BARRE, Vt. – The 57th Vermont Milk Bowl presented by Northfield Savings Bank is already shaping up as one of the most star-studded auto racing events of the season in the Northeast.

Numerous champions, former Milk Bowl winners, and rising standouts have already sent in their entries and will attempt to qualify for the Milk Bowl at Thunder Road Int’l Speedbowl on Sept. 28-29.

For many fans, the main man to watch on Milk Bowl Weekend will be Bubba Pollard. As perhaps the most successful driver in modern short track racing, Pollard is making his first attempt at the Vermont Milk Bowl in a car prepared by Joey Polewarczyk Racing. He will try to add to a résumé that includes wins in the Canadian Short Track Nationals, the Oxford 250, and the All-American 400.

Thunder Road is never easy on invaders, and the Milk Bowl will be no exception. At least five past winners of the Milk Bowl will try to add their name to the Barre granite monument once again. They include three-time winner Patrick Laperle, two-time and defending Milk Bowl winner Jason Corliss, 2010 winner Joey Polewarczyk Jr., 2009 winner John Donahue and 2006 winner Brent Dragon.

Several of the most accomplished racers in Vermont are also trying to break through the glass ceiling and claim their first Milk Bowl triumph. Defending ACT Late Model Tour Champion Scott Payea, defending King of the Road Scott Dragon, perennial Thunder Road title contender Trampas Demers and multi-time ACT winner Jimmy Hebert are all on the entry list. Former King of the Road Bobby Therrien is back to try and avenge last year’s heartbreak where Corliss stole the overall win in the final corner.

A number of Thunder Road locals will join Dragon and Demers in defending against the all-star invaders. This year’s Vermont Governor’s Cup winner Brooks Clark has entered the event. So have top-10 point runners Kyle Pembroke, Tyler Cahoon, Christopher Pelkey and Marcel J. Gravel. Former Flying Tiger champion Brendan Moodie and former Milk Bowl segment winner Jim Morris will also represent the Late Model ranks.

Drivers who’ve had success at other tracks around the region are trying to duplicate it at Thunder Road. Multi-time Devil’s Bowl Speedway champion Josh Masterson has entered the event. Two top-10 point drivers from New Hampshire’s White Mountain Motorsports Park, Stephen Donahue and Mike Bailey, return home for the biggest event of the season.

The Donahue’s are one of two father-son duos entered as Marcel D. Gravel has joined his son on the entry list. Alexendre Tardif recently wrapped up a top-five in the Autodrome Chaudiere Late Model points while Mike Benevides has been a regular at Connecticut’s Thompson Speedway this season. Joel Hodgdon has raced everywhere in his first year behind the wheel of a Late Model and could be a dark horse. Mason Mitchell, a champion in the ARCA Menards Series, is looking for some redemption in his second attempt at qualifying for the Milk Bowl.

DORTMUND, Germany -- On the face of it, Barcelona got off lightly by emerging from Signal Iduna Park with a 0-0 draw in their Champions League Group F opener against Borussia Dortmund.

First of all, Ernesto Valverde's team did not suffer the same fate as European champions Liverpool, or Europa League winners Chelsea, by making a losing start to their group campaign. Barca also drew a line under their 4-0 semifinal second-leg mauling at the hands of Liverpool last season by surviving a second-half onslaught from Lucien Favre's Dortmund to emerge with a clean sheet and a point -- a point earned by goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen's penalty save from Marco Reus.

But this is a Barcelona team that is under incredible pressure to make amends for two humiliating Champions League exits, against Liverpool and Roma, in the past two seasons, and the reality of this result in Germany is that the doubts over their credentials remain as large as ever. They may have drawn, but Barcelona have now won just one of their past eight Champions League away games -- at Manchester United in last season's quarterfinal -- and they rarely looked like winning this one.

- Champions League group stage: All you need to know
- ESPN Champions League fantasy: Sign up now!

