upped his season's win tally to
seven—just one short of the
all-time single-season record
posted by Dallas Daniels in
2020.
For Drane, the result still
represented an eighth podium
over his last nine outings, while
finalizing his rise from eighth to
second in the standings, as he
overhauled teammate (and fifth-
place finisher) Trevor Brunner in
the process.
Turner Racing Honda's Trent
Lowe earned the final spot on
the box. To do so, he was forced
to fend off a late podium bid by
second factory KTM hero Max
languished down in seventh
position.
But then Kopp figured out a
track no one else managed to
master and slung around his ri
-
vals with a high line no one else
could make work.
While Drane posed the stiffest
test to Kopp's upward climb, the
champ finally forced a mistake
on his emerging rival's part with
just over two laps remaining.
Drane's small slip allowed Kopp
to power alongside as they
exited turn four and then slot his
KTM up the inside to complete
the pass in turn one.
Kopp didn't look back and
During that span, the Esten-
son Racing ace had success-
fully dug his way out of an
eighth-place championship hole
and established himself as the
biggest threat to Kopp atop the
pecking order, if not the points
standings. Following a zero-po-
dium opening six rounds, Drane
responded by stringing together
six podiums in seven races,
including three wins.
And he continued to shine at
Black Hills Speedway. He looked
like the clear pre-race favorite
and then made good on that
status by pulling free at the front
early in the main event as Kopp
ROUND 15 / AUGUST 6, 2023
BLACK HILLS SPEEDWAY / RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA
FLAT TRACK I PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN FLAT TRACK, SANCTIONED BY AMA PRO RACING
P88
Kody Kopp (1) got back
to his winning ways in the
Singles main.
