DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The KICKER AFT Singles championship fight that will continue with the Silver Dollar Short Track this Saturday, May 2, in Chico, California, is shaping up to be among the most competitive and compelling in years.
Silver Dollar Speedway stands as one of the West Coast’s most revered auto racing dirt track venues. Now set to host Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, for the third consecutive season, the track is fast building a similar reputation in the two-wheeled world. This weekend presents another opportunity to add to that budding legacy.
As the KICKER AFT Singles campaign heads into the fifth round of the season, the class has yet to see a repeat winner.
Defending class champion Tom Drane (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) holds down the early-season points lead. That comes as no surprise. However, the Australian has not been the dominant figure to start this season that he was to end last season.
Drane raised the bar a year ago, and his rivals have responded. But like his Estenson Racing teammate and fellow reigning champion, Dallas Daniels, Drane’s week-in, week-out consistency can be his hallmark even in stretches when the wins don’t come as readily as he’d prefer.
While that strength keeps Drane the firm title favorite, the spotlight has – at least for the moment – shifted to rising star Kage Tadman (No. 28 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R).
Tadman burst onto the scene in 2025 by winning his first two professional races, sweeping the West Coast double at Ventura Raceway and Silver Dollar Speedway.
The Salinas, California, native is attempting to pull off the same feat again in ‘26. He’s halfway there, now days removed from earning his third-career win after holding Drane at bay in last Saturday’s Ventura Short Track.
Senoia Raceway winner Trevor Brunner (No. 21 KMA Racing/March Equipment Yamaha YZ450F) was rolling at Ventura, at least until an imperfect launch in the Main dashed his designs of snatching consecutive victories. That missed opportunity was clearly chafing at Brunner, and he rides at his best when he’s got that edge.
Meanwhile, the season’s other winner, Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Memphis Shades/Corbin Seats Yamaha YZ450F), could use a big result to add to his DAYTONA triumph.
While Pfanders is no doubt focused on adding a second (and third and fourth, etc.) win to his career tally as quickly as possible, even when he’s not battling at the front, he continues to serve as an example of the opportunity that exists for a rider to emerge and collect a maiden win on any given weekend.
Few would have predicted there would be four different KICKER AFT Singles race winners in the season’s first four races. Fewer still would have guessed that Chase Saathoff (No. 88 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) would not be among those four.
There’s nothing wrong with Saathoff, as evidenced by his two podiums. But one can imagine the title hopeful is growing more than a little tired watching his rivals celebrate atop the podium, especially from the outside looking in as was the case following last weekend’s sixth.
Saathoff finished second to current Mission AFT SuperTwins championship leader Kody Kopp at Silver Dollar Speedway two years back. In other words, this might be a prime setting for the 1st Impressions Husvarna pilot to up the class’ winners run to five for five.
Tarren Santero (No. 75 Roof Systems/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) was a dark horse pick to finally get his first career KICKER AFT Singles win this past weekend at Ventura Raceway.
It wasn’t to be. A crash in his heat race forced him through the Last Chance Qualifier and placed him on the back row for the Main Event. He completed the opening lap of the race outside the top ten and remained in that general vicinity for the opening quarter of the event.
Santero gradually picked up steam and picked off riders as he did, ultimately ending up a strong fifth. While impressive, Santero isn’t gunning for fifths. Fortunately for the Petaluma native, he has another shot to at last breakthrough in victorious fashion and do so with his friends and family cheering him on.
While racing much further from home, Indiana’s Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R Racing/Vinson Construction Honda CRF450R) would be perfectly content to get his first win – or even podium – while the series completes its West Coast swing.
Lowe looked as strong as he ever has last weekend, running either first or second throughout practice, qualifying, and his heat race, before leading Main Event laps for the time in his KICKER AFT Singles career.
Lowe continued to race inside the top three past half-distance before settling into fourth. It was a shame he couldn’t celebrate that standout form on the podium. Still, it should serve as a confidence booster and provide him some real momentum to carry into this weekend’s rematch.
There are plenty of other riders well poised to spring a surprise.
Justin Jones (No. 91 Fairway Ford Chevy GMC Yamaha YZ450F) is currently enjoying a career renaissance and hoping to cement that triumphant return to form with an actual triumph.
Meanwhile, there are several young riders looking to accomplish what Jones did back in 2015 when he got his first win. That long list includes the likes of Jack Brucks (No. 113 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Walker Porter (No. 10 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Eisenhard Racing/Pags Powersports KTM 450 SX-F), Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer’s Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F), Ryder Reese (No. 41 Fasthouse/Smoking Butcher Coffee KTM 450 SX-F FE) and Skylar Sentell (No. 60 R&D Racing/Hoffer Performance KTM 450 SX-F).
The Progressive American Flat Track paddock has immediately embraced the all-new AFT ProSport 450 class, which provides promising amateurs an opportunity to showcase their talent before a national audience of fans and insiders.
A number of the sport’s biggest and most influential teams have gotten involved, backing the efforts of some talented stars-in-the-making.
Estenson Racing’s Sam Drane (No. 7 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) has taken a pair of wins, while 1st Impressions Husqvarna’s Jett Katarzy (No. 17 1st Impressions Husqvarna FC450) was victorious last time out. And Turner Honda’s Adam Costan-Wood (No. 88 Turner Racing Honda CRF450R) finished 4th while making his debut this past weekend.
However, the beauty of the class is the fact that its tightly restricted, stock-based regs reduce the financial barriers associated with entry. This allows riders without the support of a powerhouse team to complete on level terms. Talent shines above all.
Nearly half of this year’s podiums have gone to racers whose team name is their own. That list includes Bitz-Hay Racing’s Ryder Bitz-Hay (No. 14 Bitz-Hay Racing KTM 450 SX-F), who is the only rider to finish on the box in all three rounds this season.
The event will be overloaded with activities from start to finish, on and off the track. World of Outlaws legend and Silver Dollar Speedway co-owner Brad Sweet will serve as Grand Marshal. Fans will also be treated to multiple Thrashed Kids Freestyle Shows throughout the day.
Attendees can also expect a multitude of vendors, big screen viewing, designated motorcycle parking, and a variety of food and beverage options.
General Admission Grandstand tickets for the Silver Dollar Short Track are just $40 (kids 12 and under free) while Reserved Grandstand tickets ($65, all ages), Pit Grandstand tickets ($80, all ages), and Trackside Box tickets ($95, all ages) offer upgraded viewing experiences.
And if you use the promo code “RESERVED25” at checkout, you can get one Limited Reserved Grandstand Ticket discounted to $25.
And for $135 ($95 as a ticket add-on), you can get the Harley-Davidson VIP Experience, which includes dedicated VIP H-D motorcycle parking, access to an exclusive grandstand seating section, a meet-and-greet with the Harley-Davidson racers, and a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line, photos opps included.
Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2026-silver-dollar-short-track-168776 to reserve your seats today.
Gates will open for fans at 6:00 p.m. ET/3:00 p.m. PT with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT.