"We had to suffer a lot, especially after the break when we lost control and they were very dangerous," Valverde said. "We have to thank Marc-Andre ter Stegen for his outstanding saves. We know we have to improve away from home."

With Lionel Messi starting the game on the substitutes' bench due to a calf injury, we saw just how big of a hole the Argentine forward leaves in the side when he is not available. Messi doesn't miss too many games when it matters, but if the first-half performance against Dortmund was a glimpse into a future when he can no longer be relied upon to create magic for Barca, it did not provide a pretty picture.

But even when Messi is fit and firing, as he was in both those defeats in Rome and Liverpool, Barcelona still have their frailties and they were exposed time after time by Dortmund. The home side created 14 clear-cut chances, including Reus' missed penalty and a Julian Brandt strike that rattled the crossbar in the closing stages.

But for the heroics of Ter Stegen, Barcelona could have been heading home to Catalonia on the back of another heavy away defeat, so it would be foolish to regard the 0-0 scoreline as a true reflection of the game. Barca rode their luck -- and every top team has to do that now and then -- but when Valverde reviews the tape of this game, he will be confronted by a number of problems that must be addressed if he is to deliver the club's first European Cup since 2015.

Up front, Messi will always offer a threat, but Luis Suarez, at 32, is heavier and slower than during his peak years and is a declining force in the Champions League. Ansu Fati, the 16-year-old sensation, will need time to find his feet at this level, while we are still waiting for former Dortmund forward Ousmane Dembele to find form at the Nou Camp. And as for Antoine Griezmann, the €120 million summer signing from Atletico Madrid, he struggled to make an impact against Dortmund and time will tell how he performs when Messi returns to the starting lineup.

Midfield is another issue for Valverde. Arthur sprays a nice pass from side to side, but offers little penetration, while the axis of Sergio Busquets and summer signing Frenkie de Jong is still settling down. Against Dortmund, there was not enough drive from midfield, a lack of box-to-box energy and the Germans capitalised by overpowering Barca in the second half.

Barcelona's biggest problem, however, is at the back, where Gerard Pique is now becoming a liability against forwards with pace and movement. On two occasions, the 32-year-old's lack of mobility saw him exposed in dangerous positions on the edge of the Barcelona penalty area: first, when he was caught in possession by Reus in the first half, and then on 54 minutes, when a clumsy foul on Achraf Hakimi led to a free kick, which was wasted by the hosts.

Clement Lenglet is a solid, but unspectacular centre-half, and he does not give Barcelona the protection they need with Pique beginning to show frayed edges. When faced with pace -- and Dortmund had plenty -- Pique and Lenglet were caught out repeatedly and cut open just as Liverpool did to them in last season's semifinal.

On this occasion, largely thanks to Ter Stegen, the Spanish champions survived, but you cannot win a Champions League with an unreliable defence. That shortcoming has been Barcelona's undoing in the past two seasons, but it also accounted for the Champions League hopes of Manchester City, Real Madrid and Ajax last term.

Liverpool had their own defensive flaws during the group stage of last season's campaign, but they ironed them out in time for the knockout stages. Barcelona must now do the same, regardless of this opening day clean sheet against Dortmund.

Clearly, it would be premature to dismiss Barcelona's chances after just one game, but make no mistake, they have problems to solve. They cannot expect to win the competition by riding their luck all way to the final in Istanbul next May.

NAPLES, Italy -- Liverpool may consider losing 2-0 late on to Napoli in the Champions League at Stadio San Paolo as a good omen. After all, despite delivering their most deficient performance of last season in a 1-0 defeat here nearly a year ago, Jurgen Klopp's side went on to become Europe's best.

As was the case in 2018-19, Tuesday's trip to southern Italy represented the club's first away test on the continent. And while the arena and the opponents were the same, the manner of Liverpool's display was in stark contrast to the passive, blunt showing of 349 days ago. They were still on the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline, which belied the design of a game that Carlo Ancelotti admitted the visitors nearly "took complete charge" of on Tuesday night.

