Briar Bauman (3) leads the field during the Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Event at Lucas Oil Speedway on July 18. [Photo: American Flat Track/Tim Lester]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 30, 2025) – The superstars of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, are preparing to undertake a full-scale invasion of the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, with three rounds to be contested in a five-day span. The first two of those three come in the form of the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I & II doubleheader, which will take place at the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club in Sturgis, South Dakota on Monday, August 4, and Tuesday, August 5. 

History Lesson 

Over the decades, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has grown to become a cultural phenomenon of global proportions, attracting some half-million two-wheeled enthusiasts on an annual basis. Somewhat obscured in that rise, however, is the rally's intrinsic, founding relationship to racing.  

Progressive AFT has done much to reconnect the rally to those roots in recent years, and reconnecting with the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club is an important step in furthering that mission. 

The rally was first launched in 1938 by local racer, dealer, and race promoter J.C. "Pappy" Hoel by way of the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club which he’d founded just a couple years prior. The rally was based around a Half-Mile dirt track race that was won by Johnny Spiegelhoff, who would later go on to win the Daytona 200 and earn himself a slot in the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame.  

Approximately two hundred people attended that first year, which was enough to convince Hoel and the Jackpine Gypsies that it was an event worth continuing.  

The Grand National Championship too, has important historical ties to Sturgis. The series raced in Sturgis in its first two years as a season-long endeavor. The victory in ‘54 was taken by six-time Grand National race winner Al Gunter on a BSA, while Bob Tindall rode his Harley-Davidson to the ‘55 win – the first and only triumph of his premier-class career. 

Of course, there was much racing history made between 1938 and 1954, with even more added since, especially in recent years.  

Who will be the next to add their name to Sturgis racing immortality? 

Moving Triple Time 

Don’t forget, this week’s Sturgis triple will kick off with the second-ever Mission Triple Challenge, which will be featured in the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I.  

The format – which ramps up the intensity, pressure, and drama via three increasingly lengthy and important Main Events to determine the night’s ultimate victor – proved a smashing success in its Lima debut. 

Can you imagine just how intense it’ll be when utilized in the close confines of a Short Track?  

Well, we won’t have to imagine for much longer. 

Standing Tall at Short Tracks 

Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) comes into the week with a narrow Mission AFT SuperTwins title lead built in large part on his Short Track prowess. 

Bauman has stated that Rick Ware Racing elected to field the Harley-Davidson XR750R in 2025 in part due to their estimation that it would prove a strong mount for this year’s Short Track-heavy calendar. They’ve been proven prescient in that regard, with the team racking up four ST victories already this season. 

Those wins have shot Bauman’s career tally up to nine Short Track wins (earned at seven different venues, by the way), putting him equal with ST masters Chris Carr, Henry Wiles, and Jared Mees for most all time in the discipline. 

Considering his current form and the fact that he has two cracks at it in Sturgis, it would almost be an upset if Bauman leaves this year’s rally not standing alone atop that particular career leaderboard. 

While career achievements are nice, Bauman’s focus is obviously on the championship fight at hand. Fortunately, those two go hand-in-hand, as the three-race run in Sturgis will no doubt have massive title implications.  

And if he doesn’t take those wins, it’s a pretty strong bet they’ll instead go to the rider currently four points behind him. 

Roller Reversal 

Between them, Bauman and Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) have accounted for all nine wins in 2025. 

Dallas Daniels (32) and Estenson Racing mechanic Dustin Say strategize before Heats at Lucas Oil Speedway on July 18 [Photo: American Flat Track/Kristen Lassen] 

The most recent went to Bauman by 0.329 seconds over Daniels, although that short summary does a poor job of conveying how things actually played out at Lucas Oil Speedway. 

Over the past two-and-a half-seasons, it’s been Bauman who has endured more than his fair share of roller-coaster days, struggling to find pace only to pull it all together at the last minute and salvage whatever he might in the Main Event (note: he’s salvaged outright victory on more than one of those occasions). 

Daniels, meanwhile, has traditionally been historically steady, at or near the front throughout. On his good days, he wins. On his bad days, he finishes second, or… (gasp…) third, with little indication the result will be anything less than that in the lead up to the Main. 

In fact, almost all of his race-related drama took place out of sight when a training accident most likely cost him the 2024 Grand National Championship. 

Ignoring the races missed to injury, he’s racked up a nearly unthinkable 22-race podium streak. 

Even if you don’t like being charitable and consider that streak null and void due to the rounds him missed while healing up, it still splits into a ten-race streak (which would rank as the fifth longest of the reunification era (2010-present)), and an active twelve-race streak (which would be third best and just two short of Mees’ alt-history record of 14). 

