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American FLAT TRACK

www.americanflattrack.com

Progressive American Flat Track is America’s Original Extreme Sport as well as the guardian of the Grand National Championship series, formally established in 1954 but with roots reaching back to motorcycling’s original speed demons of a century ago.
 

 

Bauman Holds Off Daniels to Secure Inaugural Victory at Short Track at Lucas Oil Speedway  

American Flat Track/Tim Lester]

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 18, 2025) – The world’s elite motorcycle dirt trackers put on quite the show in the inaugural Short Track at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, to open the second half of an intense 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. 

 

The “Diamond of Dirt Tracks” was properly introduced to two-wheeled action on the night, playing witness to the two best riders in the world performing at the top of their games. In the end, Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) overcame the valiant effort of a relentless Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) to score his fifth victory of the season and break their points tie atop of the Mission AFT SuperTwins standings. 

 

Prior to the race, Bauman’s victory felt nearly preordained considering both his form on the season and throughout the day. That seemed especially true once he got the holeshot and Daniels languished down near tenth after struggling uncharacteristically and qualifying on the third row. 

 

However, Daniels locked onto an extreme low line and made it work, leaping up to fifth in short order and then sitting on the back of a fight for third waged by Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) and Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp). 

 

That became a four-rider dispute for second once Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) dropped his pursuit of Bauman and fell into the clutches of Fisher, Lowe, and Daniels as the contest approached half-distance. 

 

A minute later, Daniels used that ultra-low route to dive past all three and jump up from fifth to second in one extended swoop. By that point, however, Bauman held an advantage of 1.354 seconds and seemed safe on his way to victory. 

 

Daniels made it less and less safe, however, ultimately closing to within 0.329 seconds by the time they arrived at the checkered flag. 

 

Bauman’s triumph was his ninth-ever Short Track win, elevating him into a four-way tie with Chris Carr, Henry Wiles, and Jared Mees for the career lead in the discipline. It was also his 31st overall premier-class win, moving him into the all-time top ten in terms of career victories. 

 

Bauman said, “(Daniels) just figured it out halfway through the Main Event and was clicking laps. I thought I was hitting my marks, but he’s so good and this is so tight, that I’m just numb to it at this point… 

 

“I’m fired up. When Jared Mees stepped away, I said I need to be the guy to fill his shoes. I know there are a lot of people who want to see us succeed, and I can feel that. That gets me fired up. Once again, Rick Ware Racing, Parts Plus, Latus Motors… Rick (Ware) and George (Latus) came together to put this thing together. I never thought I’d have five wins. This Harley-Davidson XG750R is working really good.” 

 

Meanwhile, Fisher held off the impressive Lowe to get his season back on track with a third podium result of ‘25. 

 

Unfortunately for Robinson, he was a non-finisher; he pulled off with a mechanical issue just as Lowe overtook him for fourth with under a minute-and-a-half remaining on the clock. 

 

Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) won out in a scrap for sixth with James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) and Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha MT-07).  

 

Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07), and Billy Ross (No. 29 Racing Unlimited/Bel Ray Kawasaki Ninja 650) rounded out the top ten. 

 

Bauman now leads Daniels 185-181 in what’s truly taken shape as a two-rider battle for the Grand National Championship. Despite his misfortune on the evening, Robinson remains ranked third, albeit 66 points back of the lead at 119. 

 

AFT Singles presented by KICKER 

 

Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) pulled off an epic final-lap, final-corner pass on AFT Singles presented by KICKER title leader Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) to claim his first victory of the season. 

 

After Drane made quick work of the fast-starting Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F), it looked as if the Australian might simply march off to his fourth consecutive victory. 

 

And Drane did in fact open up a second-plus advantage before championship rival Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) and Brunner finally made their way into second and third with right around three minutes remaining on the clock. 

 

From that point forward, Saathoff and Brunner couldn’t decide who should lead the charge in their joint attempt to track down Drane. Instead, they battled it out all non-stop but somehow continued to reel in the Estenson Racing ace all the while. 

 

The two finally moved to within striking distance as the clocks hit zero; Brunner and Saathoff flanked Drane from close behind with the Turner Honda pilot perched on his right shoulder and the RWR rider there on his left. 

 

Just when it looked like it was all too little, too late, Brunner threw in a last-gasp Hail Mary maneuver and was rewarded for his audaciousness, stealing the checkered flag from Drane by a scant 0.069 seconds. 

 

“It feels amazing,” Brunner said. “I feel like I’ve got like 300 pounds lifted off my chest. I knew I could get it done, but we were just missing the little things, and I think it’s a lot mentally from myself. But, man, this facility is awesome, the fans are awesome, the whole experience here at Lucas Oil Speedway has been awesome.” 

 

Three seconds behind Brunner, Drane, and Saathoff, Jared Lowe (No. 63 Big R/Little Debbie Racing Honda CRF450R) completed a charge of his own to fight his way into fourth.  

 

Early leader Pfanders equaled his career-best finish of fifth, while car track expert Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F) came home sixth.  

 

Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R), Walker Porter (No. 100 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), and Evan Kelleher (No. 31 Schaeffer's Motorsports KTM 450 SX-F) finished seventh through tenth, respectively. 

 

Despite the narrow defeat on the night, Drane actually extended his points lead. He now leads Saathoff by 23 points (172-149), while Brunner closed in just a bit, upping his tally to 137. 

 

Next Up: 

 

Progressive American Flat Track will make its way to the 85th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for the Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I & II on Monday, August 4 and Tuesday, August 5. 

 

To purchase Jackpine Gypsies Short Track I & II tickets, visit: https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2025-jackpine-gypsies-short-track-i-144070 and https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2025-jackpine-gypsies-short-track-ii-144071. 

 

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://flosports.link/aft. 

 

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. 

Daniels Pulls a Rabbit Out of His Helmet to Win Magic Mile

American Flat Track/Tim Lester

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 5, 2025) – The “Magic Mile” lived up to its nickname by delivering yet another last-lap stunner as Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) claimed a scant-yet-pivotal victory in Saturday night’s Memphis Shades DuQuoin Mile, Round 8 of the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. 

 

Daniels’ win at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Illinois, wasn’t assured until the checkered flag flew, which confirmed an official 0.037-second margin of victory following a hectic five-rider showdown to the very end.  

 

An early eight-rider scrap whittled down to six after a few minutes of fighting. It then took its final form of five – which included Daniels, title rival Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R), James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07), Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTB Racing Yamaha MT-07), and Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) – after Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) was forced out due to mechanical issues. 

 

Bauman kept himself relevant with some impressive cornering and line choice, but as the laps wound down, it became more and more apparent that the Yamahas of Daniels, Ott, and Bender had the steam on this night. 

 

With less than two minutes left on the clock, Bauman dropped back from first to fifth and then struggled mightily in his attempts to claw his way back into winning contention from that point forward. 

 

Ott, meanwhile, gave Daniels all he could handle, while Bender looked more than capable of springing a massive upset with a perfect final lap. 

 

But Daniels did what aspiring championship winners do, countering Ott’s final lap Turn 2 pass with a counter of his own, running back up the inside entering Turn 3. He then put his head down and narrowly outraced his challengers’ draft-pass attempts as the three completed a Yamaha lockout of the podium. 

 

Ott earned his maiden Mission AFT SuperTwins podium 0.037 seconds off the win while Bender claimed the first of his Progressive AFT career a further 0.092 seconds adrift. 

