was, both headlining wins at the Peoria Motorcycle Club in Peoria, Illinois, were of significant consequence.  

Daniels closed out the day’s proceedings by coming out on top of a tense duel with Mission AFT SuperTwins’ rival Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR/Rocket Doctor Harley-Davidson XG750R).  

The premier-class Main Event saw the reigning and former Grand National Champions go head-to-head for the entirety of the 10-minute and two lap affair. Bauman grabbed the holeshot but Daniels was restless in second, repeatedly looking for a way up the inside in the track’s first and last corners. 

After being rebuffed by multiple crisscrossing square-ups, Daniels made his intended maneuver stick with just under six minutes remaining on the clock. 

The Estenson Racing Yamaha ace grabbed a couple tenths in a hurry and threatened to shake free. However, Bauman found his second wind as the laps wound down and the two encountered lapped traffic. At that point, the Rick Ware Racing pilot closed right back in on Daniels’ rear wheel, eying a final-lap lunge with the checkered flag in sight.  

Instead, Daniels held his line and raced his way to a 0.325-second margin of victory. 

The win was especially rewarding for Daniels, who grew up in nearby Mattoon, Illinois, dreaming of days like this. He said, “That was probably the toughest Main Event of my career. I got off in second, but that was actually good. I was watching Briar and seeing where I was a little bit better. He was making a few mistakes, and I snuck by. I tried to be smooth, but it wasn’t super smooth. He was right on me, I kind of pulled a gap, but then he reeled it back in. I could hear him sizing up a move, and I tried to do anything I could to not let it happen.  

“It feels great. The bike was just flawless. And you know, Briar is really good here… just like Chris (Carr), Henry (Wiles), and JD (Beach) – he’s one of those guys. He was trying to take the reins on taking this place over, and I knew he was going to be really tough to beat. I’m so pumped to get the job done. It’s amazing.” 

Third title contender, Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R), had his work cut out for him after being forced through the LCQ due to losing his chain landing the jump while leading his heat race. 

Despite this disadvantage, Kopp somehow slotted his way up into fourth on the opening lap of the Main Event. However, he was unable to translate that into genuine contention, quickly losing the position to Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), who then reeled in Peoria legend Henry Wiles (No. 911 DL Racing/HYMMCO Yamaha MT-07). 

Fisher finally made his way through on Wiles with less than a minute remaining, as Kopp looked to pull off a similar feat. 

The Latus Motors Harley runner came up just short, with Fisher earning the final spot on the box, while Wiles edged Kopp for fourth by a scant 0.044 seconds. 

“Fast Boy from Illinois” Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) finished sixth, with Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07), Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07), and Kole King (No. 80 King Performance/Motul KTM 790 Duke) rounding out the top ten. 

As a result of his momentous triumph, Daniels now boasts a commanding 20-point advantage in his Grand National Championship defense with just the Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II to go. He currently sits at 272 points, followed by Bauman (252) and Kopp (249). 

KICKER AFT Singles 

The KICKER AFT Singles class promised yet another epic clash with Drane in position to successfully defend his class crown, and his archrival, home-state hero Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), hoping to stay alive by defending his home turf. 

That promise was broken when it became clear Drane wanted no part of any further drama, while Saathoff got saddled with his own. 

While the Estenson Racing Yamaha ace powered off with the holeshot, Saathoff initially found himself behind the visiting Max Whale (No. 18 Australian Road Services/Heaton Plant & Pipeline KTM 450 SX-F). While Saathoff rectified that situation in short order, he suffered a bobble in the last corner of the opening lap. That mishap cost him the position, time, and any realistic chance of challenging Drane. 

Drane ran a clean race at the front, clocking up a record-tying eighth victory to lock down his second consecutive KICKER AFT Singles title. 

He said, “It’s been a great season – eight wins so far, which is really cool. We didn’t really change anything. We rode the same bike all day… The track just kept getting better and better, and I kept feeling better and better. I knew I had to go out there and try to win, so I put my head down the first half of the race and got a gap. I kept looking back and just tried to manage the gap. I didn’t need to do anything silly and brought the championship home.” 

Countryman Whale served as a de facto bodyguard, keeping Saathoff corralled behind him for the remainder of the race to claim a runner-up finish in his first attempt of the ‘26 season.  

With the top three positions well out of reach, several riders were in contention for fourth. That position ultimately went to Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Texas Utility Studies/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) despite the attempts of Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F), and company. 

Pfanders finished fifth, while Tadman ultimately dropped back to eighth. Between them, Trevor Brunner (No. 21 JMC Motorsports/Fairway GMC KTM 450 SX-F) and Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) picked up sixth and seventh, respectively, while Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer's Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F) and Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) completed the top ten. 

Now with 264 points, Drane holds an unassailable lead with two rounds remaining. Saathoff has a strong grasp on second at 215, while Tadman (182), Santero (193), and Brunner (170) all retain slim yet mathematical shots at that spot. 

Dan Bromley AFT ProSport 450 Invitational 

While Daniels’ and Drane’s wins garnered the headlines, it was actually the KICKER AFT Singles champ’s younger brother, Sam Drane (No. 7 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), who kicked off the Estenson Racing Yamaha sweep. 

The rising star rounded out a dominant day of his own with a fittingly dominant performance in the Dan Bromley AFT ProSport 450 Invitational. 

Even amongst an all-star collection of amateurs invited to compete in a race organized in memory of the late Dan Bromley, Drane proved himself in a class of his own in Peoria.  

After topping the charts in practice, both qualifying sessions, and his heat race, the Australian kept right on rolling through the Main Event. Drane took the holeshot and systematically built up his lead across the 12-lapper, ultimately taking the checkered flag with a 5.020-second margin of victory. 

The win was Drane’s fourth in the inaugural season of AFT ProSport 450 competition. 

Jake Paige (No. 55 Paige Racing GASGAS MC 450F) and Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R) attempted to keep Drane in sight early before shifting focus to their fight for second. 

Paige had gotten away in that position but soon found himself facing constant and intense pressure from Costan-Wood. That carried on right up the final stripe, where Paige just managed to hold Costan-Wood at bay by 0.071 seconds to complete an all Australia 1-2. 

Behind, Dillon Durelle (No. 58 Durelle Racing Yamaha YZ450F) worked his way past Cody Mishey (No. 26 Team Mishey Racing Honda CRF450R) to score fourth, with Mishey holding on to complete the top five. 

Next Up 

It all comes down to this: The 2026 Grand National Championship will be decided at the series’ crown jewel – the Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, on Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6. 

For tickets visit: 

• Caterpillar Springfield Mile I: https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/day-1-springfield-2026-165642 
• Caterpillar Springfield Mile II: https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/day-2-springfield-2026-165643 
• Caterpillar Springfield Mile I & II: https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/springfield-2026-2-day-package-165638 

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 coverage of the World Famous Caterpillar Peoria TT, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, August 30, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at https://www.americanflattrack.com/events-foxsports. 

About AMA Pro Racing

AMA Pro Racing is the premier professional motorcycle racing organization in North America, operating a full schedule of events and championships across multiple disciplines. The organization is headquartered in Daytona Beach, Fla. More information is available at AMAProRacing.com. 

About Progressive American Flat Track

Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in motorsports history.