American Flat Track announce a devastating news just now …….

US Flat Track Teases the 2024 DuQuoin Mile
On July 6, the American Flat Track series will make its way to the Memphis Shades DuQuoin Mile, where the best motorcycle dirt trackers in the world will square off.

 

2, 2024, Daytona Beach, Florida – After ten rounds of the Progressive American Flat Track season in 2024, which is approved by AMA Pro Racing, the series is finally ready to compete on a mile racetrack this Saturday, July 6, at the Memphis Shades DuQuoin Mile at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Illinois.

One of the best motorsport spectacles is undoubtedly watching the world’s best motorcycle dirt trackers battle it out on a mile. A distinct test of bravery, speed, and cunning,

Even though mile nationals are run at triple digit speeds, the outcome is frequently determined by inches.

Even within its category, the DuQuoin Mile is unique. DuQuoin, also referred to as the “Magic Mile,” has hosted some of the most illustrious and exciting races in the history of the Grand National Championship.

And the atmosphere this Independence Day weekend is going to be even more electrifying because on Saturday, the Progressive AFT event will cap off a full week of competition that will also determine this year’s amateur national champions during the 2024 Mission Foods AMA Flat Track Grand Championship, which is scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 6. This competition is sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association.

One of the resident mile magicians at Progressive American Flat Track is Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750). Nine times over and currently the current Mission AFT SuperTwins king, he has won an incredible seventeen of the last twenty-four premier-class Miles over the course of the previous five seasons.

This includes the DuQuoin Mile race from the previous year, where Mees exacted revenge for losing to Bryan Smith in 2015. It was the closest race in the series’ history, with a final margin of 0.000 seconds. Mees won the race last year, closely trailed by Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke), Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) (0.033 seconds, 0.097 seconds, and 0.160 seconds).

Daniels, the star rider for Estenson Racing Yamaha, who enters with a 21-point lead, a perfect podium record for the season, and just one win away from victory at the Lima Half-Mile, could learn something from that. Even though he ends up finishing a hair under the winner, he is fully aware that if he doesn’t play his cards right this weekend, his podium streak could be broken and his hard-earned points lead reduced.

Mees and Robinson, both on Indian horses, will be vying for that opportunity, and Bauman, inspired by his KTM’s incredible top speed, will be keen to demonstrate it after utilizing it so brilliantly in the 2023 season finale at Springfield, the final time

The following elite drivers are likely to be involved in a true pack war: Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Sody Ent/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson/Al Lamb’s Dallas Honda Transalp), and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing Mission Foods KTM 790 Duke). This is likely to result in a true pack war.

Rookies Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing KTM 790 Duke) and Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750) will also have the opportunity to showcase their abilities at the highest level of the sport on a well-known platform.

AFT Singles Parts Unlimited, brought to you by Kicker
Even more competitive than the breathtaking Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Event of the previous year was the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by Kicker race held at the DuQuoin Mile. Within 0.262 seconds of the victory, six riders had taken the checkered flag, and a rider hoping to finish on the box found it impossible to trail even a tenth of a second behind the leader.

Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) emerged victorious on that particular day. He is coming in hot after having won the top spot in Ohio only a few days prior. Drane has already shown himself to be a monster on the Miles thanks to his large skill set and light weight; this weekend, he only hopes to build on that reputation.

For two-time defending class champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F), that combination will be quite the challenge. Following the interruption of his three-race winning streak this past weekend, Kopp will undoubtedly be keen to begin another winning streak. Although Kopp has won most of his races on half-miles and short tracks, he set out to win a mile, which he did in the Springfield Mile I last year. He will also be inspired by the fact that, despite crossing the finish line just 0.106 seconds behind Drane, he only finished in fifth place at DuQuoin the year before.

Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R), who lost to Drane here a year ago by 0.011 seconds, is another rider out for vengeance. With four consecutive podiums and six top three finishes in his last seven races, Saathoff is riding high. Even with his recent strong performance, he still wants to turn more seconds and thirds into firsts.

Trent Lowe, who is currently ranked fourth (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), is comparable. In ’23, he placed third at DuQuoin and won the Red Mile the previous year.

James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) is still leading the next group, which includes up-and-coming Pennsylvanians Logan Eisenhard (No. 66 Hannum’s Harley-Davidson KTM 450 SX-F) and Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), as well as fellow Californians Travis Petton IV (No. 82 ECG Racing/A.M Ortega KTM 450 SX-F), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R), and Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F). Ott, who has finished in the top five in three of his last four races, will be regarded as a member of the elite group if he maintains his recent pace.

There will be lots of activities to divert onlookers from the main course, such as a large number of vendors, an abundance of food and drink options, and ample motorcycle parking.

All-Ages Admission Reserved Grandstand tickets are $40 (all ages), while Grandstand tickets are $30 (children 12 and under free with a paid adult GA ticket). You can add the Pit Pass Upgrade to either option for an additional $40 ($20 for children).

The Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experience ($150 for all ages) is brand-new for 2024. This ticket option includes infield viewing of the opening ceremonies and the heat races, reserved seating with Pit Pass access, a track talk and photo opportunity with the 2016 Grand National, and a guided tour of the infield podium and start/finish line.

The Opening Ceremonies are scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT), and gates will open for fans at 4:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. PT). All of this weekend’s racing action is available to watch live on FloRacing. In 2024, motorsports enthusiasts can watch over 1,000 live events by subscribing to FloRacing. You can access FloSports through the following links: https://flosports.link/aft; alternatively, you can download the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Chromecast.

On Sunday, July 14, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT), FOX Sports’ coverage of the Memphis Shades DuQuoin Mile, complete with in-depth features and exciting onboard cameras, will debut on FS1.