Napoli's manager conceded that the two goals his side scored were from "curious circumstances." Dries Mertens got the first in the 82nd minute after a controversial penalty call when referee Felix Brych felt Andy Robertson had impeded Jose Callejon in the area. Replays showed that the Spaniard had dived and Klopp's assessment of the "gamechanging moment" that VAR did not overturn was in line with the footage. "When a player jumps before there is contact, then it cannot be a penalty," he said.

The second goal was born out of an uncharacteristic loose pass from Virgil van Dijk, with Fernando Llorente pouncing to double Napoli's advantage in added time.

Liverpool will be wondering how exactly they're returning to Merseyside with a 2-0 defeat after dictating large swathes of play. The hosts created more big chances but Klopp's men were wasteful when they did work openings. The front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino were atypically laboured instead of illuminating.

"I felt we played some good stuff, it was just the final bit I felt we were missing today," said captain Jordan Henderson said in his post-match remarks. "At home, Napoli are a good side and they are going to create some good chances. You've got to be prepared to defend as a team, which I felt we did.

"We won some great balls in midfield and counter-attacked really well, but it was just that last little bit -- and obviously the mistakes for the goals -- that we need to improve on. Overall, we can be better of course. We'll take responsibility, we'll move forward and try to react in the right way."

- Report: Napoli score twice late to beat Liverpool
- Liverpool ratings: Robertson 5/10 in defeat

Klopp echoed the midfielder's evaluation. "I think we controlled the game in a lot of moments, we had a lot of interceptions, we won the ball and had counter-attacks," he said.

Both teams showed a lot of respect for each other, [were] very compact and defended well: that's how you play a game against a strong side, to be honest. The second half was a bit wilder, then we started to control the game again and then we conceded. You want to then have at least a point and we didn't get that because of the penalty.

"I think when you see the pictures it is clear that it wasn't. What can I say about it? It was very decisive in that moment for sure, but we cannot change it anymore."

There were several positives for Liverpool, chiefly Fabinho's performance which deserved to be on display in a museum as midfield art. His intelligent, well-timed interventions scuppered Napoli attacks before they became threatening and he instantly turned defence into offensive sequences for Liverpool.

No-one made more ball recoveries, tackles or passes than the 25-year-old. Fabinho was rivalled as his team's man of the match by goalkeeper Adrian, who served up his strongest showing for the club since deputising for the injured Alisson. He made a sharp double save to deny Fabian Ruiz early on before a strong right hand denied Mertens on the volley at the far post. It was goalkeeping of the highest standard, but Adrian's goal was still twice breached in a match that Klopp admitted was weird to analyse.

The big takeaway is that Liverpool's most exacting Group E test is now out of the way. Napoli are a more formidable proposition than they were last year when they also twice drew with Paris Saint-Germain the competition. In a mini pool that contains Genk and Red Bull Salzburg, the Italians are odd-ons to progress to the knockout round with the Anfield club, especially after Matchday 1.

While Liverpool have now lost four successive matches away from home at this stage in the Champions League, the defence of their European crown won't be dimmed by Tuesday's result. If anything, it will harden their desire to right these wrongs as was the case last season.

Chelsea, who suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat to Valencia in the tournament on Tuesday night, lie in wait at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. It's vital that the Reds shake off this rare setback and extend their unblemished Premier League streak and five-point gap on Manchester City at the weekend.

BOSTON -- It didn't take long for Mike Yastrzemski to feel the history as he walked into Fenway Park on Tuesday, as his San Francisco Giants visit the Red Sox for a three-game series. The memories all came rolling back. As a kid who grew up in the Boston area rooting for the home team, absent of the fact that his grandfather Carl Yastrzemski was a city icon, the younger Yaz thought back to all of the games he attended at Fenway growing up -- from the 1999 Home Run Derby to the World Series runs in 2004 and 2007.

He thought about all the times he'd spent with his family at Fenway Park, where the Red Sox retired his grandfather's No. 8 back in 1989.

