BY CHRIS MARTIN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MITCH FRIEDMAN
A
genuinely riveting Progressive American
Flat Track season concluded with some-
thing of a twist ending. What had played
out as an epic-if-familiar showdown featuring the
archetypal master matched up against the bud
-
ding young superstar was reframed in the finale.
Instead, that emerging rivalry was put on
hold—presumably to be resumed in 2024—and
instead this year's season-ending Springfield
Mile doubleheader transformed 2023 into a
celebration of the career of Mission SuperTwins
king Jared Mees.
Coming in with a one-point advantage, the
tiebreaker in hand, and an overwhelming track
record at an event he also co-promotes with his
wife, Nichole Mees, the factory Indian ace was
largely viewed as the pre-event favorite over
young challenger Dallas Daniels. That said, no
one predicted such a convincing finish to what
proved to be one of the greatest title campaigns
in Mees' career of great title campaigns.
The champ controlled the proceedings on Sat
-
urday, ultimately making a narrow escape from
his pre-Daniels thorn, Briar Bauman, to secure a
commanding lead with just one race to go.
And then, despite requiring only a modest re-
sult to lock up the crown on Sunday, Mees again
raced with Bauman for top honors. This time,
though, he thought better of risking a late-race
push and gladly accepted second en route to his
historic accomplishment.
Just how historic? Mees' third-consecutive
Grand National Championship goes down in
the books as his ninth in all (2009, 2012, 2014,
2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, and 2023). That
places him directly alongside the once-thought
unmatchable Scott Parker for most in the 70-year
history of the series.
Mees said, "I'm a little bit lost for words. I
had a goal when I was young to try to match the
all-time great, and we got it done. A lot of kids
dreamed about this, and I'm not saying I didn't
dream it, but I made it my goal, and there's a dif
-
ference between a dream and a goal. Year after
ROUNDS 17-18 / SEPTEMBER 2-3, 2023
ILLINOIS STATE FAIRGROUNDS / SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS
FLAT TRACK I AMA/PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP
P76
Jared Mees ticks off record-tying
Jared Mees (1) leads
Briar Bauman (3) and
Brandon Robinson
(44) en route to
Saturday's win.
Jared Mees ticks off record-tying
MEES REIGNS