 

Daniels said, “That was huge… Not even just the win, but how we felt on the motorcycle today. It’s no secret that at the beginning of the season we’ve been struggling a little bit, just with some stuff. It’s not for lack of effort. My team has been busting their butts so much. This track – with the way that the corners are – is one where we’ve always lacked on the Yamaha the last few years. We’ve been making headway, and last year we were close to Jared (Mees), but not that close. This morning, I didn’t really feel the greatest, but I had a quiet confidence. I knew we were going to figure it out. I can’t give a big enough of a thanks to my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team… 

 

“It was an amazing day. It’s the first time I’ve won a Grand National in my home state. It’s something special.” 

 

Robinson, meanwhile, held Bauman off for fourth just back of the top three.  

 

As a result, Daniels and Bauman now boast 162 points and four wins apiece, with Bauman technically in the championship lead as a result of his three runners-up to Daniels’ two. It doesn’t get much closer than that with the Grand National Championship fight now officially at its halfway point. 

 

Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Racing Unlimited/Parts Bros/D&D Kawasaki Ninja 650) finished a lonely sixth, while Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke), Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), and Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) rounding out the night’s top ten in that order. 

 

AFT Singles presented by KICKER 

 

In just over the span of a week, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) took a protracted wins drought and vulnerable AFT Singles presented by KICKER championship position and transformed them into a three-race victory streak and a commanding 20-point advantage. 

 

The Australian did so in an intense Main Event that saw an eight-rider lead freight train storm past the checkered flag separated by a combined 0.342 seconds. 

 

As it went, the heated rivalry between Drane and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) got that much hotter Saturday night. Saathoff came up just 0.020 seconds short of defeating Drane after spending the entire race in a struggle just to prevent the Estenson Racing ace from making an escape and instead forcing him to fight it out in a pack war. 

 

The two gestured angrily at one another following the conclusion of the race after being locked in ultra close quarters combat, including one particularly perilous moment in which Saathoff’s boot contacted Drane’s handlebar as they railed around a corner in tight proximity. 

 

Afterward, Drane said, “I just wanted to get out there straight to the front and do everything I could to win that one, because that was dangerous coming off the last corner doing that. It is what it is, and I guess I just have to put my head down and do what I did and come out on top.” 

 

In response, Saathoff said, “I thought I set myself up good (on the final lap), but it seems to me that Tom Drane doesn’t know how to go in a straight line sometimes. But, that’s okay. We’re going to look past it and move on to the next (race).” 

 

Saathoff was joined in the joint attempt to overcome Drane’s day-long speed advantage for the bulk of the Main by eventual third-place finisher Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F), who was shuffled back to sixth at the flag despite finishing just 0.252 seconds back of the win. 

 

Despite his impressive form, Pfanders was displaced in that final rush to the stripe by Hunter Bauer (No. 24 Vinson Construction/Reel Medics Yamaha YZ450F) and Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), who rounded out the top five. 

 

Meanwhile, Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) and Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R) were rewarded with just seventh- and eighth-place results despite being in with a shot at the win as late as the race’s final corner. 

 

Drane's recent surge has granted him a significant advantage over Saathoff at the title fight’s halfway point, as he now leads 153-133. Brunner sits third at 114, while Santero is well back in fourth with 87 points. 

 

Next Up: 

 

Progressive American Flat Track will at last make its debut at the Short Track at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, on Friday, July 18. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/2025-lucas-oil-short-track-141381 to secure your tickets today. 

 

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://flosports.link/aft. 

 

FOX Sports coverage of the Memphis Shades DuQuoin Mile, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, July 13, at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT). 

 

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

 

Bauman Strikes Back in Lima Half-Mile Rematch 

American Flat Track/Tim Lester]

 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 28, 2025) – Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) immediately stole the initiative back from Mission AFT SuperTwins title rival Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) in the tense rematch that was Saturday evening’s Lima Half-Mile II, Round 7 of the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. 

 

While the opening lap featured a four-wide charge down the Allen County Fairgrounds backstretch, it wasn’t long before Bauman blasted away at the front. Meanwhile, Daniels was headed in the opposite direction, falling back to third and looking incapable of matching the torrid pace required to fight for victory. 

 

As the two-time Grand National Champion Bauman steadily built up a two-second-plus advantage in first, Daniels eventually found his groove and worked his way around Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) to take control of second. 

 

Daniels continued his charge forward, picking up a tenth here and there on the leader, gradually reducing that gap until it was back under a second with a minute remaining on the clock. 

 

Despite the Estenson Racing star further ratcheting up the pressure and closing in nearly to within striking distance on the final lap, Bauman stayed steady and streaked past the checkered flag 0.383 seconds before his rival. 

 

Besides taking the momentum back from Daniels, the victory also saw Bauman complete the remarkable feat of securing four Lima Half-Mile wins on four different makes of equipment (Kawasaki, Indian, KTM, and Harley-Davidson). 

 

After scoring his 30th premier-class victory, Bauman said, “That was a battle. Well, it wasn’t a battle. I got clean air, and I didn’t really want to do that tonight. I think it was harder to lead than it was to follow in the second half of the race because you could see what the guy in front of you was doing and maybe inch up a little bit. Dallas did that quick. If he would have had a few more laps, he probably would have had me, but he didn’t.  

 

“Man, I was going to win last night – I know I was – but the clutch went out. I was pretty bitter. I wanted to win tonight really bad, and the Rick Ware Racing/Parts Plus/Latus Motors team did such a good job with this thing.” 

 

What figured to be a lonely ride to third proved anything but for Robinson. Late in the race, he was hounded by the Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTB Racing Yamaha MT-07), who earlier escaped a battle with James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) and Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke) to give Robinson fits for the final spot on the podium. 

 

Bender momentarily fought past into third on more than one occasion but couldn’t quite make the pass stick, having to accept (a still highly impressive) fourth in what was a memorable debut weekend with On the Box Racing. 

 

Ott carried on to fifth while VDK was dropped to seventh by Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp). 

 

Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650), and Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) completed the top ten. 

 

Bauman now leads Daniels 149-139 in what’s shaping up to be a spectacular duel. Robinson is once again up third at 102, following a difficult weekend for Fisher, who has dropped back to fourth at 93. 

 

AFT Singles presented by KICKER 

 

With two victories in two days, Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) has at last unlocked the form so many expected from him in 2025. That’s a scary prospect indeed for the opposition, considering the ‘locked’ version was already leading the AFT Singles presented by KICKER title chase. 

 

On Friday, Drane built upon the impressive 2024 Lima performance that saw him defeat Kody Kopp here a year ago, running strong all day and claiming two of the three Mission Triple Challenge Main Events to secure the overall victory. 

 

He elevated his game to yet another level on Saturday. Before the race, chief rival Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R) said he had to get the holeshot to have a shot. He accomplished that goal but could still do nothing but watch as Drane shot through in the race’s third corner. The Estenson Racing pilot then proceeded to ride off into the distance to the tune of a 5.419-second margin of victory. 

 

Afterward, Drane said, “That was a really good race. I just put my head down from the very start. I knew I had the pace to do it. I just had to get a break and get away as fast as I could. I didn’t want to get into any battles. I wanted to get out front, have my clear air, and pull away.” 

 

Saathoff was forced to turn his attention behind instead of ahead just to hold down second. That proved a stout challenge in itself with heralded rookie Walker Porter (No. 100 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) scrapping for second in the early going while clocking the fastest lap of the race.  

 

Porter’s more experienced teammate, Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), then took the baton and pressured Saathoff to the flag, finishing just 0.184 seconds behind in third. 

 

Porter found himself caught up in a spirited three-way fight for fourth with fellow rookie sensation Kage Tadman (No. 288 Roof Systems/Old Oak Ranch KTM 450 SX-F) and the rolling Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F). 

 

Two-time winner Tadman ultimately claimed the spot, while Porter worked back past RoosEvans to collect a debut weekend top five. 

