ROUND 16 / JULY 24, 2021
CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY / CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA
P80
FLAT TRACK I PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN FLAT TRACK
2017, 2018 and 2021 Grand Na-
tional Championships, the 2009
and 2011 GNC1 Twins Champi-
onships, and the 2012 GNC1
Singles Championship.
Before even giving it a minute
to sink in, Mees was already
looking ahead to the inevitable
rematch in 2022. He said, "All
in all, it was one hell of a season
for me and the team. We came
from a long way back in the
points and a long way back with
my knee.
"It sucks to win it with Briar
on the ground, but I feel I had
my share of problems at the
beginning of the season. Briar
made me step up my game
these past few years, there's no
doubt about that. He's one tough
afterthought even as the season
moved beyond its halfway point.
Following Round 9 of 16, Mees
found himself 34 points back
and still stinging from a wholly
uncompetitive eighth-place per-
formance at his precious Lima
Half-Mile.
The numbers from Rounds 10
on told an entirely different sto-
ry—the story that will now define
2021 in the history books. Over
the season's final seven races,
Mees finished on the podium in
every race, beat Bauman every
time but one, and notched up
five wins to earn back the crown.
And those numbers helped
add to some even more gaudy
career accomplishments, which
include the 2012, 2014, 2015,
hugely popular maiden premier-
class victory.
Beach followed the two home
in third with Vanderkooi and
teammate Brandon Robinson
completing the top five.
"Oh man, it was a fight," a
gleeful Fisher said. "All season
long was a grind, just to stay fit
and keep working on the bikes
all week long. It feels so good…
I've got 41 hours to think about it
on the way home."
Mees wasn't overly bothered
by the race result as his long
mission to defeat Bauman and
retake the Grand National Cham-
pionship was complete.
After battling through injury
earlier in the season, Mees
was on his way to becoming an
Max Whale (18) beat out
Kody Kopp (143) for the
Singles win at Charlotte,
but it wasn't enough
to catch Daniels in the
championship.