"Playing here is cool and I see it as part of my job and something I've always wanted to do. That doesn't really overwhelm me," the younger Yastrzemski told the media before Tuesday's game. "To do it in a setting where I have so many fond memories with friends and family and have them be able to be here, it's special."

The Yastrzemski family doesn't usually gather in the season, but the series in Boston will be the exception. The elder Yastrzemski, who rarely appears at Fenway Park save for a first pitch before a World Series game, met with his grandson on the field before Tuesday's game, giving Mike tips on playing the Green Monster. He told the Boston Globe on Monday that he planned to do a television interview with his grandson prior to Tuesday's game but would leave afterwards to watch on TV.

"We've got everything planned for Wednesday," Carl said about the family's plans for Fenway. "We thought about going in on Tuesday, but decided against it. He's going to have enough people bothering him and it might be a little easier on him if I'm not there watching him.''

Yaz & Yaz pic.twitter.com/ZU3NBxpdSI

— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 17, 2019

Giants manager Bruce Bochy, a 14-year veteran manager, decided to play into the moment, putting Mike in the leadoff spot manning the same left field as his grandfather.

"To be honest, sure, I wanted him to play left field tonight. He gets the nod there. It'll be a cool moment," Bochy said. "I'm sure for a lot of people here, it'll be a great reminder of all the great things his grandfather did, bringing special memories into their minds. I look forward to it. I had a chance to meet Carl today and he came into the clubhouse and we sat and talked for a while and so this is cool for everybody. The fans here in Boston, but us too."

"It will be the first time since 1983 that the name 'Yastrzemski' will be announced,'' Carl, now 80, said. "It's definitely going to be emotional. To see him come into Fenway Park where I played for 23 years, to have his name announced, that will be a great thrill for me.''

The younger Yastrzemski grew up a huge Red Sox fan, citing Trot Nixon, Pedro Martinez, Nomar Garciaparra and Manny Ramirez among his favorite players growing up. Mike admitted that it wasn't until high school, turning 15 years old, when he began to realize everything his grandfather accomplished in his hometown.

"When I turned 23, that was the big shocking moment, was that for my entire life he has showed up to Fenway Park every day," Yastrzemski said. "That blew my mind. I can't picture 23 years worth of Major League Baseball experience. That's when that really set in."

Yastrzemski will have over 150 family and friends attending the series, including friends from his high school alma mater, St. John's Prep in Danvers, MA. While Tuesday represents a dream come true, it's been a long path for Mike, who spent spent six years in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system before getting his opportunity in San Francisco this year, where he's hitting .265/.324/.509 with 19 homers. His slow climb to the majors has helped him appreciate this moment a little bit more.

"Through the long path it took me to get here, I started to understand which things are important and which aren't so I could stay focused on the things that have really grown to matter and the story that needs to unfold here," Yastrzemski said. "It's special for my family and my grandfather as opposed to keeping it on me."

When that moment comes, when Mike Yastrzemski hears his name for the first time over the Fenway PA more than 58 years after his grandfather played his first game in Boston, he hopes to take a moment to appreciate everything it took to get to this moment.

"That's the one thing I'm unsure of how it'll affect me. Everything else I've got a good grasp on. Hearing that will probably be emotional but that's probably the moment that I need to allow myself to enjoy and take my time and this special," Yastrzemski said. "This isn't just special for me. This is special for anyone who saw my grandfather play and saw the Red Sox play over history. They have some tie to him because of his historic value to the organization. While it is special for me, I need to let it be special for everybody else as well."

‘The whole week in Nantes was amazing’
Interview by JEROME ELHAIK – Squash Mad Correspondent

A few months after les Bleues clinched their first ever European Team Championship, French women’s squash had another major success last weekend: carried by an ecstatic crowd, Camille Serme won the open de France at the Château des Ducs de Bretagne in Nantes, after a magnificent final against Amanda Sobhy.

The world number 3 couldn’t have dreamed for a better start in 2019-2020, especially since she’s still chasing after her ultimate goals: the number 1 spot as well the World Championship title. She may now be in her thirties but Camille has never looked so strong.

