DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, will descend on Ventura Raceway for the fourth annual Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track presented by 805 Beer this Saturday, April 25.
While still a relative newcomer on the Progressive AFT scene, Ventura, California, has quickly established itself a dirt track destination. Combining breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, jam-packed grandstands, and thrilling action, the Memphis Shades Ventura Short Track is a singular highlight of the Grand National Championship calendar.
Reigning Mission AFT SuperTwins champion Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07) comes into the weekend having earned the first victory of his title defense last time out.
The win was especially meaningful to Daniels, Estenson Racing, and Yamaha, as it represented the first time the brand had taken a premier-class victory at its home track, Senoia Raceway.
While that fact made plenty of headlines, somewhat more under the radar was the fact that it simultaneously brought about the conclusion of a remarkable streak scored by rival manufacturer Harley-Davidson.
Prior to Daniels’ triumph in Georgia, Harley-Davidson stacked up a full season’s worth of consecutive Short Track victories. The run opened with a 1-2 that marked the XG750R’s maiden Mission SuperTwins win at the ‘25 Yamaha Senoia Short Track and was rounded out with a double victory – courtesy of rookie phenom Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) – at the Royal Enfield Short Track at DAYTONA I & II to open the ‘26 season.
The ST streak stretched out to nine consecutive Main Event wins before Daniels finally brought it to an end. The run was nearly extended to ten, as Kopp pushed Daniels to the checkered flag at Senoia, threatening to become the first rider to not only win his first premier-class race, and his second, but also his third.
As a result of his stunning 1-1-2 career Mission SuperTwins start, Kopp comes to California with the Grand National Championship points lead. The Ventura Short Track – a race he won in KICKER AFT Singles action back in 2023 – provides another opportunity to cement himself a genuine title threat and draw nearer to Brad Andres’ record of five rookie GNC Main Event wins.
But don’t expect Daniels and company to simply move aside for the emergent challenger, particularly at a track where the class champ has previously stood atop the podium himself (also in 2023).
With all due apologies to Daniels and Kopp, however, the rider most deserving of pre-race favorite honors is two-time Grand National Champion Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R).
Six of those nine straight Short Track wins reeled in by the XG750R were secured by Bauman, including the one he picked up here at Ventura Raceway a year ago. Additionally, the California native also obliterated the competition at the venue the prior year, then armed with a KTM 790 Duke.
Bauman’s ‘26 title campaign has gotten off to a slower-than-anticipated start as a result of uncharacteristic finishes of seventh and sixth in Daytona. However, he returned to the podium in Georgia and should continue to flex his true force as he and new crew chief Bryan Bigelow get more time to gel.
With over a month between rounds to continue to build that bond, expect Bauman prove formidable in Ventura once more.
As the respective reigning champion, points leader, and defending race winner, Daniels, Kopp, and Bauman stand as the headliners. However, they are not alone in defending the honors of Yamaha and Harley-Davidson.
Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Harley-Davidson XG750R) has finished inside the top five the last two times the series hit the Pacific Coast, including a fourth last season that saw him finish just over a second back of the win.
Robinson also has an ace up his sleeve in Ventura native Kayl Kolkman. Besides wrenching Robinson’s bikes, Kolkman proved beyond question he knows the quick way around the track, having clocked the fastest time in practice and qualifying sessions on multiple occasions in past visits to Ventura Raceway.
Meanwhile, Mission SuperTwins rookie Aidan RoosEvans (No. 26 FRA Trust Advisors Harley-Davidson XG750R) has flashed frontrunning speed himself, furthering Harley-Davidson’s ambition to reclaim the dominant position it enjoyed in the sport for so many decades.
Daniels won’t be alone in fighting to prevent that possibility. Along with premier-class podium finishers Brandon Price (No. 92 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07), Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07), and Chad Cose (No. 49 Parker Racing/Pro Roofing Yamaha MT-07, Mission SuperTwins race winner Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Dick Ford Racing/Mission Foods Yamaha MT-07) will make his first appearance of the season this weekend.
Rounding out that strength is Canadian Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing MT07), who is slated to make his debut with the G&G Racing Yamaha squad this weekend.
As previously mentioned, KTM has enjoyed its fair share of success at Ventura Raceway. In addition to Bauman’s victory two years back, Jarod VanDerKooi guided the Duke to a close third in last year’s showdown.
The bike’s preeminent pilot of the present, Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke), has not fared quite so well in Ventura, however. Last year’s seventh was his best finish yet at the venue, a modest record he’ll look to rectify this weekend.
Form is on his side. Fisher is off to a fine start in 2026, logging three straight top fives, including a podium in Daytona.
Several others stand a real chance to shine as well, especially at a track that hasn’t elevated one particular platform above the rest.
As stated above, Yamaha, KTM, and Harley have each taken one win apiece at Ventura Raceway. On top of that, the now-retired Indian FTR750 and present-day challengers Royal Enfield Twins FT and Suzuki GSX-8S have finished inside the top five at the track.
That track record of parity bodes well for the likes of Springfield winner Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet), 2019 KICKER AFT Singles champ Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Parts Bros/D&D Cycles/Fairway Ford Aprilia Tuareg 660), and premier-class rookie Evan Renshaw (No. 95 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650).
