DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is Peoria, Illinois-bound for one of the most revered and renowned events in global motorsport – the World Famous Caterpillar Peoria TT presented by Walters Brothers Harley-Davidson, on Saturday.
It will be the 79th edition of the fabled race hosted annually by the Peoria Motorcycle Club. There race fans gather in huge numbers to witness world-class competition inside the venue’s spectacular natural amphitheater, an experience that cannot be replicated anywhere.
Ranking among the Grand National Championship’s most iconic races, aspiring and established dirt trackers alike make a victory at the Peoria TT one of their most coveted goals.
Few achieve it. And those who do master it battle tooth-and-claw to do so again and again, creating precious little opportunity for others to share in that glory. Even top fives are difficult to come by for those without serious Peoria TT bona fides.
This has always been true. Dirt track legends of yore such as Roger Soderstrom (winner of five straight Peoria TTs from 1949-1953), Joe Leonard (seven-time winner from 1954-1961), Bart Markel (six-time winner from 1960-1968, and Dick Mann (five-time winner from 1959-1972) stamped out the dreams of those who were not up to the task of beating the best of the best at Peoria.
This trend has only further solidified over time. Over the last four decades, just nine different winners have stood atop the Mission AFT SuperTwins podium here.
Those who have are considered Peoria royalty. The longest reign, of course, belonged to “King” Henry Wiles (No. 911 DL Racing/HYMMCO Yamaha MT-07), who won 14 straight premier-class Main Events.
Chris Carr – known as “the Prince of Peoria” – earned that moniker via 13 wins of his own. More recently, JD Beach became the race’s ruling regent, notching up three consecutive triumphs from 2021-2023.
Its current warden is Briar Bauman (No. 3 Super.com/RWR/Rocket Doctor Harley-Davidson XG750R). Bauman’s win here a year ago was the third of his career, and he’s finished no worse than third since the big twins took flight once again in 2017.
The Rick Ware Racing superstar will now look to translate that expertise into a fourth Peoria TT victory – one that could draw him closer to a potential third Grand National Championship.
But Bauman understands he can’t just show up and expect to roll over the competition.
Reigning champion and current points leader Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) was practically born to be a Peoria legend himself.
Hailing from nearby Mattoon, Illinois, Daniels lived up to his childhood ambitions by breaking through with a stunning maiden professional victory as a KICKER AFT Singles rookie in 2019.
While, in many ways, that performance signaled what was to come – namely back-to-back KICKER AFT Singles titles and, ultimately, a Grand National Championship – he has yet to return to the top of the box in Peoria.
It hasn’t been due to a lack of pace, but rather a mix of misfortune, mistakes, Beach, and Bauman.
If Daniels can reclaim a destiny once almost taken granted, he’ll be in a commanding position indeed. Hang tight – we’ll return to that idea in a moment.
As accomplished and skilled as Bauman and Daniels are in Peoria, rookie title hopeful Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) has no choice but to meet if not exceed their level with the championship race so tight and so close to its conclusion.
Kopp has steadily improved over the years in Peoria – claiming ninth (with the save of the year) as a rookie in 2021, then fourth, third, and second in successive attempts while winning three consecutive KICKER AFT Singles crowns from 2022-2024.
Daniels’ Sturgis success not only put him on top of the points for the first time during his title defense, it also stripped his adversaries of control over their own destinies.
After winning both the TT and ST at the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club, the Estenson Racing Yamaha pilot now leads Kopp by 13 points and Bauman by 16 (249-236-233) with just three races to go.
With 23 points awarded for a win, 19 for second, and 16 for third, that means Daniels would repeat as champion with three seconds (306), even if Kopp were to win out (305).
The path is even more difficult for Bauman, who would have 302 points with three wins to end the year. That’s a tally Daniels could top with two seconds and a third (303).
Another part-timer with the potential to make things interesting is Peoria resident Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Dick Ford Racing/Mission Foods Yamaha MT-07).
Bauman still has plenty of pace – as evidenced by three top fives in his last six attempts. He also has serious Peoria chops – as evidenced by his 2019 runner-up finish to brother Briar and last year’s fourth.
As the numbers discussed above make clear, Briar could use a repeat of that 2019 1-2 right about now.
Outside of the Baumans, Daniels, and Wiles, every other rider to have finished inside the top five in the premier class at the Peoria TT is either injured, retired, off racing elsewhere, or otherwise not present.
With the likes of JD Beach, Jared Mees, Jarod VanDerkooi, Max Whale, Robert Pearson, and Brandon Robinson not in the mix, that provides plenty of room for a new generation to step forward.