 

Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450) fought his way from the LCQ to seventh while Bradon Pfanders (No. 83 Hannum’s HD/Pfanders Racing KTM 450 SX-F) and couple more rookies in Ryder Reese (No. 244 Mission Foods/Roof Systems KTM 450 SX-F) and Skylar Sentell (No. 249 Hoffer Performance/Stauffer Motors KTM 450 SX-F) provided even more evidence that the future of the sport is bright indeed by finishing eighth through tenth, respectively. 

 

As a result of his huge weekend, Drane now leads Saathoff by 16 points (130-114). Brunner remains third at 98. 

 

Next Up: 

 

Progressive American Flat Track will do battle at a high-speed Mile for the first time this season with the Memphis Shades DuQuoin Mile, at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Illinois, next Saturday, July 5. Visit  https://www.americanflattrack.com/events/2025/view/du-quoin-mile-2025 to secure your tickets today.  

 

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://flosports.link/aft. 

 

FOX Sports coverage of the Lima Half-Mile I, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, July 5, at 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. PT), with the Lima Half-Mile II scheduled to air one week later, on Saturday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT). 

 

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

 

 

Daniels, Drane Deliver Double Delight for Yamaha in Mission Triple Challenge Debut

American Flat Track/Tim Lester]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 27, 2025) – Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) claimed top honors on what proved to be a huge night for Estenson Racing in a historic Lima Half-Mile I, Round 6 of the 2025 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. 

 

Daniels was in serious need of a victory at the Allen County Fairgrounds. Nearly four months removed from his last victory and having witnessed Mission AFT SuperTwins title rival Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) win the last three races in succession, the preseason Grand National Championship favorite came into Lima, Ohio, desperate to shift the momentum back in his favor. 

 

The debut of Mission Triple Challenge basically guaranteed an evening of drama and excitement as the two squared off for supremacy. It was the first time the entire field would face an all-new format that featured three successive Main Events – the first a 10-lap sprint, the second a 15-lapper that paid double points, and a decisive 20-lap Main to round out the evening with triple the points – the results of which combined to determine the evening’s overall winner. 

 

Promising on paper, the concept delivered in practice. 

 

Main Event 1 

 

The Mission AFT SuperTwins evening opened in barn-burning fashion, with Bauman, Daniels, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R), and Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S) running four wide whenever they weren’t intersecting lines. 

 

However, that demonstration of controlled chaos was brought to an abrupt halt due to an early fall by Ben Lowe (No. 25 Mission Foods/Roof Systems Yamaha MT-07) that brought out the red flag. 

 

Daniels took full advantage of the race reset, sprinting away to collect a quick 23 points toward his evening’s combined tally. He was followed home by Bauman, who snuck past Robinson on the last lap.  

 

Bromley picked up fourth ahead of Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650). 

 

Main Event 2 

 

Lessons learned, Main Event 2 was a contest of shifting lines and shifting strategies. 

 

While Daniels and Bauman tangled for the lead in the opening stages, Robinson simultaneously shot past both and looked to make a break. 

 

At that point, Main Event 1 winner Daniels appeared to be best positioned to prevent that eventuality, while Bauman seemed to be doing everything in his power just to cling on in third.  

 

But  in actuality, he was simply doing his homework. When Bauman finally unleashed the line he worked out while out of the sight of Robinson and Daniels, he gobbled up the gap and ran around the outside of both of his opponents, grabbing the lead for good with six laps remaining. 

 

Daniels took notes and dropped Robinson back to third by the time they reached the checkered flag. 

 

Bromley and Whale backed up their earlier fourths and fifths with identical results in Main Event 2. 

 

Main Event 3 

 

A lightning quick start for Daniels meant precious little when both Bauman and Robinson stormed past in one fell swoop.  

 

While the three broke free from the pack almost from the jump, Bauman continued that charge forward, turning the contest into a one-man show for a time. 

 

However, after Bauman teased a potential fourth consecutive premier-class victory by edging that advantage up near a second, Daniels reeled him back in.  

 

Just when the Estenson Racing ace closed in for the strike with just five of 20 laps remaining, Bauman’s machine seemed to suffer from a slipping clutch. That allowed Daniels to effortlessly blast past and power his way to a third overall victory in 2025. 

 

With nearly five seconds padding on Robinson, Bauman was nearly able to nurse that advantage to the flag but instead found himself tracked down and overhauled in the race’s final corner. 

 

Still, Bauman’s earlier 2-1 results were strong enough to fend off Robinson in the overall tally, holding onto second in the combined order despite his final-lap disappointment in Main Event 3. 

 

Fourth-place in the race went to Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Corbin/OTB Racing Yamaha MT-07), who closed out a stirring debut with On the Box Racing by running down the on-form Bromley late in Main Event 3. 

 

However, like Bauman, Bromley was rewarded for his consistent performances with a fourth-place overall finish. 

 

By contrast, Bender’s overall result of eighth didn’t reflect the strong impression he made in Main Event 3, as his combined tally still put behind fifth-placed Whale, sixth-placed Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), and seventh-placed Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke). 

 

Daniels said, “The second and third Mains were just super tricky for us. The track was like nothing I've ever seen at Lima before – super brushed off and you kind of had to go in and bump the cushion.  

 

“I was matching Briar there for a little bit. I'm not sure if he had a problem or something, but I had a really good line in Turns 3 and 4. I had to kind of go slower to go faster, which has just never been the case here before. So it took a little bit to adapt and, you know, Briar has been on it all season. He's won the last three races. He's been kicking our butt. So it's good to stop the bleeding.  

 

“It's going to be a hell of a season battling with him and the rest of these guys.” 

 

AFT Singles presented by KICKER 

 

Meanwhile, Daniels’ teammate, AFT Singles presented by KICKER title favorite and defending Lima Half-Mile winner Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), earned his first victory of the 2025 Progressive AFT season.  

 

But despite boasting blistering speed right from the opening practice, Drane was forced to battle for it over the course of three epic Main Events. 

 

Main Event 1 

 

The evening’s first 10-lap sprint was a two-rider affair from the start, with Trevor Brunner (No. 21 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) scoring the holeshot and Drane immediately putting him in his sights. The two jostled for position for several laps before the Australian ultimately seized control and broke free at the front. 

 

The battle for third was even more heated. Initially led by Chad Cose (No. 49 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450), he later gave way to the freight train that was Chase Saathoff (No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R), Tarren Santero (No. 75 Mission Roof Systems Honda CRF450R), and Evan Renshaw (No. 65 1st Impressions Race Team Husqvarna FC450). 

 

Saathoff, who started eighth and finished third, and Renshaw, who started 12th and finished fifth, not only scored strong points hauls toward their combined tally but improved their chances by earning better starting positions for Main Event 2. 

 

Main Event 2 

 

Saathoff’s improved starting slot did indeed put him in the mix in the early going of Main Event 2. But once again, the race gradually took shape as a Drane vs. Brunner rematch. 

 

This time around, however, the Turner Racing pilot had something for his Estenson Racing Yamaha-mounted rival. Once in front, Brunner put up a fierce defense of the position, changing lines and refusing to close the throttle when Drane slid up alongside and pushed him up near the fence. 

 

Saathoff stayed close enough in third to watch the fight in front of him, while Santero scooped up a second fourth on the evening, with rookie sensation Kage Tadman (No. 288 Roof Systems/Old Oak Ranch KTM 450 SX-F) rounding out Main Event 2’s top five. 

 

Main Event 3 

 

Even a less-than-ideal start wasn’t enough to prevent Drane from getting his revenge, both in the third and final Main and the round’s overall result. 

