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ROUND 12 / AUGUST 6, 2024 BLACK HILLS SPEEDWAY / RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA FLAT TRACK I AMA PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP P96 Ware Racing star had obliter- ated the opposition over the season's first half. The first three races of its second half saw Estenson Rac- ing's Tom Drane lead off with a win at Lima, after which JPG Motorsports' Chase Saathoff swept his home-state rounds at DuQuoin and Peoria. In those three races, Kopp at least managed to finish second. But at Black Hills Speedway, Drane and Saathoff ganged up on the champ. Drane moved through on Kopp and into the lead early. And while he checked out at the front, polesitter Saathoff worked his way for - ward following a poor start and was by Kopp and into second a couple of minutes later. From that point forward, the chase was on, but it wasn't. Even with nothing but clear air in front of him, Saathoff could not reel the Aussie back in. Even - tually, he conceded the race, accepting a runner-up result as Drane expanded his advantage to nearly two seconds at the checkered flag. Saathoff said, "The track was pretty one-line, and it's hard to pass around the outside when the groove is so locked down and there's not a lot of traction on the outside. It makes it hard. I was trying to roll up high and square guys up—do the high- low trick. It's the oldest one in the book, but I made it work for a little bit. If I would have got a better start, I probably could have run with him for a little bit, but props to him. He ran off with it." prises' Brandon Price, while Bauman and Davis Fisher com - pleted the top 10. AFT SINGLES There are no alarm bells going off. Kody Kopp left Black Hills Speedway still firmly in control and that much closer to secur- ing a third consecutive Parts Unlimited AFT Singles title with each successive podium. That said, it's gotten a whole lot more competitive at the front in recent weeks after the Rick within striking distance of Mees by finishing third, while Bauman's title chances were negatively impacted, as his slide down the order didn't stall until in ninth. A pair of rookies charged up the order, with GOMR's Declan Bender edging Zanotti Racing's Trevor Brunner for fourth as both youngsters continued to find their form with career-best outings. Vanderkooi picked up sixth, followed by Cose and Memphis Shades/Sody Enter - After back-to-back wins, Chase Saathoff had to settle for second.