KICKER AFT Singles line up for a heat race at Nashville Short Track. [Photo: Scott Hunter for AMA Pro Racing]

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 25, 2026) – The emerging stars of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, will continue to highlight the bright future of the sport when the KICKER AFT Singles and AFT ProSport 450 classes resume their respective clashes at the Allen County Fairgrounds, host of the Super.com Lima Half-Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties, in Lima, Ohio, on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27.

All Aboard

While it took nearly a half season for the championship outlook to take shape, you can almost feel reigning KICKER AFT Singles champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) building up that trademark freight train-like momentum at this point.

With three victories on the year and a 20-point title advantage, the Australian comes into the venue that has defined his power more than any other poised to truly seize control.

Drane first burst onto the Progressive AFT scene with a stunning runner-up debut at Lima back in 2022. He’s only furthered his mastery over the challenging pea-gravel circuit in the time since.

In that first race, Drane finished second to current Mission AFT SuperTwins title leader Kody Kopp by some four seconds. In 2023 – Drane’s first full season in the series – he came second to Kopp again, this time by a margin of two-and-a-half-seconds.

In 2024, Drane beat Kopp by nearly a half-second.

And last year, the Estenson Racing Yamaha star completely dominated the proceedings, winning both the final leg of the Mission Triple Challenge and Saturday’s Main Event by over five seconds.

Should Drane repeat that sort of form with another Lima sweep, he’ll not just extend his lead to more than a full race’s payment of points, he’ll overtake Kopp for the all-time KICKER AFT Singles wins record.

He’d also make a compelling argument regarding the wisdom of Estenson Racing granting him a handful of premier-class wild cards entries down the stretch this season.

En Garde

That same weekend Drane made his runner-up debut in ‘22, Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) backed up his first-career KICKER AFT Singles podium with a second, finishing third to Kopp and Drane at Lima.

He’s also continued to excel at the track, notching up four podiums in five-career attempts. He’s been embroiled with a heated rivalry with Drane over that time, as the two have traded wins, paint, and barbs over the years.

Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F) has largely been in that same orbit as well, despite opening his KICKER AFT Singles career a couple years earlier and then spending one season away garnering Mission AFT SuperTwins Rookie of the Year honors.

But Brunner has been a regular frontrunner as well, winning races in all six of his seasons in the class, including this one.

This year, however, has threatened to upset the power dynamic with a potential changing of the guard taking effect. As Saathoff continues to seek his first victory of the year, and Brunner comes to Lima following a pair of disappointing outings, second-year ace Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) has claimed two wins and a runner-up over the last four races, leaping up past both in the points in the process.

Tadman, Saathoff, Drane won’t want to spend too much time arguing over second place, however. Drane is still the primary target, and all three will need to come up huge this weekend if they hope to slow him down.

Santero Watch

The Lima doubleheader will provide two more chances for Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) to at last get his first career Progressive AFT victory.

Fifth-ranked Santero has been knocking on the door for nearly two full seasons at this point. This weekend presents a real opportunity for Santero, considering he finished as the runner-up in last year’s Mission Triple Challenge overall results.

Similarly, sixth-ranked Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) continues to hunt his first pro podium, an accomplishment that has only narrowly eluded him for multiple weeks on end.

Porter made his Progressive AFT debut here last year and did so in impressive fashion, collecting a top-five result in his very first weekend.

Young Brucks

Turner Racing teammates Tadman and Porter are far from the only first- and second-year riders making waves.

Rookie Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) has finished inside the top ten in five of his seven starts, including three finishes of sixth or better.

His ascendent teammate, Jett Katarzy (No. 117 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), is even newer on the scene, having recently graduated from AFT ProSport 450 success. Despite transitioning from the amateur ranks up to the pros midseason, Katarzy has lived up to the team’s name by making the Main Event in his first two attempts.

Meanwhile, Ryder Reese (No. 41 Fasthouse/Smoking Butcher Coffee KTM 450 SX-F FE) and

Skylar Sentell (No. 60 R&D Racing/Hoffer Performance KTM 450 SX-F) – who both first broke into the KICKER AFT Singles top ten at Lima a year ago – have continued to work their way up the order more regularly as they accumulate valuable experience.

And keep an eye on Dylan Cunningham (No. 252 Scott Stump/Joel Laub KTM 450 SX-F), who comes into Lima having converted his first two Main Event qualifications into consecutive top-ten finishes.

Keeping Up with the Joneses

Meanwhile, the field is stocked up with established runners hoping to reassert themselves.

The likes of Justin Jones (No. 91 Fairway Ford Chevy GMC Yamaha YZ450F), Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F), Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R), Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer's Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F), and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Eisenhard Racing/Pags Powersports KTM 450 SX-F) have all enjoyed their moments this season, but it’s been a minute since any of them really pushed for podium contention.

Perhaps this will be the weekend one (or more) of them reminds the usual suspects exactly what they’re capable of on their day.

No Sleep Till DuQuoin

The all-new AFT ProSport 450 class will make one last appearance this season as the nation’s top amateurs make their final preparations before heading to DuQuoin, Illinois, from July 5-10 for the 2026 Roof Systems AMA Flat Track Grand Championship.

The class has helped raise the profile of a number of heralded prospects, including race winners Sam Drane (No. 7 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R), Bayne Nantz (No. 313 Nantz Bros Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and the aforementioned Katarzy.

Will another rising star add their name to that list and carry some extra momentum into DuQuoin?

Three-Day Weekend

Fans will have plenty to keep them entertained beyond the world-class on-track excitement. There will also be music, a bouncy house for kids, numerous vendors, and plenty of food and beverage options, along with extensive motorcycle parking.

And spectators are invited to get the party started a day early, as Thursday at the track will spotlight the future stars of the sport with a AMA-sanctioned Mission Foods CTR Showcase Event, which will feature the 450 Road to AFT clash that will set the grid for Saturday’s AFT ProSport 450 season finale.

Act Fast to Save Your Cash 

General Admission Bleacher tickets are just $45 each night (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult GA ticket) with Reserved Grandstand and Premier Reserved Grandstand tickets priced at $55 and $60, respectively.

Meanwhile, fans who purchase a two-day ticket will save $5.

The Pit Pass add-on ($40/day) provides fans a chance to get an up-close look at the race bikes and meet the riders and their teams.

Fans looking to take things to the next level can choose the VIP Experience add-on ($150 per day or $280 for two days, seats included) to gain access to a climate-controlled VIP room with a catered meal, five alcoholic beverages, and a Pit Pass.

Camping is also available at the Allen County Fairgrounds. The camping sites, which are accessible off Harding Highway and include water and electric hookups, are available on a first-come, first-served basis at $50 per night (Wednesday night through Saturday night).

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 Super.com 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 6:40 p.m. ET (3:40 p.m. PT) on Friday. On Saturday, Gates will open at 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies slated for a 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT) start. 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 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 Super.com Lima Half-Mile I, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, July 5, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The Lima Half Mile II will air the following Sunday, July 12, 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.