Kage Tadman (No. 28) holds off Walker Porter (No. 10) during the 2026 ThrottleFest heat race. [Photo: Scott Hunter for AMA Pro Racing]

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 4, 2026) – A newly energized KICKER AFT Singles title fight arrives for the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades, as Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, makes its first-ever visit to Sons of Speed Nashville Short Track in Hohenwald, Tennessee, on Saturday, June 6. 

Title Fight Reignited 

Defending KICKER AFT Singles champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) comes in fresh off his worst result in nearly two seasons. Of course, the Australian’s worst result was a fifth, a finish that would represent a genuine accomplishment for any number of skilled riders. 

Despite that relative dip in form, Drane entered ThrottleFest with a 16-point advantage and left leading by the exact same margin.  

How? While the difference remained the same, the names under it have changed. 

Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F) came away even worse than Drane by placing eighth, dropping him down from second to fourth, now 19 points in arrears. 

Meanwhile, archnemesis Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) stayed in third but cut his deficit from 20 points to 17 by finishing third at Budds Creek. 

The big mover, of course, was race winner Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who leapt up from fourth to second, slashing his gap down from 26 to 16. 

Drane’s consistent excellence has established him as a dominant figure in the class, and his championship style is akin to an Australian scrub python steadily tightening its grip. However, his uncharacteristically quiet fifth in Maryland provides a ray of hope for his rivals, all of whom will be looking to pounce this weekend.  

Talent Travels 

Tadman scored a couple of landmark achievements at ThrottleFest. He joined Drane as the only other two-race winner this season, while claiming both his first win away from his home state and his first at a Half-Mile. 

(Incidentally, his career record of one HM victory puts him on par with fellow title hopefuls Saathoff and Brunner). 

Despite its novelty, the win didn’t come as a major upset. The sort of magic Tadman previously showcased in Ventura and Chico was no fluke, rather merely indicative of what he's capable of when feeling at home and comfortable. 

The fact that he was able to do the same at Budds Creek is clear evidence that he’s starting to feel at home and comfortable with Turner Racing and aboard the Honda CRF450R. 

The possibility that may begin to tap into the full extent of his talent with greater regularity is a scary prospect for his competition, and one that could make Drane’s ongoing title defense a bit more harrowing. 

As Good as a Win?  

Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) currently holds the unofficial title of the most decorated KICKER AFT Singles pilot without a Main Event victory. That’s a semi-dubious distinction that is to simultaneously be worn with pride and shed as quickly as possible.  

However, it seems unlikely that a straightforward front-row-to-checkered-flag victory could have done as much good for Santero’s reputation as his crash-to-back-row-to-runner-up result at Budds Creek. 

The Californian somehow made short work of the world’s elite 450cc riders despite wielding a damaged bike on a one-lined circuit. And one or two more laps might have been all he needed to put Tadman on the victim’s list as well. 

It was an unquestioned win in terms of his standing among fans and rivals. An actual victory has to be soon in the offing, doesn’t it? 

The same could be said of a maiden professional podium for Tadman’s teammate, Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R). 

The second-year pilot is slowly but surely becoming a fixture at the front. Back-to-back fourths have him on the doorstep and a top three would likely already be his by now with a little better run of fortune. 

Restart 

The three-week layoff between ThrottleFest and the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track provides Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F) and Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Eisenhard Racing/Pags Powersports KTM 450 SX-F) an opportunity to reset mentally and come in prepared to put once-promising seasons back on track. 

Both riders came out swinging in ‘26. Eisenhard was one of the heroes of the DAYTONA opener, where he threw down the fastest lap in qualifying, won his heat, and scored a top-five result in Thursday’s Main. Pfanders took his turn in the spotlight the following day, breaking through to claim his maiden Progressive AFT victory. 

But both come into Tennessee hoping to rediscover that early-season form. It’s been a rough run of late for the two, with Pfanders coming off consecutive finishes of 16th, 16th, and DNS, while Eisenhard hasn’t returned to the top ten since the opener. 

The speed is there. The results should follow. A chance to go to work at a track that’s new to everyone might just prove the key. 

Brothers Gotta Hug 

ThrottleFest delivered a very cool moment involving identical twins Dylan Cunningham (No. 252 Scott Stump/Joel Laub KTM 450 SX-F) and Tyler Cunningham (No. 225 Scott Stump/Joel Laub KTM 450 SX-F). 

Both Cunninghams have been fighting hard to qualify for a KICKER AFT Singles Main Event since the beginning of the ‘25 season. And following a number of near-misses, Dylan managed to do exactly that with a second-place run in the LCQ at the Budds Creek Half-Mile. 

