(Kage Tadman (228) Tom Drane (59), and other AFT Singles riders await the green light at Silver Dollar Speedway during round five; Photo: American Flat Track/Kristen Lassen)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 4, 2025) – An AFT Singles presented by KICKER title fight that has both met and defied expectations resumes on Saturday, June 7, with the inaugural Short Track at Lucas Oil Speedway, Round 6 of the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. 

The Big Picture 

As the series arrives in Wheatland, Missouri, the championship standings stand precisely as predicted in the preseason – at least from a big picture perspective – with Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) leading the way. 

Drane has a narrow five-point advantage due to superior consistency, while Saathoff holds the upper hand in having shone brighter on his brightest nights thus far in ‘25. 

However, the domination that was both hoped and feared from the duo in the wake of Kody Kopp’s (No. 1 Bob Lanphere/KTM/Fastrack Racing KTM 450 SX-F) transition to roadracing has not materialized. 

Drane is currently mired in the longest winless streak of his pro career since waiting until his eighth start to get a maiden Progressive AFT win, while Saathoff is still seeking to attain the sort of podium regularity that frequently defines a successful championship campaign. 

Meanwhile, 80% of this season’s wins belong to either the exiting champion who participated in only the opening two races or the fresh-faced newcomer who has participated in just the most recent two. 

With a month to regroup, look for Drane and Saathoff to come out swinging this weekend in an attempt to re-assert their assumed authority over the class with 11 races still in play. 

Bigger than the Big Picture 

As alluded to above, the stunning emergence of rookie Kage Tadman (No. 288 Roof Systems/Old Oak Ranch KTM 450 SX-F) during the California swing is arguably the class’ biggest story of the season to date, whatever the championship standings may suggest. 

Tadman became the first rider in AFT Singles history to win each of his first two Main Events as a professional. Not only that, he did so with remarkable speed and style, while snaring every available checkered flag along the way, be it heat race, challenge race, or Main Event. 

What can Tadman possibly serve up as an encore to the encore? 

It’ll be fascinating to see how he reacts as the spotlight brightens while he travels further away from home to compete. 

The pressure is on, and at some point he has to actually look like a rookie, doesn’t he? 

While there’s a lot standing in his way if he hopes to make it three-for-three, he’ll be aided by the fact that Lucas Oil Speedway is an unknown for everyone involved, not just the rookies. 

On the Horizon 

The focus on Tadman has both removed some pressure from, and raised the bar for, another heralded rookie set to make his class debut this weekend. 

Before the season, it was Walker Porter (No. 100 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) not Tadman, who garnered the lion’s share of the attention afforded to the series’ newcomers. 

Having finally turned 16 earlier this month, 2024 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner Porter will join his teammate, 2019 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner, Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), under the Turner Racing banner.

Trever Brunner (21) at Silver Dollar Speedway

Porter is a big-league talent. Ignoring the accomplishments of Tadman, it’ll be interesting to see how quickly he adapts when presented with pro-caliber competition. 

Meanwhile, while the focus on Tadman could allow Porter to come in somewhat under the radar, the same could be true for Brunner in regards to Porter. 

Don’t look now, but Brunner has positioned himself as a sneaky strong title contender. Off to a quiet start in his return to AFT Singles action, Brunner beat Drane and Saathoff to score his first podium of the season last time out, closing to within 14 points of the title lead in the process. 

Brunner is a highly decorated rider with Rookie of the Year honors in both AFT Singles and Mission AFT SuperTwins to go along with his Horizon Award. He also ranks in the career top ten in AFT Singles victories and stands as just one of five career Grand Slammers in the class. 

While Drane and Saathoff continue to search for answers, Brunner has an opportunity to provide his own solution and at last secure the championship that has thus far eluded him. 

Embarrassment of Riches 

Beyond the riders already discussed, the class boasts a number of riders who have demonstrated the potential to break out to claim a first Progressive AFT victory on any given weekend. 

Fourth-ranked Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) was on the box two rounds again at Ventura. 

Fifth-ranked Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F) is performing as well as he ever has on a week-in, week-out basis and is notoriously strong at four-wheel biased venues. 

2023 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) claimed his first podium earlier this season and is hungry for more. 

Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) is the definition of a breakout waiting to happen, flashing front-running speed whenever Lady Luck allows. 

Build. Train. Race. 

Royal Enfield’s hugely successful and popular Build. Train. Race. (BTR) program is back in action this weekend for its penultimate round. 

Since its inception, BTR has injected new talent and excitement into the series as highlights, celebrates, and encourages the involvement of women in flat track racing. 

Through three races, three different riders – Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai), Taia Little (No. 11 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai), and Madicela Rodriguez (No. 113 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai) – have split top honors.  

Can someone else step forward to make it four in four? 

It’s a Whole Vibe 

Fans in attendance this weekend will have an opportunity to experience all that Progressive AFT and Lucas Oil Speedway have to offer, both on the track and off.  

The Fan Party – complete with a Rider Q&A session – will run from 5:00 p.m. local time right up until opening Ceremonies at 7:00 p.m.  

Rider Q&A with Kage Tadman (228), Bradon Pfanders (83), and Aidan RoosEvans (26) at Silver Dollar Speedway

A DJ will keep the energy levels high between sessions, and a fireworks display will close out the evening’s festivities. 

Additionally, spectators can enjoy on-site go-karting, the Kids Zone, the Diamond Bar, a multitude of vendors lining the midway, Jumbotron viewing, designated motorcycle parking, and a variety of food and beverage options. 

Ticket Talk 

General Admission Grandstand tickets for the Short Track at Lucas Oil Speedway are just $25 (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult ticket), 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. 

There are multiple options to enjoy the facility’s 21 VIP Luxury Suites, starting with an Individual Suite ticket ($99), which includes a private outdoor box seat along with access to the indoor lounge. 

Private Indoor Suites are available for groups of up to 18 ($2000) and 30 ($3000), both of which include infield group experience with a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line, photo op included, and earlyrace viewing from the infield. 

Also available for purchase is the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experience ($99), which includes reserved seating, a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line, photo op included, and up-close viewing of Opening Ceremonies and a portion of the night’s race action. 

Finally, fans have the option to purchase the Practice Viewing Trackside Fan Experience as a $25 upgrade to a GA Grandstand or Reserved Grandstand ticket, which provides a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line, photo op included, and up-close viewing of a practice session. 

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2025-lucas-oil-short-track-141381 to reserve your seats today. 

Gates will open for fans at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT 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 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 Short Track at Lucas Oil Speedway, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, June 15, at 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT). 

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