 

The Aussie fell back to fifth at the start while Brunner and Saathoff locked horns for first. A quick red flag resulted in a staggered restart, at which point Drane immediately pounced on Saathoff and then quickly dispatched Brunner as well. 

 

Drane refused to relent, opening up an advantage of more than five seconds en route to the checkered flag. 

 

All of Brunner’s hard work was derailed when his Honda expired with less than five laps to go. Despite a 2-1 run in the Main Events 1 & 2, the triple points paid out for Main Event 3 cost him dearly as he was ultimately shuffled all the way down to sixth in the night’s combined results. 

 

Santero took full advantage of Brunner’s misfortune, outdueling Saathoff to leap up to second in the Main and overall. 

 

Meanwhile, Saathoff turned three thirds into a combined third. Next in Main Event 3 and the overall order were rising stars Renshaw and Tadman, placing fourth and fifth, respectively. 

 

Meanwhile, another highly touted rookie, Walker Porter (No. 100 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R), showed well in his pro debut. Porter regularly pushed up near the top five and tallied finishes of 8-9-8 to finish seventh in his first attempt at the Progressive AFT level. 

 

Afterward, race winner Drane said, “It was really good. We were fast all day. I knew what I had to do, and once I got past Trevor, I just had to put my head down and keep going. It’s unfortunate that he broke. 

 

“Back home, we do something similar. We've got five heat races. So for me, it was no problem. I just had to chip away at it, and then ride that last one like it was the Main because of the points.  

 

“Thank you to my whole Estenson Racing Monster Energy Yamaha team. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here winning tonight. And I'm so thankful for them.” 

 

Next Up: 

 

The stars of Progressive American Flat Track will be back in action tomorrow night for the Lima Half-Mile II. Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/meespromotions/events/2-day-lima-2025-125126 to secure your tickets today.  

 

Gates will open for fans at 2:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT) with Opening Ceremonies scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. ET (3:30 p.m. PT). For more information, ticket purchases, and updates, visit www.limahalf-mile.com or call 419-991-1491 

 

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Sign up now and catch every second of on-track action starting with Practice & Qualifying and ending with the Victory Podium at the end of the night at https://flosports.link/aft. 

 

FOX Sports coverage of the Lima Half-Mile I, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, July 5, at 9:30 a.m. ET (6:30 a.m. PT), with the Lima Half-Mile II scheduled to air one week later, on Saturday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT). 

 

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

 

  

MotoAmerica AMA

www.motoamerica.com

The MotoAmerica AMA/FIM North American Road Racing Championship is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership that includes three-time 500cc Grand Prix World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer, former vice president of motorsports operations at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA), and former managing director of Team Roberts in the Grand Prix World Championship Chuck Aksland; executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum Terry Karges; and energy sector investor and businessman Richard Varner.

 

 

 Formula DRIFT

www.formulad.com

Formula DRIFT (also known as Formula D or FD) is a United States-based motorsport drifting series. Formula DRIFT was co-founded by Jim Liaw and Ryan Sage in 2003 as a sister company to Slipstream Global Marketing, the same partnership that introduced D1 Grand Prix to the United States. The new entity would solely own, operate and launch the first official drifting series in North America. Formula DRIFT is not associated with the FIA series of formula racing championships

JAMES DEANE WINS ROUND 5 OF FORMULA DRIFT PRO CHAMPIONSHIP IN ST LOUIS, CHEN WINS PROSPEC

With both Formula DRIFT Championships enter the second half of the season, the pressure has been turned up to 11 as Rookie drivers try to make an impression, the mid-tier drivers realize they’re approaching the point of no return, and the title contenders need to carve out an unassailable advantage. And as the lid has been clamped down on the pressure cooker, the spectators at World Wide Technology Raceway witnessed intense battles played out in both Round 5 of the FD PRO Championship and Round 3 of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship.

A revised track layout, which saw minor alterations to some of the four Outside Zones, also contributed to the intensity by increasing the speed and flow. It meant drivers could edge closer to their competitors but any lapse in concentration was quickly punished.

 

PROSPEC SEEDING BRACKET QUALIFICATION

The tension was palpable among the 16 drivers enrolled in the Link ECU PROSPEC Seeding Bracket. With the first 20 places locked in by finishing positions from Round 2, the remainder had to battle for one of 12 competition places. Failure to do so would send them home early, but success would result in three valuable Championship points for each heat won, improving their Championship standing.

After four energetic heats, yet another Rookie emerged victorious. To date, Rookies have won all three 2025 Seeding Brackets and this time it was Ryan Kaufman (USA) driving the Taxi Garage Mazda RX-7 who stood on the top step. 

Kaufman faced Matthew Bystrak (USA) in the Final but a collision in Outside Zone 1 (OZ1) caused the driver of the Bystrak Racing S550 Mustang to run into the dirt. The excursion caused a rear tire to debead – a misfortune deemed irreparable by FD regulations – awarding Kaufman the win.

Third place went to Rookie Chellee Hansen (USA) driving the Team Hansen supercharged Nissan S13. She lost a One More Time semi-final battle to Kaufman in which she struggled to keep pace with his victorious RX-7, but acquitted herself well.

Rookies Feras Qartoumy (USA) and Justin Ruth (USA) joined Sam Maghmoumi (Lebanon) and Kasey Kohl (USA) as the drivers who failed to win their Top 16 qualifying heats and were eliminated because they had the lowest rankings of the eight losers.

Thirteen year-old Camren Sorensen (USA) – winner of the Round 2 Seeding Bracket – also dropped a rear tire into the dirt, causing his Sorensen Motorsports / Spyder E46 BMW to slam the tire barrier during his Top 8 pairing against Kaufman. However, Camren had already qualified and placed eighth in the Seeding Bracket.

 

PROSPEC COMPETITION

History tried to repeat itself at Round 3 of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship, except it made a slight mistake. The same three drivers finished on the podium at Round 2, except this time it was Nate Chen (USA) claiming his first ever FD win. He beat NJ winner Cole Richards (USA), who lost in the Final after he also dropped a tire into the dirt in OZ1, launching his Koruworks / Richards Racing Toyota GR86 into the air. With the rear tire debeaded, Richards took second ahead of Dmitriy Brutskiy who repeated his third place in NJ.

After demonstrating so much potential since his 2021 arrival in the series, Formula DRIFT teams and fans alike were delighted to see Chen score his first victory. But it didn’t come easy. His first hurdle was a Top 32 battle against DJ Stubstad (USA) in the SlideLine Performance Nissan 350Z. The judges’ decision went in Chen favor by virtue of a superior chase run, particularly in filling OZ4 – about the only area of weakness in Stubstad’s run. 

The Top 16 battle against Adam Knapik (USA) continued the trend, with a mistake into OZ2 by the driver of the Optima Battery / Donut Media Nissan S14 on his chase run, giving the judges a relatively easy decision in Chen's favor.

In his Top 8 contest with Alex Jagger (USA) in the Forsberg Racing Nissan Z, the clash went to One More Time (OMT) before Chen’s speed on the second lead run caused Knapik to miss several Outside Zones to catch up. And with Chen delivering a better chase performance, he advanced to the Final 4.

Paired against Dmitriy Brutskiy in the Never Settle BMW, it appeared the judges wouldn’t have much trouble deciding the winner when the double PROSPEC Champion left the track at OZ1 after making contact with Chen’s NCR Toyota 86. But on their second run, Chen appeared to lose drift in OZ2. And while this could have neutralized Brutskiy’s earlier error, the judges attributed Chen's faltering to Brutskiy slowing in OZ1 and OZ2. As a result, Chen was awarded the win and headed into the Final to beat Richards.

