The DuQuoin Mile in Illinois over the Independence Day weekend saw one of the tightest battles for victory in the 2026 American Flat Track season so far, with the podium finishers crossing the line less than 0.06 second of each other.
The battle was fought by rookie and Harley-mounted Kody Kopp, reigning champ Dallas Daniels aboard a Yamaha, Harley-mounted Briar Bauman, and KTM rider Davis Fisher. All four continuously traded positions throughout the second half of the race.
In the end, it was Kopp who finished just 0.012 second ahead of Fisher, securing his first victory since his sensational start during the opening Daytona double-header. Daniels claimed 3rd only 0.046 behind Fisher.
Kopp’s victory allowed him to extend his points lead with 192 points to Daniels’ 184. Bauman, who racked up five consecutive wins this season before an unfortunate mechanical error at the Lima Half-Mile II, sits in 3rd with 172.
Next up, the series heads to the Williams Grove Half-Mile in Pennsylvania on July 11 before heading to Sturgis for the Jackpine Gypsies TT and ST, Aug. 8-10. Visit our Sturgis page to find more news and events to check out during the 2026 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Read the AFT’s press release below for more information.
Find all of American Rider’s racing coverage here
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 5, 2026) – Kody Kopp (No. 12 Latus Motors Racing Harley-Davidson XG750R) returned to the top of the box for first time since his brilliant season-opening double by claiming victory in Sunday’s thrilling Drag Specialties DuQuoin Mile presented by Parts Unlimited, Round 10 of the 2026 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing.
Saturday’s weather delay pushed the scheduled Independence Day action at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in DuQuoin, Illinois, to Sunday, which saw further delays to get the surface competition ready. And yet, in the end, America’s Original Extreme Sport® came through to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday in Grand (National Championship) style.
By half-distance, a healthy seven-rider lead pack was whittled down to just four contenders – the usual suspects of Kopp, reigning Mission AFT SuperTwins champ Dallas Daniels (No. 1 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07), and the on-form Briar Bauman (No. 3 RWR/Jacob Construction/Parts Plus Harley-Davidson XG750R), plus a super spoiler in Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing KTM 790 Duke).
The four proceeded to trade their positions back and forth with ferocity and frequency, testing novel lines and last-lap strategies all the while.
All of that prelude set up the decisive final lap. Kopp led to open, with Fisher, Daniels, and Bauman in close formation. Daniels ran down low to snatch the lead coming out of Turn 2, with Kopp, Fisher, and Bauman railing around above him.
They streaked alongside as all four powered to the checkered flag. There, the stripe clocked Kopp in first, just 0.012 seconds ahead of Fisher.
Meanwhile, Daniels earned the final spot on the box another 0.046 seconds back, with Bauman left off the podium despite missing out on victory by less than two-tenths-of-a-second.
A jubilant Kopp said, “I was looking at the time (remaining), looking at everything I could, and using all my tools (to work out a final-lap plan). I can’t believe we pulled that one off. Dallas checked down low going into Turn 4, and I had planned on trying to draft him to line. But when he did that, I just started rolling and picked it up mid-corner more than I had all race. That fence came up real quick. I’m happy to get that one.
“This says a lot about my team. Dave (Zanotti) and Michelle (Disalvo), they’ve been working so hard on this package.”
Hunter Bauer (No. 24 G&G Racing Yamaha MT-07) escaped what was a four-rider second group to equal his best career premier-class of fifth on a very fast G&G Yamaha.
Behind, ‘25 Springfield Mile winner Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods Honda CB750 Hornet) eked ahead of Declan Bender (No. 70 Memphis Shades/Vinson Construction Yamaha MT-07) and Ben Lowe (No. 25 Rackley Racing/Roof Systems KTM 790 Duke) to win their battle for sixth at the line.
Cody Johncox (No. 96 Sunnyside Cycle/Hyper Dog Yamaha MT-07) and Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 Moto Anatomy X Powered by Royal Enfield 650) rounded out the top ten.
Kopp’s win stretched out his Grand National Championship lead just a bit, as he now heads Daniels by eight points (192-184) with Bauman still very much in contention at 172.
Next Up
Progressive American Flat Track will complete a run of four rounds in just over two weeks’ time with next Saturday’s Appalachian Harley-Davidson Williams Grove Half-Mile at Williams Grove Speedway, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, on July 11. Purchase your tickets today.
Meanwhile, the action continues all week long in DuQuoin with the 2026 Roof Systems AMA Flat Track Grand Championship amateur nationals at the venue starting today and continuing through July 10.
How to Watch
FloRacing
For those that can’t catch the live action at the track, FloRacing is the live streaming home of Progressive American Flat Track. Motorsports fans can subscribe to FloRacing to enjoy over 1,000 live motorsports events in 2026. FloSports is available online or by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.
FS1
FOX Sports coverage of the Super.com Lima Half-Mile I, featuring in-depth features and thrilling onboard cameras, will premiere on FS1 on Sunday, July 5, at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The Lima Half Mile II will air the following Sunday, July 12, at 12:00 p.m. ET (9:00 a.m. PT). The full listing of American Flat Track’s television premieres can be found at the AFT website.
