Fans enjoying the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT on Saturday night. [Photo: Kristen Lassen for AMA Pro Racing] 

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (August 10, 2026) – Two days after claiming the Mission AFT SuperTwins title lead for the first time this season, reigning Grand National Champion Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) will put that narrow advantage on the line in Monday’s Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Short Track, Round 13 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. 

Monday’s clash follows on the heels of Daniels’ Saturday win at the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT, held at the same Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club venue albeit in a very different guise. 

The challenge and pressure will only ramp up as the 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally continues to cast the eyes of the two-wheeled world on Sturgis, South Dakota. 

Powder Keg 

With a day in between to transform, Saturday’s Super TT layout will make way for one of the tightest, most intense Short Tracks in series’ history. 

Small enough to fit inside the DAYTONA Short Track, the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track delivers on the discipline’s promise of close-quarters battle, desperate strikes, lighting quick passes, and bar-banging action.  

The proof is in last year’s doubleheader. The two 2025 STs at the track saw Daniels and title rival Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR/Rocket Doctor Harley-Davidson XG750R) trade positions, paint, and words. 

In the opening leg of the doubleheader, Bauman edged Daniels in the Mission Triple Challenge, with Bauman winning the first, Daniels the second, and then Bauman holding Daniels at bay to win the third following a back-and-forth affair.  

That merely laid the groundwork for what was to come the following day – a round that made concrete what had been a mostly theoretical rivalry between the two riders vying to claim Jared Mees’ vacated position atop the sport’s hierarchy of power. 

In the day’s Main Event, Bauman and Daniels came together after Bauman attempted to square up his rival and miscalculated their respective trajectories, leaving Daniels in the dirt and the red flags flying. 

At the end of the night, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) had at last earned his first XG750R-mounted victory. Meanwhile, Bauman battled up from the back of the field to third, and Daniels slashed his way up to fifth – bringing his historic 23-race podium streak to a bitter conclusion.  

That instantly elevated their budding rivalry to a newer, hotter phase. While it’s largely simmered in 2026, the rivalry could ignite at any moment, and the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track is a powder keg where such things can happen in an instant. 

Take the Bull(ring) by the Horns 

While Daniels and Bauman are centered as a result of their shared Jackpine Gypsies history – which includes their Saturday 1-2 – rookie Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) has been the rider who has headed the points standings for the bulk of the season.  

Now relegated to a close second, Kopp came back swinging the one previous time this season in which he was temporarily removed from the top of the order. 

And after finishing off the box in consecutive races for the first time in his young premier-class career, Kopp will no doubt be motivated to change the narrative on Monday. 

While Bauman and Daniels are certified ST experts – Bauman stands as the all-time leader with 14 wins in the category and Daniels already tied for sixth with seven – Kopp has what it takes to excel here as well. He’s the KICKER AFT Singles career leader with 10 Short Track wins, and opened his Mission AFT SuperTwins career with back-to-back ST wins at the DAYTONA season opener. 

Just six points out of first, the Latus Motors Harley-Davidson prodigy is still very much in contention. That said, he’ll need to reassert himself down the stretch at tracks Daniels and Bauman both eye with confidence.  

Fishing for Spoilers 

The tight title fight will only push the top trio to greater and greater heights; it’ll be up to everyone else to keep pace and inject some unpredictability into the affair. 

Any number of riders could do so Monday night. Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) came home second ahead of Bauman and Daniels following their controversial clash here a year ago. 

Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) showed his potential at the circuit by finishing fourth in the final leg of the ‘25 Mission Triple Challenge. 

Henry Wiles (No. 911 DL Racing/HYMMCO Yamaha MT-07) – who is tied for second alongside the likes of Chris Carr and Jared Mees for career Short Track wins at nine – picked up a top five here a year ago. 

And Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) looked mighty strong in the ST section of the Super TT course en route to his Saturday fifth. 

Drave Versus Saathoff, Pt. X 

Speaking of rivalries, none in the sport are as consistently intense as the one sparking between reigning KICKER AFT Singles king Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and second-ranked Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450). 

Over the years, the two have come together with one or both hitting the dirt more times than pure chance and similar pace could possibly predict. 

The only thing holding their rivalry back from reaching truly epic proportions is its one-sided nature; while Drane continues to rewrite the record books, Saathoff is still seeking his first win of the 2026 season. 

With just a little better timing and perhaps a bit more patience, Saturday might have been his best chance to do so. Instead, both riders ended up on the ground together… again (as they also did during qualifying). 

Instead, the desperation to get it done continues to mount as the series braces for the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track where they split top honors a year ago. 

Evenly matched in Saturday’s Super TT and both Short Tracks here a year ago, this one is shaping up as yet another high-profile duel between the class’ leading two contenders. 

Seize the Moment(um)  

That, of course, creates the potential for another open door. 

Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer's Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F) gleefully blasted through one on Saturday, turning their rivalry into his maiden KICKER AFT Singles victory. He could be in the mix for a Sturgis double on Monday; he picked up one of his career best finishes to date with a sixth at the 2025 Jackpine Gypsies Short Track II. 

Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Texas Utility Studies/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) finished second again on Saturday and continues to hammer on the door in the search of his breakthrough win. 

Other well poised to succeed are third-ranked Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), who finished on the box twice here a year ago, along with Trevor Brunner (No. 21 JMC Motorsports/Fairway GMC KTM 450 SX-F), who picked up a race win in one of the ‘25 Mission Triple Challenge Mains en route to a pair of top fives in Short Track action at Sturgis. 

And don’t overlook Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F). Fresh off his slice and dice from the back row to the podium, Pfanders finished fifth here last year. At the time that equaled his best career finish. He’s since developed into a race winner and multi-time podium finisher – a record he’ll look to further on Monday night. 

Party Like You're (Still) at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 

The party is only getting started here in Sturgis. Those celebrations will continue with NASCAR Hall of Famer and 1989 Cup Series Champion Rusty Wallace serving as the Grand Marshal of the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Short Track. 

Beyond the excitement generated by the greatest dirt track motorcycle racers on the planet, the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club will feature big-screen viewing, a wide range of vendors, an abundance of food and beverage options, and much, much more. 

Don’t Delay 

A limited number of General Admission tickets for the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Short Track are available for just $25. General Admission Grandstand tickets are only $53 (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult ticket) with Reserved Grandstand tickets $64 (all ages). Students can purchase a GA Grandstand ticket for just $20 at the gate the day of the event with a valid ID. 

The Harley-Davidson VIP Experience ($135, all ages) delivers H.O.G. members an unforgettable evening that includes exclusive H-D seating, a rider meet-and-greet, an infield tour complete with podium photos, and Harley swag. 

Finally, an exclusive offering – limited to just 30 guests – is access to the AFT Hospitality Tent, which provides prime sightlines along with food and drinks all day for $125 (all ages). 

And if you act fast, you can save $5 off the gate price and be one of the first 500 who’ll snag a free seat cushion. 

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-jackpine-gypsies-short-track-194954   to reserve your seats today. 

Gates open for fans at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 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. 

FS1 

FOX Sports coverage of the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Super TT, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, August 22, at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT), with the Caterpillar Jackpine Gypsies Short Track set to air the following day, Sunday, August 23, 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.