Camille, is there any specific moment that comes into your mind when you look back at your victory at the open de France?

Not really because the whole week in Nantes was amazing, whether it was the unique and beautiful place where we had the chance to play, or the incredible atmosphere. We rarely have the opportunity to play in front of such a crowd on the tour. They definitely lifted us, and it’s great that Amanda enjoyed it as much as I did even if people were cheering for me!

Even though you may drop one place in the next rankings, the decision to go to Nantes rather than Shanghai (where a tournament with a bigger prize money and more ranking points took place the week before) was the good one wasn’t it?

To be honest, we had discussed it with my staff, but we did not hesitate very long before giving a positive answer to the organisers when they asked if I would come to Nantes. We don’t have many big events in France, and therefore I was happy to come and represent my country.

Where does this title rank among the best memories of your individual career, especially since it was your first one since February 2017?

I’d say it comes just after my three titles in major tournaments (British Open, US Open and Tournament of Champions). This time I didn’t cry after the match, but I couldn’t hold my tears when I saw my brother and his wife in the stands because I didn’t know they’d be here!

You are a relatively reserved person, is it difficult to be under the spotlights and have a packed room chanting your name?

Let’s be honest, being the centre of attention and having so much support is a nice thing! Besides, I’ve gotten used to it and I am more comfortable speaking in front of an audience now than I was before. I think I’ve handled the situation pretty well, because being the number 1 seed and having to defend that position is not easy.

You received countless congratulatory messages, especially on social media which you are very involved on.

I feel like the impact of this victory was at least as big as my three major titles, probably because it was in France. I always take the time to read those messages, it’s important for me because I think it’s a way to enjoy it.

After the final, your coach Philippe Signoret said Amanda Sobhy surprised him, especially on the backhand side which is usually not her strong one. Do you agree?

I do. I’d watched the videos of her previous rounds in Nantes, and she definitely was much more accurate in the final. The fact that she beat a higher ranked player in the semis (England’s Sarah-Jane Perry) probably took some pressure off her, and it’s in these situations that we can produce our best squash.

You didn’t looked too worried after losing the first game.

No, because I knew I could take the upper hand physically.

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Since you mention it, many people – including me – have been amazed how much you’ve improved in this department over the summer …

That’s true that I felt very good on court and I’d been moving well since my first match. We worked a lot during the summer and it’s nice to see that it’s already paying off.

This work was done with your new fitness coach, Frédéric Pfeferberg. Philippe Signoret mentioned it wasn’t easy to make the players accept this change.

I had been working with Frédéric Roualen for a long time (author’s note: also fitness coach of a very successful French women’s judo team, he couldn’t dedicate a lot of his time to squash), and we have a great relationship. Besides, when we first looked at Frédéric Pfeferberg’s sessions we were a bit surprised, because there was a lot of work in the gym and I was worried I’d gain too much muscle mass. But I decided to trust him and I do not regret it. On top of that, he’s a very nice person. Like Philippe he loves what he does, they complete each other very well! As far as the training goes, we’d been warned that it may not have an immediate impact, so it’s very encouraging that the results are already there.

Don’t you think you could have made this change sooner?

Life is all about meeting people isn’t it? I do believe it was the right timing for this. Besides, I was very happy with the work done with Fred Roualen, and I had good results in the past. Everyone tells me I still have a lot of room of improvement. I hadn’t realized I was playing so bad before (she laughs)!

A few months ago, you talked about your ambition to be world number one and win the World Championship within the next three years, before starting a family. However, your coach thinks you could play for 10 more years…

He said that? It’s funny because the other day Coline Aumard (French number 2) asked me “if you reach your goals before the end of these three years, will you stop right away?” The only reason why we set this deadline is to give me a purpose, and let’s not forget we never know what can happen in life…

On the other hand, you haven’t ruled out the possibility of resuming your squash career after having a child. Last week, tennis player Kim Clijsters announced that she was going to make a second comeback, at 36 years old…

I didn’t know that, it’s amazing. A lot of people tell me it’s not a good idea, but I like challenges and it would be one! I am aware that a child cannot raise itself, but when the times comes we’ll discuss it with my husband (kayakist Quentin Urban, who got two medals including a gold one at the French championships last weekend) and make a decision.

