Kody Kopp (No. 12), Dallas Daniels (No. 1), and Briar Bauman (No. 3) battle for the lead at the 2026 Drag Specialties DuQuoin Mile presented by Parts Unlimited.

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 5, 2026) – Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) returned to the top of the box for first time since his brilliant season-opening double by claiming victory in Sunday’s thrilling Drag Specialties DuQuoin Mile presented by Parts Unlimited, Round 10 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. 

Saturday’s weather delay pushed the scheduled Independence Day action at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Illinois, to Sunday, which saw further delays to get the surface competition ready. And yet, in the end, America’s Original Extreme Sport® came through to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday in Grand (National Championship) style. 

By half-distance, a healthy seven-rider lead pack was whittled down to just four contenders – the usual suspects of Kopp, reigning Mission AFT SuperTwins champ Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07), and the on-form Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R), plus a super spoiler in Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke). 

The four proceeded to trade their positions back and forth with ferocity and frequency, testing novel lines and last-lap strategies all the while.  

All of that prelude set up the decisive final lap. Kopp led to open, with Fisher, Daniels, and Bauman in close formation. Daniels ran down low to snatch the lead coming out of Turn 2, with Kopp, Fisher, and Bauman railing around above him. 

They streaked alongside as all four powered to the checkered flag. There, the stripe clocked Kopp in first, just 0.012 seconds ahead of Fisher. 

Meanwhile, Daniels earned the final spot on the box another 0.046 seconds back, with Bauman left off the podium despite missing out on victory by less than two-tenths-of-a-second. 

A jubilant Kopp said, “I was looking at the time (remaining), looking at everything I could, and using all my tools (to work out a final-lap plan). I can’t believe we pulled that one off. Dallas checked down low going into Turn 4, and I had planned on trying to draft him to line. But when he did that, I just started rolling and picked it up mid-corner more than I had all race. That fence came up real quick. I’m happy to get that one.  

“This says a lot about my team. Dave (Zanotti) and Michelle (Disalvo), they’ve been working so hard on this package.” 

Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) escaped what was a four-rider second group to equal his best career premier-class of fifth on a very fast G&G Yamaha. 

Behind, ‘25 Springfield Mile winner Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) eked ahead of Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) and Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke) to win their battle for sixth at the line. 

Cody Johncox (No. 96 Sunnyside Cycle/Hyper Dog Yamaha MT-07) and Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) rounded out the top ten. 

Kopp’s win stretched out his Grand National Championship lead just a bit, as he now heads Daniels by eight points (192-184) with Bauman still very much in contention at 172. 

KICKER AFT Singles 

Regardless of what the calendar said, KICKER AFT Singles still delivered fireworks worthy of the Fourth of July.  

A dash of additional drama was baked into the Main Event as a result of reigning champ and breakaway title leader Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) starting his race from the back of the grid.  

The Australian encountered problems during his heat race, a rare bout of misfortune further magnified by the day’s compressed schedule which eschewed the LCQ and forced him to burn his season’s provisional start just to gain entry into the Main. 

Meanwhile, another pre-race favorite, Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Honda CRF450R), had to skip the KICKER AFT Singles Bill's Home Improvement Challenge race after running into bike issues of his own moments after finishing second in that same heat. 

While unlucky for Drane and Brunner, that gave what was already expected to be an unpredictable affair a feeling that this was truly anyone’s race to win. And that vibe rang true right up to the checkered flag. 

Despite the handicap, Drane blasted up to sixth on the opening lap while fellow DuQuoin magician Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) grabbed the early lead over Bodie Paige (No. 165 RWR/American Honda/BWR Ranch Honda CRF450R), Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer's Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F), Brunner, and company. 

Saathoff continued to set the pace over the race’s opening half via a high line that was imitated by everyone in the lead eight-rider pack. 

Everyone other than Drane that is, who utilized a low path to sneak his way forward. Saathoff recognized the wisdom in his rival’s decision with around three minutes to go, and soon enough, everyone in that big group of contenders moved down to jockey for position with the laps winding down. 

While Brunner fell off the chase, as many as seven riders opened the final couple of laps retaining at least a glimmer of hope for victory. Among them, Drane, Saathoff, and Paige were the clear favorites, and they powered into the final corner in that position. 

And – even following a final sprint down the long start/finish straight – that’s how they stayed. Drane tucked in tight and willed his way to the checkered flag before second- and third-place finishers Saathoff and Paige managed to slingshot their way through to steal away the honors. 

Drane’s margin of victory over Saathoff was a typical DuQuoin-style 0.088 seconds. Meanwhile, Paige improved his perfect Progressive AFT podium record to three for three with the rookie finishing just 0.131 seconds back of the win despite riding in considerable pain after catching his foot in a hole. 

The triumph marked Drane’s ninth all-time at a Mile, breaking a tie with Shayna Texter-Bauman for most in KICKER AFT Singles history. It also represented a record-extending 25th of his career.  

He said, “It was a tough break in the heat race, but I was able to put my head down (at the start of the Main). I knew I could get a good start and work my way up the field. I couldn't do it without my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team. They turned around and gave me a new bike that was ready to go. They put in such hard work, and we put it up on the top step.” 

Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Texas Utility Studies/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) found his way up that lead group in the race’s latter stages to secure fourth, while Pfanders completed the top five. 

Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and Kelleher took sixth and seventh, standing as the final riders still within sight of the win. 

Brunner held on for eighth. He was followed by title fighter Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and Canadian Jordan Beaulac (No. 156 Picotte Motosport/Dofralex GASGAS MC 450F), who finished ninth and tenth, respectively.  

With four straight wins in his corner, Drane’s title lead has ballooned to a sizable 41 points over Saathoff (203-162). Tadman is third at 149. 

Next Up 

Progressive American Flat Track will complete a run of four rounds in just over two weeks’ time with next Saturday’s Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half-Mile at Williams Grove Speedway, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, on July 11. 

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-williams-grove-half-mile-185952 to purchase your tickets today. 

Meanwhile, the action continues all week long in DuQuoin with the 2026 Roof Systems AMA Flat Track Grand Championship amateur nationals at the venue starting today and continuing through July 10. 

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.

FOX Sports
FOX Sports will provide in-depth coverage of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season. The full listing of television premieres are available 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.