Rounds 5 and 6 of the 2020 AFT series saw a triple-header with two Springfield Mile Super Twins and Production Twins races at Springfield, Illinois, on September 5 and 6, after an AFT Singles Short Track on Thursday September 4th.
In the first, Saturday's AFT SuperTwins presented by Vance & Hines Main Event Springfield Mile I presented by Memphis Shades, Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Coolbeth-Nila Racing Indian FTR750) provided an undeniable reminder of his immense talent to take the win with a commanding performance.
"Slammin' Sammy" has long been regarded as one of the elite riders on the AFT scene, but his 14th career Grand National Championship race win came as his first in more than four years. Over that span, he'd found himself on the wrong end of Indian Motorcycle's recent series domination. Now that he's got an FTR750 of his own, Halbert once again figures to be a significant factor in the '20 AFT SuperTwins title fight.
Multi-time champ Jared Mees (No. 9 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) brought it home in second, with Jeffrey Carver Jr. (No. 23 Happy Trails Racing FTR750) third, Brandon Robinson (No. 44 HCRR Racing/Ben Evans Racing Indian FTR750) fourth and Davis Fisher (No. 67 BriggsAuto.com Indian FTR750) fifth.
Reigning Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) finished in seventh, 0.150 seconds behind Brandon Price (No. 92 Roof Systems of Dallas, Texas Indian FTR750). As a result, Mees had reclaimed the points lead and remains the sole rider with a perfect podium record for the season.
Brandon Price, Briar Bauman and Bronson Bauman were 6th, 7th and 8th respectively on their FTR750s, with Dalton Gauthier and Jarod Vanderkooi bringing home the leading Vance & Hines backed XG750R Rev X Harley factory bikes in 9th and 10th.
In the second, the Vance & Hines backed SuperTwins race, on Sunday 6, Jared Mees (No. 9 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) went one better at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Illinois, adding to his burgeoning Mile legend with a triumphant ride in Sunday's thrilling Springfield Mile II presented by Memphis Shades.
Brandon Robinson (No. 44 HCRR Racing/Ben Evans Racing Indian FTR750) was second, ahead of reigning Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) third, his brother Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) fourth, with Davis Fisher (No. 67 BriggsAuto.com Indian FTR750) fifth.
The three Vance & Hines backed Harley factory team XG750R Rev X's of Bryan Smith, Dalton Gauthier and Jarod Vanderkooi came in 7th, 8th and 9th respectively, with Dan Bromley on another FTR750 in 10th.
As a result, Mees boasted a relatively healthy title advantage over primary rival Bauman (132-119), with Halbert in third as the series headed for the Williams Grove Speedway Half-Mile double-header at Mechanicsburg, Penn.
AFT Production Twins
Ryan Varnes (No. 68 RVR/RoyBuilt Don's Kawasaki Ninja 650) won his first-career Mile win in Saturday's AFT Production Twins Main Event, ahead of Chad Cose (No. 49 Wally Brown Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) second, and Ben Lowe (No. 25 Roof Systems of Dallas/Bruce Lowe Excavating Yamaha MT-07) third.
The following evening, in the second Springfield Mile Production Twins Main Event, points leader James Rispoli (No. 43 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) extended his championship lead, with Ben Lowe second this time, ahead of Chad Cose, third.
AFT Singles
The AFT Singles saw two Main Event Short Track races staged on the same evening (Thursday September 4th).
In the first, Dallas Daniels took the win (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F), ahead of Henry Wiles second (No. 17 RMR Honda/Honda Talon CRF450R) and Morgen Mischler (No. 13 Roof Systems DFW/Duffy Fleet Services KTM 450 SX-F) third.
In the second race, exciting rookie Trevor Brunner (No. 211 Demske Racing/KMA Racing Honda CRF450R) was ahead of Henry Wiles, who again had to settle for second, with Max Whale on a Kawasaki KX450F in third.
After the Williams Grove Half-Miles (Mechanicsburg, Penn., September 11th and 12th) come the Dallas Half-Mile double-headers at the Devil's Bowl Speedway (September 25 and 26), the Atlanta Short Tracks (October 2nd and 3rd), Charlotte Half-Miles (Concord, NC., October 9 and 10), with the season finale at Daytona Beach on October 15 and 16.