What’s your schedule for the next few days?

I was supposed to train tomorrow (the interview was on Sunday), but we made a deal with my staff that if I won in Nantes I would get a day off… Then I’ll be back to training, and in a few days we leave for San Francisco.

After this tournament (24-30 September), there will be the US Open (5-12 October), and then the World Championship – which is the main goal of your season – at the end of October. The draw came out today, did you have time to look at it?

I did not, but Philippe sent me a message to tell me I could play Amanda Sobhy in the quarters.

Last question: as a top level athlete who always has things to work on or improve, is it easy to disconnect?

I think I can, but I also believe it’s more difficult for Philippe and Frédéric (she laughs). Even though I am supposed to have a day off tomorrow, I am sure they’ll ask me to come and do some video analysis with them!

Pictures courtesy of of Lauranne Rochais, Ladies Squash and Mikphotos

WELCOME, N.C. – Tyler Reddick and the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing will begin the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs with support from Gimme Radio and metal band Killswitch Engage.

Following the success of Megadeth’s paint scheme at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Killswitch Engage will now take center stage on the No. 2 Gimme Radio Chevrolet at Richmond Raceway to celebrate the release of their new album, Atonement.

The band, which has been together since 1999, previously earned two Grammy Award nominations in the category of Best Metal Performance in 2005 and 2014, as well as three consecutive top-10 debuts on the Billboard Top 200 with albums Killswitch Engage (2009), Disarm The Descent (2013), and Incarnate(2016).

“I know I speak for all the guys when I say how excited we are to work with Gimme Radio on a Killswitch Engage Day,” said Jesse Leach, lead vocalist of Killswitch Engage. “They have a ton of great programs and DJ’s that bring a whole new level of interaction, dedication, and discovery to the metal genre and we’re eager to show our support.”

“On top of that, our band will be represented on a stock car in NASCAR!” continued Leach. “Never thought I’d see that happen ever! Crazy stuff. This collaboration is unique for us and I truly feel it will expand our audience and further the reach of our music and message. Big thanks to Richard Childress Racing for the opportunity and to Tyler Reddick who will be behind the wheel for the big race.”

Gimme Radio, a music app designed provide metal fans with music they won’t hear anywhere else, offers listeners shows curated by celebrity DJs and artists including Grammy Award-winning artist Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Lamb of God lead singer Randy Blythe, Ozzy Osbourne bassist Blasko, and star of Orange Is the New Black, Jessica Pimentel. Fans on the app also have a unique opportunity to engage with the DJs and other listeners around the world through the app’s chat room.

“Killswitch Engage is one of the most intense, aggressive and heavy bands playing today,” said Gimme Radio CEO, Tyler Lenane.  “I can’t think of a better band to be paired with the intensity of Tyler’s driving.”

“Having Gimme Radio and Killswitch Engage on our No. 2 Chevrolet Camaro at Richmond this week is such a cool opportunity for me,” said Reddick. “Killswitch Engage is a band I listened to a lot while growing up and traveling the country racing dirt late models, so to be able to help them promote their new album with the Richmond race weekend is really special to me. I’m really looking forward to interacting with the band and fans on the app on Friday before we go out and give this paint scheme a great night in the opening race of the Playoffs.”

CONCORD, N.C. – Leavine Family Racing has announced that Jeremy Lange has been promoted to the role of president of the organization that fields the No. 95 Toyota Camry in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Lange, who joined the team in 2013 as vice president of marketing and partnerships when the organization was running a limited schedule in the Cup series, most recently served as vice president and general manager of LFR.

