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ROUND 16 / SEPTEMBER 14, 2024 LAKE OZARK SPEEDWAY / ELDON, MISSOURI FLAT TRACK I AMA PROGRESSIVE AMERICAN FLAT TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP P102 "That restart really helped me there at the end," Drane said. "I was able to fight back and had a good battle with Chase. It was good to finally get something back on him after all the stuff he's done to me this year. It was good to see that. I can't thank my team enough for all their effort all year. That was a good ride, and we've done a lot of work all season. The bike was been provided with one last op - portunity to gain the upper hand on the other. This time around it was Drane who came out on top, a most satisfying outcome for the Australian after ending up on the ground in two prior entangle- ments, a result that also saw him edge Kopp for most wins this season with seven to Kopp's tally of six. National Championship, and I'm officially retired. Thank you, guys, for an incredible run. I couldn't have done it without the support from all of my friends, family and supporters that became like family. Last night was a dream way to cap off an awesome career." SINGLES Rick Ware Racing's Kody Kopp came into the weekend ap- proaching a similar landmark to Mees and under similar circum- stances. Despite seeing his factory KTM ride evaporate prior to the start of the season, Kopp was just a handful of points removed from becoming the first rider to score three Parts Unlimited AFT Singles crowns. His initial plan of attack was not all that far removed from Mees' either. After initially drop - ping back to fifth to take stock of the conditions and his com- petition, Kopp slashed his way forward, passing Turner Racing Honda's Evan Renshaw and Estenson Racing's Tom Drane in one fell swoop to claim third. He then tracked down and over- hauled Renshaw's teammate, Trent Lowe, to take control of second. But Kopp's pursuit of race leader Chase Saathoff was interrupted when a red flag flew with under a minute remaining on the clock. And any plans to end the season atop the podium were reformulated when the race restarted amid a flurry of two- wheeled haymakers. Throwing the biggest blows were rivals Saathoff and Drane, who had Mees and Kody Kopp finished out the AFT season with the number-one plates. Kopp was third on the night in the Singles main, which was enough to lock his third Singles title.