“It was a crazy weekend with intense battles, some contact, collisions and interesting driving from competitors, but ultimately, we took it to the top!” Chen calmly explained after the podium celebrations. “Going into the Utah Final Round in a three-way tie with Cole Richards and Dmitriy Brutskiy will be even more intense but I’m going to concentrate on the simulator and having some fun. Hopefully, we can bring the momentum forward because we haven’t failed to reach the podium since the new engine setup, so I want to continue that trend.”

The remarkable outcome of Chen’s victory and the ten points he accumulated for each heat win meant he jumped from fourth to equal first in the Championship title race, tied on 100 points with Richards and Brutskiy. As Chen suggested, this has set up a fascinating showdown for the Final Round in Utah on August 28-30. 

Adding a further wrinkle will be Cody Buchanan (USA) who finished fourth and occupies in fourth place. He’s amassed 80 points and could mathematically claim the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship if he wins in Utah and his opponents are eliminated from the Top 8 heats.

In the 2025 Rookie of the Year title chase, Jerry Johnson (USA) reached the Top 8 where he was defeated by Buchanan. By placing fifth on the night and sixth overall, Johnson is one place and 13 points ahead of fellow Rookie Collete Davis in sixth.

 

PRO SEEDING BRACKET QUALIFICATION

Heavy rain preceded the Type S PRO Seeding Bracket, creating treacherous conditions and necessitating a sighting lap for each driver before their Top 16 Seeding Bracket heat. But since Formula DRIFT is an all-weather series, the action proceeded as scheduled.

With 11 drivers contesting 12 competition places, all were guaranteed to qualify but would still be competing for both ranking, which would determine strength of their opposition in the Top 32 competition heats, and Championship points.

It was Nick Noback (USA) who conquered the challenging track conditions and the opposition in his Kenda Tires / Noback Racing E46 BMW to emerge victorious. In the Final, Noback had a difficult run against Dan Burkett (USA) in the RAD Industries Mk4 Toyota Supra. Failing to fill any of the Outside Zones, he’d focused on angle and proximity but left the door open for Burkett to improve on his performance. On their second run, the Supra driver over-committed in the transition to OZ4 and made contact with Noback. He subsequently spun out, ending his challenge but claiming second on the podium.

Rudy Hansen (USA) finished third in his Team Hansen supercharged Nissan S13, meaning the Hansen husband and wife team both finished in the same position in their respective Seeding Brackets and would advance to the competition heats.

 

PRO COMPETITION

As day turned to night, it seemed to be business as usual in Round 5 of the 2025 FD PRO Championship. Many of the usual suspects were striding towards what looked like an inevitable Final until Rookie Jack Shanahan became the cat among the pigeons. The competition bracket also assisted by pairing the two leading contenders in the semi-finals, opening the door to new possibilities.

In an ferocious encounter between four-time FD PRO Champion James Deane (Ireland) and three-time PRO Champion Fredric Aasbo (Norway), the driver of the Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra spun out of contention in Outside Zone 4 while in the chase position.

“I had a strong lead run but James did an amazing chase,” Aasbo explained. “I’ve been struggling with my chase runs all weekend, so we went for a Hail Mary chase and it didn’t quite work out in Turn 2. I was a bit behind and tried to catch him in Turn 3; there was a lot going on and it just didn’t stick. So, I thought why not just send it and see what happens. And this time it didn’t but we’re guaranteed third place.”

With Deane’s place booked for the Final, the other side of the bracket saw fan favorite Dylan Hughes (USA) face series Rookie Jack Shanahan (Ireland) in an all-BMW shoot-out. The two men were well matched in terms of skill, commitment, horsepower and, it turns out, mistakes. Both drivers were fast but flawed, so the judges dared them to do it again. And they did. Their second runs were neater and the Irishman in the Kumho Tires BMW 1 Series took the win by a very narrow margin over Hughes in the Royal Purple Synthetic Oil / GT Radial / 2JZ-powered BMW.

That meant an all-Ireland Final, with the most successful driver in FD history parking his AutoZone Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD alongside Shanahan’s BMW. As friends and actual neighbors who’ve supported each other for many years, the men were very comfortable competing together. “It felt like practice day. I knew it would be fun,” Deane would say after the Final.

On their first run, Deane executed a perfect lead at a pace that caused Shanahan to transition early into OZ2 in his effort to maintain proximity. And that’s all it took. Although Shanahan similarly performed an outstanding lead run, Deane’s chase was impeccable and the single mistake decided the outcome.

Deane became the first driver to win two rounds this season and scored enough points to draw level with Aasbo at the top of the Championship Standings. And on his current form, there are echoes of Deane’s 2024 campaign where his mid-season momentum took him to the Championship win.

Despite his incredible achievement, Deane wanted to share the moment with his friend: “I’m proud to share his first FD podium with him because I sat with him on his first ever day drifting and to see him go from a little 12 year-old kid to what he is today makes me very proud.”

In turn, Shanahan reflected on an achievement he never dared to dream of by stepping onto the Formula DRIFT podium to collect his runner-up trophy. Having struggled to advance in previous rounds, the result saw Jack leap from 19th to eighth in the Championship standings. Simultaneously, he cemented his lead in the 2025 Rookie title chase, placing him 26 points and six Championship places ahead of nearest rival, Connor O’Sullivan (USA).

We caught up again with Deane after the champagne was sprayed: “This was a great result – we won here last year as well – pushed as hard as possible all weekend and got into the Top 8 against Rome [Charpentier] but as I went into the burnout box we had no brakes or handbrake, so we called a Competition Time Out and bled them,” Deane recalled. “We still had no pedal but there was just enough to lose momentum and we managed to win the battle. I drove my heart out against Aasbo before the dream happened and I was battling Jack, my neighbor – who I’ve known since he was four years old – in the Final. I sat in with him for his first drift and was always helping him for the first year, so to see him progress to become a badass and share his first ever FD podium was a very special moment.

“We’re now tied on points with Fredric, so we’ll do our best in Seattle and see what happens!” 

Fourth place was secured by Dylan Hughes who made a welcome return to the sharp end of the results table, jumping from 13th to ninth overall.

The winner of Round 4, LZ, was jettisoned from the Top 8 by Shanahan after a close battle. Placing fifth, LZ remained third in the table but with a 60-point deficit to the leaders. 

Perhaps the biggest loser at FD STL was Aurimas Bakchis (Lithuania) who also dropped a rear tire into the dirt in OZ1 in his battle against Andy Hateley (USA). The Feal Suspension / GT Radial Nissan S14.9 punched into the air and the damage meant Odi was unable to return to competition. Scoring no points, the driver who placed second in 2024, dropped to sixth overall.

In the 2025 Formula DRIFT Auto Cup and Tire Cup, Toyota and GT Radial maintained their lead, respectively.

“What an amazing way to end a remarkable Round in the Mid-West at World Wide Technology Raceway with two incredible championship battles on our hands,” said Ryan Sage, President of Formula DRIFT. “In PROSPEC, Nate Chen took home his first ever win after losing a gut-wrenching battle to Cole Richards at the last round. But Richards is right there and moving at an incredible pace, while Dmitriy Brutskiy continues to provide a lot of entertainment but also some controversy with his driving. And as we head to the Final Round in Utah we’re excited to see which driver lifts the Championship trophy. And will it be Dmitriy claiming his record third title or Richards and Chen claiming their first?

“In PRO, James Deane and Fredric Aasbo continue to amaze and are clearly the two leaders in the Championship but there’s no doubt LZ is now a legitimate force and we’re seeing the fruit of his labor in the sport. There’s certainly time for him to claw back the deficit and mount a strong challenge for the 2025 PRO title.

