EVENT ADVANCE: The Biggest Stakes at the Biggest Race: Bauman and Daniels Prepare for Battle at the Springfield Mile I & II

Briar Bauman (3) and Dallas Daniels (32) battle it out during the Mission AFT SuperTwins Main Event in Peoria. [Photo: American Flat Track / Tim Lester]

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – August 27, 2025 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – A thrilling Grand National Championship fight is well and truly racing down the backstretch as it arrives for the Springfield Mile I & II presented by Drag Specialties at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, on Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31.

The victory of Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R) over Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) at the 78th World Famous Peoria TT was big in terms of their ongoing Mission AFT SuperTwins title conflict.

This weekend’s Progressive American Flat Track doubleheader, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, at the series’ crown jewel event promises to have even bigger implications.

The Stage is Set

As a result of Bauman’s win in Peoria, he now leads Daniels by 11 points (266-255). With just three races remaining, that puts the Estenson Racing Yamaha ace in a position where he needs to win out to be assured of the crown.

Considering the form of Daniels and his machine at the season’s only other Mile (DuQuoin) – further amplified by the desperation of his current situation – he’s likely viewed as the favorite this weekend.

However, even if he doubles in Springfield, he could still potentially face a scenario in which he’d need to win over Bauman at the Lake Ozark Short Track finale. And there he’s destined to be swapped into the role of underdog considering that Bauman has beaten Daniels head-to-head in each of the five most recent Short Tracks.

Still, even if Bauman is completely confident in his ability to overcome Daniels in Missouri, he can’t feel overly comfortable coming into Springfield due to some complicating factors.

More on those in a bit.

King Maker

The Springfield Mile has always loomed large in determining the Grand National Championship. That’s only been made truer since being slotted in as a late-season doubleheader.

Last season, Jared Mees came into Springfield with just a six-point championship advantage. A pair of wins later, he left up 22 with just Lake Ozark remaining to secure his unprecedented tenth premier-class crown.

In 2023, Mees led Daniels by just a single point prior to the Springfield Mile double finale. His 1-2 – contrasted by his young challenger’s 5-4 – stretched the final separation open to 16.

In 2021 (the event was rained out in ‘22), Mees used a Springfield sweep to springboard his comeback title campaign. Down 25 points at the time, Mees won both races in Springfield and then in Sacramento to turn the tables on Bauman.

In 2019 and 2020, Bauman proved it possible to weather a Springfield championship drubbing, although under considerably different circumstances than what he now faces. ‘19 saw Bauman go into Springfield with a massive 38-point advantage. Mees’ 1-1 vs. his 3-2 slashed the difference down to a still hefty 25.

And in ‘20, Bauman came in up three points and left down 13, as a result of his 7-3 vs Mees’ 2-1. However, the Springfield Mile doubleheader came early that season due to the pandemic scheduling shakeup, and Bauman managed to respond with four consecutive wins to get his championship campaign back on track.

Complicating Factors

As previously alluded, Springfield is a special case. While Bauman has finished first or second in 11 of 13 races this season (with one of the two misses being a third in which he had to race up through the field after being placed at the back of the pack), this weekend poses a steeper climb toward that end goal.

Bauman finished fifth at the ‘25 DuQuoin Mile and looked rather overmatched in doing so. Even though DuQuoin and Springfield have their own particular characteristics, that recent data point has to be a bit alarming for the Rick Ware Racing outfit.

And at Springfield, if you’re off by even a fraction, it can cost you huge in the points payout.

Looking for some numbers to back up that assertion? How’s this?:

In the last 30 Springfield Miles:

23 have been decided by less than a second at the checkered flag.

18 of those 23 had at least three riders finish within a second of victory.

11 of those 18 featured at least five riders within a second of victory.

Home track hero Jeffrey Carver, Jr. (No. 123 Happy Trails Racing/Carver’s BBQ Kawasaki Ninja 650), won the Springfield Mile in 2018 over Mees by 0.819 seconds. The following year, he finished 0.653 seconds behind race winner Mees… and finished tenth!

And that wasn’t the only such race, as there were two among the 11 that saw 10 riders take the checkered flag within a second of the win.

A similar outcome for Bauman (or Daniels) would likely prove catastrophic to their championship chances.

The Cascade

That sort of variability is liable to have ramifications all throughout the championship tables.

At the moment, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) is relatively secure in third with 176 points compared to the twin 158-point efforts of Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke) and Jarod VanDerKooi (No. 20 Fastrack Racing/Wally Brown Racing KTM 790 Duke).

