DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR Harley-Davidson XG750R) extended his run of dominance by claiming a fourth successive Mission AFT SuperTwins victory at the inaugural Caterpillar Nashville Short Track presented by Memphis Shades, Round 7 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
All day long in Hohenwald, Tennessee, the Sons of Speed Nashville Short Track provided a racy surface, allowing riders to select from a wide variety of lines while encouraging creative overtakes and close racing at that front. But that trend proved no match for Bauman’s outright superiority.
The Rick Ware Racing ace slipped under Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) on the opening lap of the Main and then sprinted hard to stretch open a gap. Points leader Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) immediately moved into second and tried at least as hard to keep Bauman locked in his sights.
Perhaps too hard, as it turned out. Kopp chattered and wheelied his way around in second while riding desperate to stop the bleeding. That allowed Bauman to gradually work his advantage up, and he built a lead of more than three seconds before easing his way to a 2.689-second margin of victory over Kopp in the end.
It was a controlled, confident performance from Bauman throughout – at least until the final corner in which he suffered a real scare before taking the checkered flag.
“I didn’t know how much of a gap I had on Kody,” Bauman said, explaining his last-lap mishap. “I looked back about halfway and saw we had a little bit of breathing room. But I’m like, ‘Man, he’s probably here… He always charges hard.’ I hit a hole and almost went over the bars!
“But no matter what, this Rick Ware Racing/Super.com team… I just love it. We’re probably in the honeymoon stage right now, but we were seeing couples counseling after Daytona. We’re super proud. I can’t thank them enough. It’s just a team effort.”
Third place went to Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07). The result comes as little surprise when considering the reigning Grand National Champion’s historical podium success rate.
However, it seemed highly unlikely early in the contest when he was buried in sixth and under threat from the pack behind him.
Daniels maintained his composure and patiently picked his way forward, finally passing Bender for third with a minute remaining on the clock.
Despite losing out on his shot at the box, the fourth was a major uptick in form for Bender, who had yet to finish better than 10th this season. Behind him, Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) made it three Harley-Davidson XG750R in the top five in fifth.
Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) finished sixth while Cameron Smith (No. 34 Fredericktown Yamaha/Thee Kathy Gray Yamaha MT-07), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet), Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07), and Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) rounded out the top 10.
Bauman’s hot streak combined with the race-by-race consistency of Kopp and Daniels has resulted in a titanic three-way Grand National Championship battle as the series approaches its midpoint. Kopp continues to lead with 136 points, however, Bauman (131) and Daniels (126) are both within easy striking distance with a doubleheader in Lima, Ohio, coming up next.
KICKER AFT Singles
Estenson Racing Yamaha’s Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) responded like the defending KICKER AFT Singles champion that he is, bouncing back from a season’s worst finish of fifth with his third victory of the season.
Saturday’s victory came following a tense, defensive ride on the Australian’s part. Drane fought his way past second-ranked Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) on the opening lap and then spent the bulk of the race doing everything possible to keep Tadman at bay despite the Honda pilot having the edge in pace.
Their showdown became a three-way tilt at half-distance when Tadman’s teammate, Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), joined the party. Like Tadman, Porter had the high line working and appeared capable of hauling into the lead at any moment.
But a significant mistake on Porter’s part removed him from victory contention while breaking Tadman’s concentration. That allowed Drane the space he needed to settle in and power to the checkered flag.”
Drane said, “We’ve been fast all day. I knew the bike was good enough, I just needed to get a good start. I put my head down, but Kage was giving me a lot of hell behind me there. He was pushing me real hard, but I just had to keep focused and do the best I could. I can’t thank my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team enough. I couldn’t have done this without them.”
Porter made an equally significant save to stay upright. When back at speed, he found himself alongside polesitter Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R), title hopeful Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), and rookie ace Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) in a fight for the final spot on the podium.
That battle wasn’t decided until the final lap, when Saathoff charged his way up into third. Santero secured fourth, while Porter narrowly missed out on his maiden top three yet again in fifth.
Brucks finished a close sixth, while Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer’s Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F), Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F), Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R), and Dylan Cunningham (No. 252 Scott Stump/Joel Laub KTM SX-F) completed the top ten.
Drane now leads Tadman by 20 points (134-114). Saathoff is third at 110.
AFT ProSport 450
Estenson Racing prodigy Sam Drane (No. 7 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) returned to AFT ProSport 450 action after missing the previous three rounds and picked up right where he left off.
Drane, who was victorious in the new class’ first two Main Events, made his way back to the top of the podium but only following a spirited scrap with Silver Dollar ST winner Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R).
After Drane successfully got the holeshot from pole, there were justifiable fears that he’d run away with it as he’d done in Friday’s AMA-sanctioned Mission Foods CTR Showcase race and Saturday afternoon’s Heat Race.
However, Costan-Wood had other plans. He stepped up his game significantly in the Main Event thanks to a high line that allowed him to sling around the circuit at remarkable speed.
On lap 8 of 12, Costan-Wood used that strategy to overhaul Drane, and the two subsequently executed a series of crisscrossing passes on one another, with Drane countering by throwing it down underneath and Costan-Wood squaring him back up in return.
The Australian finally ended that back-and-forth by placing himself in Costan-Wood’s preferred path, stalling his challenger’s momentum ever so slightly. That allowed Drane to reclaim a firm grasp on the lead, which he then held to the checkered flag.
Third went to Dillon Durelle (No. 58 Durelle Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and was earned by overtaking ThrottleFest winner Bayne Nantz (No. 313 Nantz Bros Racing KTM 450 SX-F) for the position.
Brody Hanson (No. 99 Hanson Racing KTM 450 SX-F) scooped up his third top-five result of the season in fifth.
Royal Enfield Build. Train. Race. (BTR)
Madicela Rodriguez (No. 113 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) picked up her first victory of the 2026 Royal Enfield Build.Train.Race. (BTR) season in convincing fashion.
Rodriguez, who’d taken two thirds and a fourth in the year’s three prior races, finally found her race-winning form of a year ago in the season’s penultimate round. She executed an impressive outside pass on early leader Julia Heess (No. 13 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) and then powered off into the distance.
Despite seeing her season-long win streak come to an end, points leader Emma Gottsch (No. 5 Royal Enfield/Parts Unlimited/Arai/Alpinestars) minimized the damage by working around Heess to come home second.
Heess notched up her fourth podium in four races by locking down third.
Next Up
Progressive American Flat Track returns to action later this month with the highly anticipated Super.com Lima Half-Mile I & II at the Allen County Fairgrounds in Lima, Ohio, on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27.
To purchase your tickets visit:
- Lima HM I: https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/day-1-lima-2026-165645
- Lima HM II: https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/day-2-lima-2026-165651
Or save $20 by purchasing a two-day package here:
https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/lima-2026-2-day-event-package-165644
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
FOX Sports coverage of the Caterpillar Nashville Short Track, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FOX 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.