“But we can’t finish without congratulating Jack Shanahan who has overcome so many challenges in his Rookie year to achieve his first ever FD podium in an all-Irish Final alongside his buddy, James Deane. And with the season powering forward, we’re looking forward to the Seattle Round, then the PROSPEC Final in Utah before arriving at the first ever, purpose-built drift course for the Long Beach Final Round 8 in October. We hope you’ll stay with us to the end.”

 

ROUND 5 FD PRO TOP 16 DRIVER POINTS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

James Deane

50

2

Jack Shanahan

40+6

3

Fredric Aasbo

30

4

Dylan Hughes

30

5

Adam LZ

20

6

Matt Field

20

7

Rome Charpentier

20

8

Jeff Jones

20

9

Connor O`Sullivan

10

10

Hiroya Minowa

10

11

Chris Forsberg

10

12

Tommy Lemaire

10

13

Conor Shanahan

10

14

Ryan Tuerck

10

15

Trenton Beechum

10+3

16

Andy Hateley

10

 

2025 FD PRO TOP 16 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

James Deane

180

2

Fredric Aasbo

180

3

Adam LZ

120

4

Hiroya Minowa

110

5

Matt Field

100

6

Aurimas Bakchis

100

7

Jhonnattan Castro

90

8

Jack Shanahan

76

9

Dylan Hughes

70

10

Chris Forsberg

70

11

Branden Sorensen

70

12

Rome Charpentier

60

13

Connor O`Sullivan

52

14

Dan Stuke

52

15

Conor Shanahan

50

16

Ryan Tuerck

50

 

2025 AUTO CUP TOP 5 STANDINGS*

Toyota 

290

BMW 

289

Nissan 

242

Ford 

199

Chevrolet 

135

 

2025 TIRE CUP STANDINGS*

GT Radial

313

Kenda

304

Nitto

250

Kumho

158

 

FD PROSPEC ROUND 3 TOP 16 DRIVER POINTS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

Nate Chen

50

2

Cole Richards

40

3

Dmitriy Brutskiy

30

4

Cody Buchanan

30

5

Jerry Johnson

20

6

Alex Jagger

20

7

Collete Davis

20

8

Brian Wills

20 + 3

9

Cory Talaska

10

10

Trevor Root

10

11

Hooman Rahimi

10

12

Adam Knapik

10

13

Kelsey Rowlings

10

14

Luis Lanz

10

15

Ryan Kaufman

10 + 12

16

Chellee Hansen

10 + 6

  

FD PROSPEC TOP 16 DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

Nate Chen

100

2

Cole Richards

100

3

Dmitriy Brutskiy

100

4

Cody Buchanan

80

5

Cory Talaska

70

6

Jerry Johnson

65

7

Collete Davis

52

8

Alex Jagger

40

9

Trevor Root

40

10

Josh Stuart

40

11

Collin Zielinski

33

12

Hooman Rahimi

30

13

Adam Knapik

30

14

Chellee Hansen

25

15

Camren Sorensen

25

16

Brian Wills

23

 

* Preliminary standings. Final results pending official confirmation

 

NEXT ROUND

Round 6 of the FD PRO Championship moves to Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA for the Seattle Round on August 8-9. The Final Round 4 of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship will take place at Utah Motorsports Campus on August 28-30 along with FD PRO Round 7. Please visit formulad.com for ticket information, driver profiles, special content, and the event livestream.

 

 

 

  

EVENT DETAILS

2025 FORMULA DRIFT PRO CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION RESULTS FROM ROUND 5 IN ST LOUIS

 

James Deane wins an all-Ireland Final to draw level with Fredric Aasbo at the top of the points table

Date: Saturday, July 19, 2025

Location: World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, IL 

Event: Competition Results for Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Round 5 

 

RESULTS FOR FD PRO ROUND 3

  1. James Deane (Ireland) – AutoZone Mustang RTR Spec 5-FD
  2. Jack Shanahan (Ireland) – Kumho Tires BMW 1 Series
  3. Fredric Aasbo (Norway) – Rockstar Energy Toyota GR Supra

 

NOTES

  • It appeared as if it might be business as usual for Round 5 of the FD PRO Championship until Rookie Jack Shanahan was the cat among the pigeons, splitting two Champions to claim his first ever FD podium
  • Deane becomes the first driver to win two rounds this season, scoring enough points to draw level with Aasbo at the top of the Championship standings. Will we see a repeat of 2024 where Deane’s mid-season momentum took him to the Championship win, or can he be stopped?
  • Aasbo lost a hard-fought semi-final to Deane, in which the Norwegian three-time Champion spun in Outside Zone 4 (OZ4) as he unsuccessfully gambled with entry speed to take the win. His third place finish left him equal-first overall
  • Shanahan achieved something he never dared to dream by stepping onto the Formula DRIFT podium to collect his runner-up trophy. Having struggled to advance in previous rounds, the result saw him leap from 19th to eighth in the Championship standings
  • Following the announcement of the winning driver, an emotional Deane paid tribute to his fellow Irishman: “It felt like practice day running against Jack. I knew it would be fun. And I’m proud to share his first FD podium with him because I sat with him on his first ever day drifting, and to see him go from a little 12 year-old kid to what he is today makes me very proud.”
  • Shanahan’s result also cemented his lead in the 2025 Rookie title chase, placing him 26 points and six Championship places ahead of nearest rival, Connor O’Sullivan (USA) who was eliminated from the Top 16 by Jeff Jones (USA)
  • The winner of Round 4, LZ, was jettisoned from the Top 8 by Shanahan after a close battle. Placing fifth, LZ remained third in the table but with a 60-point deficit to the leaders
  • Fourth place was secured by Dylan Hughes (USA) in the Royal Purple Synthetic Oil / GT Radial / 2JZ-powered BMW. He made a welcome return to the sharp end of the results, jumping from 13th overall to ninth
  • Perhaps the biggest loser at FD STL was Aurimas Bakchis (Lithuania) who dropped a rear tire into the dirt in OZ1, launching the Feal Suspension / GT Radial Nissan S14.9 into the air. The damage meant he was unable to return to competition and scored no points. The driver, who placed second in 2024, dropped one place to sixth overall
  • In the 2025 Formula DRIFT Auto Cup, Toyota continues to lead while GT Radial extended its lead in the Tire Cup

 

ROUND 5 FD PRO TOP 16 DRIVER POINTS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

James Deane

50

2

Jack Shanahan

40+6

3

Fredric Aasbo

30

4

Dylan Hughes

30

5

Adam LZ

20

6

Matt Field

20

7

Rome Charpentier

20

8

Jeff Jones

20

9

Connor O`Sullivan

10

10

Hiroya Minowa

10

11

Chris Forsberg

10

12

Tommy Lemaire

10

13

Conor Shanahan

10

14

Ryan Tuerck

10

15

Trenton Beechum

10+3

16

Andy Hateley

10

 

2025 FD PRO TOP 16 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

James Deane

180

2

Fredric Aasbo

180

3

Adam LZ

120

4

Hiroya Minowa

110

5

Matt Field

100

6

Aurimas Bakchis

100

7

Jhonnattan Castro

90

8

Jack Shanahan

76

9

Dylan Hughes

70

10

Chris Forsberg

70

11

Branden Sorensen

70

12

Rome Charpentier

60

13

Connor O`Sullivan

52

14

Dan Stuke

52

15

Conor Shanahan

50

16

Ryan Tuerck

50

 

2025 AUTO CUP TOP 5 STANDINGS*

Toyota 

290

BMW 

289

Nissan 

242

Ford 

199

Chevrolet 

135

 

2025 TIRE CUP STANDINGS*

GT Radial

313

Kenda

304

Nitto

250

Kumho

158

 

* Preliminary standings. Final results pending official confirmation

 

FORMULA DRIFT ST LOUIS RECAP

A recap of all the action from FD STL with event images will be available on Monday.