However, Daniels saw that streak (whichever one you view as legitimate, 22 or 12) put in serious jeopardy at Lucas Oil Speedway. There he was well off his usual pace, hovering around tenth throughout qualifying, finishing fifth in his heat, and opening the Main Event from Row 3. 

Daniels pulled a Bauman, however, slicing and dicing his way to the front and very nearly running Bauman down at the checkered flag. 

While he’d likely want to avoid a repeat of that day, he also probably feels comforted knowing that he and his Estenson Racing crew can pull it off if necessary. 

As he said after the race, “The way I look at it is, we took a day where we should have been probably 9th or 10th, and we put it on the podium. That's what teams like ours do.” 

H.O.G. Wild 

The once-maligned Harley-Davidson XG750R now leads the 2025 Grand National Championship fight with five victories in nine races. 

Of course, all have come courtesy of Bauman, while Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), who has an extensive history with the machine, is still gunning for a first on the bike. 

He’s come awfully close, but now he’s starting to feel the rounds tick away as he aims to finally accomplish a goal nine years in the making. 

Robinson, who has scored two or more wins in five of the previous six seasons, has no intention of going winless in 2025. And a victory in Sturgis would be hugely popular with the droves of Harley faithful expected to arrive in town, generally, and at the racetrack, specifically.  

A win or two would also do the Mission Roof Systems pilot quite a bit of good in the battle for third in the championship standings, a struggle that tightened up considerably after he ran into mechanical issues last time out. 

He’s now just seven points clear of Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), and 15 points up on Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) after the KTM-mounted duo enjoyed bounce-back weekends at Lucas Oil Speedway. 

Breakthrough Breakdown 

Mission AFT SuperTwins rookie James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) and sophomore Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha MT-07) enjoyed simultaneous breakthroughs when they flanked fellow Yamaha ace Dallas Daniels to earn their first-career premier-class podiums together at DuQuoin. 

Now the two seek to really make their mark in the record books, each still on the quest to secure their maiden Progressive AFT wins in any class. 

They’re not alone in hunting for milestones. 

Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), who finished fourth at Lucas Oil Speedway, is zeroing in on both his first-career Mission AFT SuperTwins podium and Honda’s first premier-class twin-cylinder podium since Rich King rode the RS750 to the box in ‘98. 

Trent Lowe (48) at Lucas Oil Speedway with Kristen Beat. [Photo: American Flat Track/Kristen Lassen]

Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), who finished fourth at the Lima Half-Mile I, could earn his first-ever Mission AFT SuperTwins podium and give Suzuki its first premier-class twin-cylinder podium since Briar Bauman got his first-ever premier-class podium on the SV1000 in 2013. 

And Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), who finished fifth at the Lima Half-Mile I, could earn his first-ever Mission AFT SuperTwins podium and take Royal Enfield to the premier-class podium for just the second time in its history. 

A Party Inside a Party Inside a Party 

The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has a well-earned reputation for nonstop fun and excitement and both days at the track will prove no exception.  

The Fan Party – complete with a Rider Q&A session – will take place leading up to Opening Ceremonies each night. 

And those in attendance will also be able to enjoy big-screen coverage of all the race action, the Kids Zone with a bounce house and face painting, DJ’d music, designated motorcycle parking and a variety of food and beverage options. 

Get Your Tickets Now 

General Admission Grandstand tickets for the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track are just $25 (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult ticket) each day, while Reserved Grandstand tickets are available for $40 (all ages). Students can purchase a GA Grandstand ticket for just $20 at the gate the day of the event with a valid ID. 

H.O.G. members can purchase a H.O.G. Membership Ticket for $45 (all ages), which grants access to both a dedicated parking area and reserved seating. 

Fans also have the option to select Portable Stadium Chair Seating for $70 (all ages), which includes a complimentary stadium chair complete with the event logo that can be used in a tiered seating area along the front stretch of the track. 

Finally, the VIP Ticket ($99 all ages) provides access to a tented area that overlooks the track, complimentary snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, beer for purchase, and Reserved Grandstand seating. 

Click  HERE  to reserve your seats for the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I. 

Click HERE  to reserve your seats for the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track II. 

You can also take advantage of a discounted rate by purchasing tickets for both days together HERE. 

Both days will see the gates open for fans at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT. 

How to Watch 

FloRacing 

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2025. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast. 

FS1 

FOX Sports coverage of the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, August 16, at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT), with the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track II set to air the following day, Sunday, August 17, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). 

For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.