FLAT TRACK
AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 15 / SEPTEMBER 2, 2018
ILLINOIS STATE FAIRGROUNDS / SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
P64
line, but I couldn't. We were so
close. I wouldn't have done any-
thing differently, honestly."
Smith was also pretty sure
Mees was in the right place at
the right time. "I thought I need-
ed to lead it off four. I couldn't
draft him by the checkered flag
where he could draft me by the
checkered flag. I thought if I was
leading it that I might be able to
make a move, so he couldn't get
me. I didn't think I could get by
him if I was behind him by the
flag."
Mile racing in general—and the
Springfield Mile in particular—is
a hundred-mile-an-hour chess
game. The two mile veterans
cycle/Howerton Motorsports,
Indian Scout FTR750) were all
playing in the Springfield draft.
Briar Bauman was able to
eliminate his deficit and it was
a four-rider battle to the finish.
Smith, Mees and Carver all led
laps, with Smith grabbing the
most "lap money." Mees took
the lead at the white flag, one
lap to go, and was right where
he wanted to be. "That was a
pretty classic Springfield Mile,"
said Mees. "Honestly, my game
plan was to lead it off of four. I
felt like I could beat them to the
edged away with Briar Bauman
just behind. After running as
high as second, Henry Wiles
(Bandit Industries/Wilco Racing,
Indian Scout FTR750) was slip-
ping back to fifth. A huge race
for sixth was going on between
Jake Shoemaker (Briggsauto.
com/Astec Metalworks, Indian
Scout FTR750), Jake Johnson
(Estenson Racing/McCand-
less Truck Center, Indian Scout
FTR750), Kenny Coolbeth (Nila
Racing/Columbia Avionics,
Indian Scout FTR750), Jarod
Vanderkooi (Harley-Davidson
Motor Company/Vance & Hines,
Harley-Davidson XG750R) and
Bronson Bauman (Indian Motor-
Henry Wiles (17), Jeffrey Carver (23)
and Mees jockey for position.
