DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (September 3, 2019) – American Flat Track will immediately follow up its titanic Springfield tripleheader with a stop at another of the sport’s hotbeds. This weekend the series arrives at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa., for the Williams Grove Half-Mile presented by Appalachian Harley-Davidson on Saturday, September 7.
Based in one of the world’s most fertile grounds when it comes to producing elite dirt track talent, there will be no shortage of hometrack favorites to root for this weekend. All three classes are loaded with frontrunners who consider Williams Grove to be their home round. This fact is sure to produce a particularly strong performance in front of fans, friends and family, and could potentially see a tip in the balance in any one of the title fights.
Reigning AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines Champion Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) drew to within striking distance of title leader Briar Bauman (No. 14 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750) with his double victory in Springfield. Mees will not be lacking for motivation to keep the pressure this weekend at a venue that’s less than an hour’s drive from where he was born and raised.
Meanwhile, both of the leading contenders for the Roof Systems AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys title — points leader Dalton Gauthier (No. 122 D&D Cycles/Gobert Smash Husqvarna FC450) and defending class champ Dan Bromley (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) — are native Pennsylvanians.
Like Mees in 2017, Bromley got to experience clinching a championship with the home crowd cheering him on here a year ago. But this time around, he finds himself chasing Gauthier, who holds a narrow 5-point advantage heading into Round 16 of 18.
It’s a similar story in the AFT Production Twins championship fight. It’s led by local ace Cory Texter (No. 65 G&G Racing/Holeshot Powersports Yamaha MT-07), who leads Kolby Carlile (No. 136 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07), who hails from just a few hours north of Williams Grove in New York state and yet another Pennsyvanian in Ryan Varnes (No. 68 Varnes Racing/RoyBuilt Kawasaki Ninja 650).
Also included among the staggering number of podium-contending riders hungry to do well at home this weekend are Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Kennedy Racing/Armbruster Racing Indian FTR750), Jake Johnson (No. 5 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) and Brandon Price (No. 192 Roof Systems of Dallas TX, DPC Racing Indiant FTR750) in AFT Twins, Shayna Texter (No. 52 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing SX-F 450) and Cameron Smith (No. 44 Basciani Foods/Hyatt Racing Honda CRF450R) in AFT Singles and Jordan Harris (No. 17 RRCF Racing/Iowa City Brake Kawasaki Ninja 650) in AFT Production Twins.
There will be plenty to keep fans entertained beyond the two-wheeled action. The “hometown heroes” theme extends beyond the racing, as it will be First Responder’s Night at Williams Grove Speedway, honoring the bravery and sacrifice of local police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics. Additionally, the Colt Wilbur Band will be performing its blend of real country music, bluegrass, southern rock, and the blues.