Lange has been instrumental in the team’s growth during his tenure with the organization as he oversaw numerous developments over the years.  Among other accomplishments, Lange coordinated the team’s transition to a full-time competitor in the Cup Series, including LFR’s acquisition of a charter, and has successfully negotiated and closed transactions with several manufacturers and technical alliances within NASCAR.  Lange is also an active member of various NASCAR and Race Team Alliance committees on behalf of LFR.

“Jeremy has been instrumental in helping our team grow both in size and performance over his many years with LFR,” said LFR Founding Owner, Bob Leavine.  “In Jeremy’s new position as President he will utilize his talents and experience to focus on the overall direction and strategy for LFR’s future growth in this exciting time within our sport. It has been very satisfying to watch Jeremy grow into this new role.”

Lange came to Leavine Family Racing with over 15 years of experience in advertising, marketing and sales. He has worked in both an agency setting as well as the brand side of the industry, which provided him a vast background on the sponsorship landscape within the sport.   Lange worked with GMR Marketing and Best Buy from 2007 to 2013 after starting his career working at Grey Advertising.  Lange holds an MBA from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and is married with two children.

The promotion is effective immediately as the team gets ready to travel to Richmond Raceway for this weekend’s race.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – American Flat Track is on the verge of crowning a new AFT Twins presented by Vance & Hines champion as it arrives in Shakopee, Minn., for Saturday’s Indian Motorcycle Minnesota Mile presented by Law Tigers.

With a 35-point advantage and two races to go, AFT Twins title leader Briar Bauman has battled back and forth with multi-time defending champion Jared Mees all season long and moved himself within touching distance of his first premier class crown.

The two have combined to claim 11 out of possible 16 victories this season. And while Mees leads in wins with six of those 11, Bauman’s remarkable week-to-week consistently has him just 16 points away from securing the title.

That means a pair of 11th-place finishes would be good enough to do the trick, but Bauman will almost certainly be gunning to seal the title with his 15th podium finish in 17 races this season at Canterbury Park. Better yet, the 24-year-old California native could take the title with his sixth win of the season, earning a second career-long achievement in the process by scoring his maiden Mile win and completing the Grand Slam.

Mees, seemingly unstoppable on these Mile tracks, can be relied upon to do what he does – apply immense mental and on-track pressure through his outright pace – in search of another win. A win backed by the determined pursuit to extend his quest for a third-straight title.

Besides Mees there’s a stacked field of gifted pilots in the class who will do everything in their power to push Bauman’s celebrations back at least one more round.

Chief among them is rookie sensation Brandon Price, who has looked like one of the paddock’s top riders over the past two rounds. Price came up just 0.169 seconds short of victory at Springfield II and then gave Bauman all he could handle in a battle for the win last time out at Williams Grove. All that’s left on Price’s rookie checklist is a first-career AFT Twins Main Event triumph.

Meanwhile, Dalton Gauthier and Dan Bromley also bring their Roof Systems AFT Singles presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys title fight into the Minnesota Mile.

Gauthier grabbed the upper hand with his Williams Grove win and now leads the reigning class champ by 15 points. That margin is close enough that even a pair of podium finishes in the final two rounds wouldn’t necessarily be enough to guarantee him the crown, so there’s little room to ease up now.

While still mathematically alive in the championship chase, the odds are stacked heavily against Mikey Rush. That said, unlike Gauthier and Bromley, Rush has taken a victory on a Mile already this season and should be expected to be in contention for the top step on the podium again this weekend.

The ultimate spoiler, however, could be Shayna Texter. Texter boasts eight career Mile victories among her 17 AFT Singles wins. It’s very possible that she’ll have the speed to aid teammate Bromley’s cause – if he has the speed to keep her behind him.

Texter’s older brother, Cory Texter, continues to lead the AFT Production Twins championship standings, although his advantage has been whittled down since he opened the season with three consecutive victories.

Cory Texter now leads two-race winner Ryan Varnes by 16 points, while Kolby Carlile and Dalton Gauthier also remain in contention.