A heated battle atop the AFT Singles presented by KICKER standings arrives with Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, as it makes its Wheatland, Missouri, debut for the first-ever Short Track at Lucas Oil Speedway on Friday, July 18. 

…And in This Corner… 

Entering the 2025 season, all eyes were on presumed 450cc title fighters Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R). 

As it went, the class’ three-time but not-defending champion, Kody Kopp (No. 1 Bob Lanphere/KTM/Fastrack Racing KTM 450 SX-F), wasn’t quite ready to relinquish the spotlight, claiming double victory at the season opener during DAYTONA Bike Week. 

And then rookie sensation Kage Tadman (No. 288 Roof Systems/Old Oak Ranch KTM 450 SX-F) came from seemingly nowhere to upend the class’ power hierarchy with a pair of stunning wins in his first two attempts. 

But now as the season opens its second half – Drane and Saathoff have returned to centerstage. 

Drane is absolutely rolling, having secured three victories in succession while soaring up the class’ career leaderboards in multiple categories. 

Saathoff, meanwhile, has been nearly as quick, and, as a result, remains the only rider left in the chase who sits within single-race striking distance. 

And it’s not just that the two are finally proving themselves the class of the field as expected, there’s also the undeniable heat to their rivalry. 

The fact that they are as well matched in terms of speed and skill as they are has naturally created multiple chances for on-track clashes throughout their young careers. Those chances have resulted in crashes of both the near and actual variety, along with heightened emotion and exchanged words. 

While a chummier paddock than most, rivalry is very much a feature of the sport. And any number of champions over the years have found the benefit in viewing their adversaries as, well, adversaries. Some might even argue that the legendary Jared Mees sought ways to make it so, as his prior and resumed friendships with the likes of Bryan Smith and Briar Bauman were put on temporary hold during the peak of their times as competing title fighters. 

Fortunately, both Drane and Saathoff are mature beyond their years and calculated in their respective approaches. So long as everything stays above board, the past drama only makes the prospect of their future battles that much more intriguing. 

Rookies Rising 

Along with Kopp’s successful send-off and the evolution of Drane vs. Saathoff, the third major story of the season has been the bumper crop of rookies. 

Tadman is the headliner with those remarkable back-to-back wins in his first two professional events. However, he is far from alone. 

Walker Porter (No. 100 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) hit the ground running despite jumping in near midseason. The 2024 Nicky Hayden AMA Flat Track Horizon Award winner showed himself to be a top-five talent in his debut weekend, and he has the ability to do much more than that as the second half of the season plays out. 

Meanwhile, Ryder Reese (No. 244 Mission Foods/Roof Systems KTM 450 SX-F) made his Progressive AFT debut the same weekend as Porter. And despite being lost in the long shadows cast by Tadman and Porter, he also came away with a top ten in his first weekend as a pro. 

That same feat was pulled off earlier in the season, when Ethan Kitchen (No. 105 Lucky Thumb M/C Yamaha YZ450F) did it at the Daytona opener. 

And finally, there’s Skylar Sentell (No. 249 Hoffer Performance/Stauffer Motors KTM 450 SX-F), who finished tenth at the Lima Half-Mile II – a race that featured four rookies in the top ten. 

There are some other quick first-year riders in the field who continue to get closer and closer to making their mark as well. 

The sport’s future is not just coming. It’s already here. 

Emergence Day 

Between Drane/Saathoff and the rookies is a healthy next group, with any number of contenders hoping to make the leap to the front. 

Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) is the hardest to place because he’s somewhere between that first and next group. While he did defeat Drane to take the checkered flag in the Lima Half-Mile I Mission Triple Challenge Race II, Brunner is still seeking his first official race victory of 2025. You have to think it’s coming – he’s yet to go winless in four prior seasons in the class despite battling with the likes of Dallas Daniels and Kody Kopp over that span. 

Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) has been the next best. He’s taken yet another step forward with a pair of podium finishes in ‘25. That said, he’s got to make another big jump in order to become a regular thorn in the sides of the leading duo. 

Beyond Brunner and Santero, you have the likes of Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F), Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F), Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R), and Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/Reel Medics Yamaha YZ450F) – all of whom seem to take turns in demonstrating genuine brilliance but none of whom have yet to find a way to channel it consistently.  

But AFT Singles is the class where bouts of inconsistency can get ironed out and done so in a hurry.  

Go Party, Go Play, and Go Kart 

Fans who come out to the track on Friday night will find no shortage of entertainment options beyond just the world-class racing.  

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.  

Those in attendance will also have a chance to take advantage of the on-site go-karting, the Diamond Bar, DJ’d music, a multitude of vendors lining the midway, Jumbotron viewing, designated motorcycle parking, and a variety of food and beverage options. 

Seats, Suites, and Fan Experiences 

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 Suiteticket ($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 27 ($3000), both of which include infield group experience with a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line, photo op included, and early race 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 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 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, August 10, at 11:00 a.m. ET (8:00 a.m. PT). 

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