DAYTONA BEACH, FL – August 11, 2022 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) – Progressive American Flat Track will finally make its long-awaited return to Castle Rock Race Park for this weekend’s 28th Castle Rock TT in Castle Rock, Washington, on Saturday, August 13.
Prior to the eruption of nearby Mt. St. Helens weeks ahead to the scheduled race date in 1980, the event was widely recognized as one of the nation’s most important motorcycle races, regardless of discipline.
Since its glory days, the Castle Rock TT has returned to the Progressive AFT calendar for stints in the ‘90s, ‘00s, and ‘10s, connecting its original heroes – riders such as Dick Mann, Mert Lawwill, and Jay Springsteen – with a new generation of stars, including the likes of Chris Carr and Sammy Halbert (No. 69 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750).
Halbert, who hails from Graham, Washington, is a three-time Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle Main Event winner of the Castle Rock TT, boasting victories in 2007, 2011, and 2012. He’ll be back in action this weekend looking to add a fourth win to his impressive tally.
However, he’s not the only local ace with race-winning expectations. He’s not even the one most heavily favored. With five wins in the series’ most recent six TTs, JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) would be considered the odds-on favorite at just about any TT, let alone one that’s basically set in his boyhood backyard, where he grew up racing.
Despite spending the bulk of his professional career collecting race wins and championships on pavement, Beach already ranks inside the top ten in career Progressive AFT TT wins. If he picks up another this weekend, he’ll not only move into a four-way tie for sixth all-time, he’ll also be within one-race striking distance of the championship lead no matter what anyone else does.
That said, the three riders currently leading him in the standings – Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750), Briar Bauman (No. 3 Indian Motorcycle/Progressive Insurance FTR750), and Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT) – all have serious TT skills of their own, along with a keen appreciation for history, which will similarly fuel them this weekend.
Meanwhile, any number of riders could emerge from the stacked field and prove to be spoilers at a track that was last on the schedule in 2014. That long list includes prior TT podium finishers Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20…
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