 

NEXT ROUND

Round 6 of the FD PRO Championship moves to Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA for the Seattle Round on August 8-9. The Final Round 4 of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship will take place at Utah Motorsports Campus on August 28-30 along with FD PRO Round 7. Please visit formulad.com for ticket information, driver profiles, special content, and the event livestream.

 

ABOUT FORMULA DRIFT

Formula DRIFT is recognized as the leading international drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges the driver's skill while demanding a great deal from their vehicle in terms of power and strength. Formula DRIFT provides a series for the best professional drifters from around the globe to compete for the coveted title of Formula DRIFT Champion. As the first official drifting series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting drift fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life, and established itself as the global leader for the sport. For a competition schedule, ticket information, special content and livestream, please visit formulad.com

 

WATCH FORMULA DRIFT

Fans can find the free-to-view event livestream at youtube.com/Formuladrift. FD is also available on Racer/MAV TV (please check with your local provider), and available in Spanish via PX Sports on numerous outlets across Latin America. To find out where it’s broadcast in your country, visit pxsports.com/outlets

 

FOLLOW FORMULA DRIFT ONLINE

formulad.com

instagram.com/formulad

facebook.com/formuladrift

twitter.com/FormulaDrift

youtube.com/Formuladrift

 

FORMULA DRIFT PROSPEC CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION RESULTS FROM ROUND 3 IN ST LOUIS

 

Nate Chen claims his first win at Round 3 of Formula DRIFT Link ECU PROSPEC Championship, creating a three-way tie in the title race ahead of the Final Round

 

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Friday, July 18, 2025

Location: World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, IL 

Event: Competition Results for Formula DRIFT Link ECU PROSPEC Championship Round 3 

 

RESULTS FOR FD PROSPEC ROUND 3

  1. Nate Chen (USA) – NCR Toyota 86
  2. Cole Richards (USA) – Koruworks / Richards Racing Toyota GR86 
  3. Dmitriy Brutskiy – Never Settle BMW

 

NOTES

  • In a repeat of Round 2 in New Jersey, the same three Link ECU PROSPEC drivers climbed onto the podium in St Louis tonight. Except the order was changed after Nate Chen claimed his first ever FD win
  • Chen took the place from NJ winner Richards, who lost the Final after he dropped a tire into the dirt in Outside Zone 1, launching his GR86 into the air. With the rear tire debeaded and unable to change it, Richards took second ahead of Brutskiy who repeated his third place in NJ
  • With ten points available for each heat win, Chen’s victory has set up a fascinating title race as all three podium finishers are now tied on 100 points ahead of a thrilling Final Round in Utah on August 28-30
  • The title race couldn’t be closer, since technically Cody Buchanan (USA) in fourth with 80 points could also mathematically claim the Championship if he wins in Utah and his opponents are eliminated from the Top 8 heats
  • Chen’s victory was only his second podium since joining PROSPEC in 2021. He beat Brutskiy in the semi-finals to advance to the Final
  • As the only double PROSPEC Champion in the series' 22-year history, Brutskiy has an equal chance of becoming the only three-time Champion in Utah. He’s also competing in the FD PRO Championship this year, increasing his workload significantly
  • Fourth place Buchanan failed to compete against Richards in the semi-final following damage sustained in his Top 8 battle against Jerry Johnson (USA). Despite utilizing his Competition Time Out, the team was unable to repair the steering rack, forcing him to retire
  • In the 2025 Rookie of the Year title chase, Jerry Johnson (USA) reached the Top 8 where he was defeated by Buchanan. Jerry placed fifth on the night, keeping him sixth overall ahead of Rookie Collete Davis in sixth
  • All teams in the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship must use Link engine management and GT Radial tires

 

FD PROSPEC ROUND 3 TOP 16 DRIVER POSITONS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

Nate Chen

50

2

Cole Richards

40

3

Dmitriy Brutskiy

30

4

Cody Buchanan

30

5

Jerry Johnson

20

6

Alex Jagger

20

7

Collete Davis

20

8

Brian Wills

20 + 3

9

Cory Talaska

10

10

Trevor Root

10

11

Hooman Rahimi

10

12

Adam Knapik

10

13

Kelsey Rowlings

10

14

Luis Lanz

10

15

Ryan Kaufman

10 + 12

16

Chellee Hansen

10 + 6

  

FD PROSPEC TOP 16 DRIVER CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS*

POSITION

DRIVER

POINTS

1

Nate Chen

100

2

Cole Richards

100

3

Dmitriy Brutskiy

100

4

Cody Buchanan

80

5

Cory Talaska

70

6

Jerry Johnson

65

7

Collete Davis

52

8

Alex Jagger

40

9

Trevor Root

40

10

Josh Stuart

40

11

Collin Zielinski

33

12

Hooman Rahimi

30

13

Adam Knapik

30

14

Chellee Hansen

25

15

Camren Sorensen

25

16

Brian Wills

23

 

* Preliminary standings. Final results pending official confirmation

 

FORMULA DRIFT ST LOUIS RECAP

Competition results from FD PRO Round 5 will be sent on Saturday evening. A recap of all the action from FD STL with event images will be available on Monday.

 

NEXT ROUND

Round 6 of the FD PRO Championship moves to Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA for the Seattle Round on August 8-9. The Final Round 4 of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship will take place at Utah Motorsports Campus on August 28-30 along with FD PRO Round 7. Please visit formulad.com for ticket information, driver profiles, special content, and the event livestream.

 

ABOUT FORMULA DRIFT

Formula DRIFT is recognized as the leading international drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges the driver's skill while demanding a great deal from their vehicle in terms of power and strength. Formula DRIFT provides a series for the best professional drifters from around the globe to compete for the coveted title of Formula DRIFT Champion. As the first official drifting series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting drift fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life, and established itself as the global leader for the sport. For a competition schedule, ticket information, special content and livestream, please visit formulad.com

 

WATCH FORMULA DRIFT

Fans can find the free-to-view event livestream at youtube.com/Formuladrift. FD is also available on Racer/MAV TV (please check with your local provider), and available in Spanish via PX Sports on numerous outlets across Latin America. To find out where it’s broadcast in your country, visit pxsports.com/outlets

 

FOLLOW FORMULA DRIFT ONLINE

formulad.com

instagram.com/formulad

facebook.com/formuladrift

twitter.com/FormulaDrift

youtube.com/Formuladrift

 

 

FORMULA DRIFT PRO & PROSPEC CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDING BRACKET QUALIFYING RESULTS FROM ST LOUIS

 

 

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025

Location: World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, IL 

Event: Seeding Bracket Qualification for Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Round 5 and Link ECU PROSPEC Round 3 

 

RESULTS FROM FD PROSPEC SEEDING BRACKET

1.   Ryan Kaufman (USA) – Taxi Garage Mazda RX-7

2.   Matthew Bystrak (USA) – Bystrak Racing S550 Mustang

3.   Chellee Hansen (USA) – Team Hansen supercharged Nissan S13

 

RESULTS FROM FD PRO SEEDING BRACKET

  1. Nick Noback (USA) – Kenda Tires / Noback Racing E46 BMW
  2. Dan Burkett (USA) – RAD Industries Mk4 Toyota Supra
  3. Rudy Hansen (USA) – Team Hansen supercharged Nissan S13

