Mees on Cusp of History as ‘24 Progressive AFT Season Concludes at Lake Ozark Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 10, 2024) – As if its status as the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season finale, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, wasn’t enough, the inaugural Parts Plus Lake Ozark Short Track presented by Arrowhead Brass & Arby’s will also serve as a capstone celebration of a hugely significant era in the sport’s storied history.

With more than 125,000 motorcyclists flocking to the Lake of the Ozarks from September 11-15 for 18th Annual Lake of the Ozarks Bikefest, Eldon, Missouri’s Lake Ozark Speedway is more than up to the task of providing such a momentous event a proper backdrop when the ‘24 season concludes this Saturday, September 14.

A bright spotlight will shine down on reigning Mission AFT SuperTwins champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Rogers Racing/SDI Racing/Indian Motorcycle FTR750), who is just three points away from eclipsing a record once considered all but unbreakable. Should Mees succeed, he will break a tie with the legendary Scott Parker and become the only rider in the seven-decade existence of the series to claim a tenth Grand National Championship.

And Mees will do so in what will be the final outing of the overwhelmingly successful Indian FTR750, which has already completed its mission of eight titles in eight attempts while racking up more than 100 Main Event victories and nearly 300 podiums along the way.

The FTR’s feat is assured due to the fact that the only rider with even the slimmest mathematical chance of catching Mees is the Indian-armed Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750), who has put together a career year in 2024.

Even if Mees proves uncatchable, Robinson still has some work to do to lock down his first ever championship top two, however, as a result of the shock return to action of Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) mere weeks after breaking his leg in a training accident. Daniels proved instantly back at his typical front-running pace, finishing second and third in Springfield to continue his perfect year’s run of podium results.

Briar Bauman (No. 3 Rick Ware Racing/KTM/Parts Plus KTM 790 Duke), meanwhile, has his sights set on another season-ending victory to both wrap up his season on a high note and move level with Robinson and Daniels for second place in terms of race victories this season at three.

Joining Mees and Robinson in sending the Indian FTR750 off in an appropriately dominant fashion are the likes of Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Ohio Indian FTR750), Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Mission Foods/Zanotti Racing Indian FTR750), and Declan Bender (No. 70 GOMR/BriggsAuto.com/Martin Trucking Indian FTR750).

Likewise, Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Castrol/Boswell’s Harley-Davidson XR750) will hope to do the same for the iconic Harley-Davidson XR750 with one final opportunity to give the illustrious machine a 503rd GNC Main Event victory.

Standing in opposition to those collective aims along with Daniels and Bauman will be Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Sody Ent/OTBR Yamaha MT-07), Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), and Max Whale (No. 18 Latus Motors Racing/Liqui Moly Harley-Davidson XG750R), among several others, who come to battle with machines representative of the sport’s all production-based future.

Double defending Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER champion Kody Kopp (No. 1 Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus KTM 450 SX-F) finds himself cast in essentially the same role as Mees. With just a small points haul this weekend, Kopp will become the class’ first-ever three-time champion and cement a run of domination never previously seen in the Parts Unlimited AFT Singles history.

The only riders with any chance of stealing away the #1 plate also happen to be the only riders who have managed to finish atop the podium outside of Kopp this season: Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 JPG Motorsports Honda CRF450R).

While attention naturally shifts back to Kopp as he closes in on another crown, Drane and Saathoff have both enjoyed stellar seasons – seasons that can only be improved upon now via an exclamation point at their conclusion.

It’s up to the rest of the field to interject in what’s largely proven a three-rider fight. Included among the long list of riders hoping make some noise this weekend are Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Vinson Construction/P&M Motorcycles Honda CRF450R), James Ott (No. 19 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Tyler Raggio (No. 55 Raggio Racing/Sluggo Racing KTM 450 SX-F), and Evan Renshaw (No. 265 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R).

Additionally, this Saturday will mark the 2024 season finale for Royal Enfield’s successful and popular Build. Train. Race. (BTR) flat track program. Since its introduction, BTR has injected new talent and excitement into the series as highlights, celebrates, and encourages the involvement of women in flat track racing.

There will be plenty beyond just the race action for fans to enjoy throughout the day, including numerous vendors, expansive food and beverage options, dedicated motorcycle parking, and a fireworks display to end the evening.

General Admission tickets are just $40 (kids 12 and under $5 with a paid adult General Admission ticket) if bought individually or a combined $85.25 if purchased as a Party 4 Pack of tickets. For another $50, the Pit Pass Upgrade provides all-day access to the pit area where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.

New for 2024 is the Opening Ceremonies Trackside Fan Experience ($125 all ages). This ticket option provides general admission seating with Pit Pass access, a guided tour of, and photo opportunities at, the infield podium and start/finish line, infield viewing of Opening Ceremonies and the heat races, and a track talk and photo opportunity with a special guest.

Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/lake-ozark-short-track-104135 to reserve your seats today.

Gates will open for fans at 5:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. PT). Opening Ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. PT) ahead of a pair of Main Events at twilight, timed to allow fans to also attend the evening’s concerts in Sturgis. You can catch the livestream of all the weekend’s racing activities on FloRacing. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2024. 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.

FOX Sports coverage of the Parts Plus Lake Ozark Short Track presented by Arrowhead Brass & Arby’s, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, September 22, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT).

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

Progressive American Flat Track is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. Progressive American Flat Track is televised on FOX Sports and streams live via FloRacing. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on X, and check us out on Instagram.