However, he’s arguably somewhat less secure than he was two rounds back when he led them 158-141-128. That current 18-point advantage sounds even shakier when you factor in the possibility of a 15-point shift a la Carver in 2019.

There’s also a tight race for sixth waged by Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Progressive Insurance Honda Transalp), James Ott (No. 19 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07), Dan Bromley (No. 62 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Suzuki GSX-8S), and Max Whale (No. 18 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650).

Lowe leads them in that order, 137-131-128-127.

Behind those four, Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Luczak Racing Yamaha MT-07) sits a distant tenth at 83 after joining the chase halfway in.

Daniels and Yamaha would love to see Ott and Bender make big moves this weekend, ideally replicating their DuQuoin 1-2-3. There, a Yamaha podium lockout was significant. Here, it could be of Grand National proportions.

Even assuming a win at Lake Ozark, Bauman needs to score at least 31 points in Springfield to fend off a 1-1-2 season’s finish by Daniels. Two thirds would do it. A third and a fourth would not.

It may not prove to be podium or bust for Bauman, but he should probably plan on viewing it as such.

The Magic is Back

And if all that doesn’t make for enough intrigue, this weekend will mark the racing return of the one, the only, and the aforementioned Jeffrey “The Wizard” Carver, Jr.

Jeffrey Carver in September of 2020 [Photo: American Flat Track]

Carver’s entry at Springfield marks his first premier-class race since 2022. While he’ll be pressed to quickly brush off whatever rust has accumulated in the time since, he’s a spectacular natural talent and one of the more entertaining riders the sport has produced in recent times.

Carver’s bona fides are legit. He’s a four-time Mission AFT SuperTwins winner and 22-time podium finisher. Additionally, he won the AFT Singles crown in 2010.

And he’s continued to have an impact on the sport even from the fences; Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust/ATV’s and More Yamaha YZ450F) credits Carver with playing a significant role in the breakthrough season his fellow Illinois native has enjoyed in AFT Singles competition this season.

That said, it’ll be fun to see Carver back out on track and flexing those Springfield Mile muscles again.

Up for the (Triple) Challenge

And don’t forget, the Springfield Mile I marks the third and final time this season the Mission Triple Challenge format will be utilized.

The shorter distances involved are likely to only bunch things up even further, creating all the more opportunities for photo finishes and the unexpected.

Grand National Atmosphere

Bring the family and enjoy not only the greatest spectacle on two wheels, but also live music, big-screen viewing, vendor displays, dedicated motorcycle parking, and a variety of food and beverage options.

All ticketholders will have access to the AMCA Motorcycle Swap Meet taking place both days in the infield. In fact, there will be three bike shows in all – the Infield Bike Show as part of the AMCA Motorcycle Swap Meet, the Flat Track Racing Show at the entrance of the grandstands, and the Vintage Iron Rider’s Motorcycle Club display.

At the Springfield Mile, Bikes and Tickets Move Fast

And you had better move fast too because tickets are $10 off if purchased prior to Wednesday. Act now and Infield tickets are still just $20 (kids 12 and under free with a paid adult), while Reserved Grandstand tickets start at $35 (all ages).

For $150, fans also have the opportunity to receive a VIP Experience that provides an upgraded Reserved Grandstand ticket of their choice, food and beverage in the VIP area, and all day access to the pits.

Camping is also available through the Illinois State Fairgrounds campgrounds. For reservations or any questions, please call (217) 725-0120.

To purchase Springfield Mile I tickets, click HERE.  

To purchase Springfield Mile II tickets, click HERE.

And to save an additional $5 by purchasing Saturday and Sunday tickets together for the Springfield Mile I & II, click HERE.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact Mees Promotions by phone (217) 632-0277 or email: [email protected].

Gates will open for fans at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT) both days, with Opening Ceremonies set to begin at 2:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. PT) on Saturday and Sunday.

How to Watch 

FloRacing

For those that can’t catch the live action from the circuit, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive AFT. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2025. FloSports is available by visiting https://flosports.link/aft or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.

FS1

FOX Sports coverage of the Springfield Mile I presented by Drag Specialties, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Saturday, September 6, at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT). The Springfield Mile II presented by Drag Specialties will air the following Saturday, September 13, at 10:00 a.m. ET (7:00 a.m. PT)

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

About Progressive American Flat Track: 

Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, 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. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram and catch all the Progressive American Flat Track racing action on FOX Sports. 

Source: Progressive American Flat Track

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