Battling for AMA Flat Track SuperTwins Finals
Jared Mees (Indian) and Dallas Daniels are separated by one point, with a doubleheader starting them right in the face this weekend in Springfield, Ill.
America’s oldest form of motorcycle racing, Progressive AMA Flat Track (AFT), will take center stage this weekend, Sept. 2-3, in Springfield, Ill., with a doubleheader that’ll decide the premier Mission SuperTwins Grand National champion.
Booting up and strapping on the steel overshoe in the high speed, counterclockwise Mile dirt oval at the Illinois State Fairgrounds will be two Monster Energy backed racers, divided by a single point following 13 stops on the ’23 AFT tour – with only two races remaining for a year’s worth of bragging rights, along with a possible spot in the AMA record books.
Leading the SuperTwins class is Monster Energy’s Jared Mees (Indian). Considered by many, including the guy he’s going to face for the title this weekend, Monster Energy’s Dallas Daniels (Yamaha), to be one of the best – if not the best – AFT racer of all-time, Mees will be shooting for his all-time/record-tying 9th AFT Championship.
Said Mees of the Springfield Doubleheader: “It’s awesome to be in another position to get another title. For me, this one is monumental, as it’ll tie me with the GOAT (Greatest of All Time, Scotty Parker, 9 AFT titles).”
On the season, Mees has 242 points (to Daniels’ 241), with 8 wins, 13 podiums and an average finish of 2.19. Most importantly, though, is that Mees is undefeated, a perfect 3-0 (Sacramento, Red & DuQuoin) on the AFT Mile tracks this year.
And beyond that, Mees has won at Springfield seven (7) times. Daniels, in his lone SuperTwins race at Springfield (’22), placed 4th.
“Springfield has been good to me,” added Mees. “And honestly, if I had to pick one place to make it happen, there isn’t a better place than Springfield.”
For Daniels, being in this position, one point back of maybe the greatest flat tracker of all time, with one weekend of racing remaining, is the stuff that dreams are made of.
“Starting from the beginning, Jared was one of the guys I looked up to,” said Daniels, who’s father, Nick, raced with Mees when Dallas was just a little dude. “He’s established himself as one of the greatest of all time. Eight championships and battling next weekend for his 9th against me. I’ve looked back on the battles he’s had with other guys, the minds games he plays, and that’s part of what champions do. He’s also very good on the track, very crafty. There’s a certain amount of respect that he’s shown me as well. When I won my first Singles championship, he wanted to get a picture with me. ‘Why,’ I said? He said; ‘You’re going to be a Grand National champion one day.’”
For his part, in just his sophomore season racing the V-twins, Daniels has had a heck of a year (something that Mees will attest to). With five wins, 15 podiums, a 2.06 average finish and second-best 2.33 average finish in the Mile races, Daniels has solidified himself this year as the guy who is ‘Next’ in line for Mees’ top spot. And if you ask Daniels, that next-in-line spot might have to change this weekend in Springfield.
“For me, I don’t know where my advantages are just yet,” explained Daniels. “With Mile racing, a lot comes down to strategy and experience, along with a little bit of luck. You can have a plan, and it can all get messed up in one corner. Being young and being able to learn from one of the best guys… I’ve learned a lot already, and my plan is to apply that. Dirt track’s tough, not like supercross and motocross aggressive tough, but more like finesse and strategy tough. And since all the tracks are so different, you can’t show up with the same strategy. And for me, I’m still trying to learn that. I’m a sponge – and that’s my advantage.”
Added Mees: “Dallas has been a tough competitor all season. For how young he is, to have kept it together for the season as strong as he has, is impressive.”
So at this point there’s nothing left to do but race the race(s). Good luck to both of the Monster Energy combatants, along with Daniels’ Monster Energy-backed Yamaha teammate, JD Beach, who’s battling to hold down 3rd place overall – to complete the Monster Energy AFT Championship podium sweep (Beach leads 4th place Briar Bauman, 271-253, for 3rd). The Monster Army will be tuning in to Springfield for sure.