No one was more thrilled to see it happen than Tyler, who finished fifth in the LCQ – one spot short of qualifying for the Main himself.  

Tyler raced up next to Dylan and pumped his fist in excitement, brushing off whatever disappointment he may have felt to celebrate the accomplishment of his brother.  

Dylan made the most of it too – racing his way to a top-ten finish in his first-career KICKER AFT Singles Main Event. 

And you have to think that only fueled Tyler’s fire that much more.  

Step Right Up  

The 1st Impressions Husqvarna pro squad is now three strong with Jett Katarzy (No. 117 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) stepping up to KICKER AFT Singles duty alongside Saathoff and Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450). 

Katarzy certainly looked like he already belonged in just his first event as a professional. He registered impressive times throughout the day and won the LCQ to qualify for a KICKER AFT Singles Main in his very first attempt. 

At the same time, Katarzy’s immediate success provides some additional motivation for his now-former AFT ProSport 450 rivals, many of whom will look to graduate up to the pro ranks themselves in the not-too-distant future.  

That list includes Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R) who beat Katarzy to win at Silver Dollar Speedway, along with Bayne Nantz (No. 313 Nantz Bros Racing KTM 450 SX-F) who finished second to him at Ventura Raceway before winning over Costan-Wood at ThrottleFest. 

The fact that AFT ProSport 450 is already turning a number of promising amateurs into familiar names for Progressive AFT fans and springboarding them into KICKER AFT Singles competition serves as clear evidence that the new category is doing exactly what it was designed to do. 

The AFT ProSport 450 competitors will have another chance to impress this weekend as the class is set to contest its penultimate round of the ’26 season at the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track. 

BTR is Back  

The Caterpillar Nashville Short Track also represents the penultimate round of the 2026 Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. (BTR) program, now deep into its seventh season of highlighting, celebrating, and encouraging the involvement of women in flat track racing. 

Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) will look to extend her perfect season following three straight wins to open the year. 

Despite her unblemished record, however, the victories haven’t all come easily. Triple runner-up Julia Heess (No. 13 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) gave Gottsch all she could handle last time out.  

Meanwhile, Madicela Rodriguez (No. 113 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) and Hanna Brewer (No. 39 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) have their own fight for third raging as the series prepares to contest the fourth of five 2026 events. 

Life In the Fast Lane

The Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades is a unique collaboration between Progressive AFT and Billy Lane’s Sons of Speed racing series, a vintage flat track competition inspired by the board track racing era of the 1910s and ‘20s.

Lane, who will serve as the event’s Grand Marshal, is renowned for his innovative and evocative designs at Choppers Inc, his iconic appearances on “Biker Build Off” and “Monster Garage,” and his passion for pushing the limits of speed and style.

With four decades of custom bike building experience behind him, Lane founded Sons of Speed to pay tribute to the daring early years of American motorcycle racing when Harley-Davidson, Indian, Excelsior, and Pope went bar-to-bar on massive wooden board tracks all across the nation.

Sons of Speed has exploded in popularity since its 2017 debut, and Progressive American Flat Track fans will have a perfect opportunity to find out why for themselves.

The weekend will feature a full slate of Sons of Speed competition featuring the raw power and style of vintage 1000cc V-twins and 750cc American flatheads. The vintage heats are scheduled for Thursday, with the Sons of Speed finals and CTR Mission Showcase event set for Friday to lead into Saturday’s Progressive AFT show. 

Fans can watch Friday’s CTR races live on FansChoice.tv beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Ticket Options Galore  

Standing Room Only tickets are available for just $37 including fees ($18 for kids 12 and under), while General Admission tickets are $49 ($22.50 for kids), with Reserved Grandstand and Premium Reserved Grandstand seating available for $59 ($26 for kids) and $70 ($31 for kids), respectively. 

Military/First Responders and Students can purchase tickets for just $30 at the door with valid ID.  

The Harley-Davidson VIP Experience includes GA seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line – photo ops included – a meet-and-greet with the Harley-Davidson riders, and exclusive swag. The H-D VIP Experience is available for $150 ($64 for kids), along with the option to be purchased as a $95 add-on to upgraded seating options. 

And no matter what ticket option you select, pit access is included, providing fans an opportunity to get an up-close look at the racebikes and meet the riders and their teams.  

To purchase tickets for the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/nashville-short-track-186630. 

Gates will open for fans at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT on Saturday with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT.  

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. 

This weekend's livestream will also be available for FREE on the FloRacing 24/7 channel, which you can watch on Prime Video, Roku Channel, and Fubo.

FS1 

FOX Sports coverage of the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, June 13, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 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.