 

PROSPEC NOTES

  • The Link ECU PROSPEC Championship locked in the first 20 competition places based on finishing positions from Round 2. The remaining 16 drivers would have to compete in tandem Seeding Bracket qualification runs to secure one of 12 competition places
  • Drivers receive three Championship points for every Seeding Bracket heat they win. The winning driver, for example, gains 12 points after winning the Seeding Bracket Final heat
  • The Seeding Bracket winner was yet another Rookie; this time it was Ryan Kaufman driving the Taxi Garage Mazda RX-7 who stood on the top step. To date, Rookies have won all three 2025 Seeding Brackets 
  • Kaufman faced Matthew Bystrak in the Final but a collision in Outside Zone 1 caused the driver of the Bystrak Racing S550 Mustang to run into the dirt and debead a rear tire. Unable to replace the tire under Formula DRIFT regulations, Kaufman was awarded the win
  • Rookie Chellee Hansen placed third after losing a One More Time semi-final battle to Kaufman in which she struggled to keep pace with the victorious RX-7
  • Rookie Feras Qartoumy (USA), Rookie Justin Ruth (USA), Sam Maghmoumi (Lebanon) and Kasey Kohl (USA) failed to win their Top 16 qualifying heats and were eliminated because they had the lowest rankings of the eight losers
  • Thirteen year-old Camren Sorensen (USA) – winner of the Round 2 Seeding Bracket – dropped a rear tire into the dirt and hit the tire barrier hard during his Top 8 pairing against Kaufman. He placed eighth overall
  • All teams in the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship must use Link engine management and GT Radial tires

 

PRO NOTES

  • Heavy rain preceded the Type S PRO Seeding Bracket, creating treacherous conditions and necessitating a sighting lap for each driver before their Top 16 Seeding Bracket heat. Formula DRIFT is an all-weather series and the action proceeded as scheduled
  • With the first 20 PRO Championship competition places based on ranking achieved at the previous Round, the 12 remaining competition places were decided by the Seeding Bracket qualification. 
  • Since only 11 drivers were participating, all were guaranteed to qualify. They were able to still compete for ranking, which would determine their opposition in the Top 32 competition heats. And with points for every win, the drivers were keen to improve their Championship positions
  1. The Type S PRO Seeding Bracket was won by Nick Noback who managed to conquer the challenging track conditions in his Kenda Tires / Noback Racing E46 BMW. He beat Dan Burkett in the Final after the driver of the RAD Industries Mk4 Toyota Supra over-committed in the transition to Outside Zone 4, made contact with Noback and spun out
  • With Rudy Hansen finishing third, it meant the husband and wife team both finished in the same position in their respective Seeding Brackets and would advance to the competition heats

 

PRO ROUND 5 SEEDING BRACKET RESULTS

POSITION

NAME

POINTS

1

Nick Noback

12

2

Dan Burkett

9

3

Rudy Hansen

6

4

Jack Shanahan

6

5

Trenton Beechum

3

6

Dmitriy Brutskiy

3

7

Andy Hateley

0

8

Austin Matta

0

9

Jonathan Hurst

0

10

Federico Sceriffo

0

11

Ben Hobson

0

 

BRACKET FOR PRO ROUND 5 COMPETITION HEATS 

 

ROUND 3 PROSPEC SEEDING BRACKET RESULTS

POSITION

NAME

POINTS

1

Ryan Kaufman

12

2

Matthew Bystrak

9

3

Chellee Hansen

6

4

Jack Davis

6

5

Adam Heishman

3

6

Carsen Ruger

3

7

Brian Wills

3

8

Camren Sorensen

3

9

Brian Hoplamazian

0

10

Jayce Habich

0

11

DJ Stubstad

0

12

Coty Demster

0

13

Feras Qartoumy

0

14

Justin Ruth

0

15

Sam Maghmoumi

0

16

Kasey Kohl

0

 

BRACKET FOR PROSPEC ROUND 3 COMPETITION HEATS 

 

FORMULA DRIFT ST LOUIS RECAP

Competition results from FD PROSPEC will be available on Friday evening. FD PRO Round 5 Competition results will be sent on Saturday. A recap of all the action from FD STL with event images will be available on Monday.

 

NEXT ROUND

Round 6 of the FD PRO Championship moves to Evergreen Speedway in Monroe, WA for the Seattle Round on August 8-9. The Final Round 4 of the Link ECU PROSPEC Championship will take place at Utah Motorsports Campus on August 28-30 along with FD PRO Round 7. Please visit formulad.com for ticket information, driver profiles, special content, and the event livestream.

 

ABOUT FORMULA DRIFT

Formula DRIFT is recognized as the leading international drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges the driver's skill while demanding a great deal from their vehicle in terms of power and strength. Formula DRIFT provides a series for the best professional drifters from around the globe to compete for the coveted title of Formula DRIFT Champion. As the first official drifting series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme, attracting drift fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life, and established itself as the global leader for the sport. For a competition schedule, ticket information, special content and livestream, please visit formulad.com

 

WATCH FORMULA DRIFT

Fans can find the free-to-view event livestream at youtube.com/Formuladrift. FD is also available on Racer/MAV TV (please check with your local provider), and available in Spanish via PX Sports on numerous outlets across Latin America. To find out where it’s broadcast in your country, visit pxsports.com/outlets

 

FOLLOW FORMULA DRIFT ONLINE 

formulad.com

instagram.com/formulad

facebook.com/formuladrift

twitter.com/FormulaDrift

youtube.com/Formuladrift

 

 

International hot rod association  

www.ihra.com

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) is the second-largest drag racing sanctioning body after the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).

 

 

   international hot rod association  american  flat track FORMULA DRIFT    The MotoAmerica AMA

2025 international hot rod association schedule

Saturday, 16 March 2024

Penwell Knights Raceway

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Mar30

Saturday, 30 March 2024

Knoxville Dragway

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Apr27

Saturday, 27 April 2024

Beacon Dragway

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Apr27

Saturday, 27 April 2024

South Carolina Motorplex

Sportsman Spectacular

 
May11

Saturday, 11 May 2024

Gleason Raceway Park

Sportsman Spectacular

 
May18

Saturday, 18 May 2024

Kil-Kare Raceway

Sportsman Spectacular

 
May25

Saturday, 25 May 2024

Dragway 42

Sportsman Spectacular

 
May25

Saturday, 25 May 2024

Music City Raceway

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Jun1

Saturday, 01 June 2024

Humboldt County Dragway

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Jun22

Saturday, 22 June 2024

Albuquerque Dragway

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Jul6

Saturday, 06 July 2024

Bunker Hill Dragstrip

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Jul20

Saturday, 20 July 2024

Quaker City Motorsports Park

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Jul27

Saturday, 27 July 2024

Ethridge Motorsports Park

Sportsman Spectacular

 
Aug24

Saturday, 24 August 2024

River Road Raceway

Sportsman Spectacular

2025 FORMULA DRIFT PRO & PROSPEC CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

CHAMPIONSHIP

LOCATION

DATE

PRO

Streets of Long Beach

April 4-5

PRO/PROSPEC

Road Atlanta

May 8-10

PRO

Orlando Speed World

May 30-31

PRO/PROSPEC

Englishtown Raceway

June 19-21

PRO/PROSPEC

World Wide Tech Raceway

July 17-19

PRO

Evergreen Speedway

August 8-9

PRO/PROSPEC

Utah Motorsports Campus

August 28-30

PRO

TBD

October 17-18
2025 motosmerica schedule

2025 ama schedule

 

 
       

 

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