Progressive American Flat Track unveiled two headline moves for 2026 on February 24: a new grassroots partnership with Strider Bikes and the appointment of seven-time AMA Grand National Champion Chris Carr as Series Director. The pair of changes is meant to widen the sport’s front door for families while shoring up race operations and safety as the series looks to grow.
Why it matters
Pairing a youth-focused sponsor with an experienced competitor-turned-manager sends a clear signal: AFT wants more kids at the track—and a steadier, clearer structure behind the scenes. Organisers hope hands-on activations will convert casual family visitors into repeat fans, while stronger competition governance should reassure teams, sponsors and broadcasters.
What Strider will do at events
– Strider will bring balance-bike zones to selected Progressive AFT rounds, with supervised practice areas, short races, and beginner clinics aimed at toddlers and young children (roughly 6 months to 6 years). – Activations will sit in paddocks and fan zones and include instructor-led sessions, interactive displays and outreach to local youth groups. – The series frames this as a long-term fan-development effort, not a one-off promotion.
What Carr’s role covers
– As Series Director, Chris Carr will oversee race operations, entrant registration, on-track safety procedures and the technical rulebook. – His brief also includes managing the “Road to AFT” development pathway, rider evaluations and liaison work between teams, manufacturers and promoters. Organisers say the hire follows an internal review aimed at streamlining race-day logistics and clarifying governance.
Where and when to watch
– The season opens with the Royal Enfield Short Track doubleheader at Daytona on March 5–6 and moves to the Yamaha Atlanta Short Track at Senoia Raceway on March 21. FloRacing will stream every round; FOX Sports will air the Daytona doubleheader on FS1, with re-airs on FS2. Early attendance and streaming numbers from these events are expected to shape midseason decisions.
What fans will see on-site
Expect family-friendly, hands-on experiences: short balance-bike competitions, staffed practice areas, product displays and information about local Strider programs and dealers. The intent is to give parents a low-friction way to introduce kids to two wheels in a controlled environment.
Commercial and operational context
Promoters across motorsport are shifting some sponsorship spend toward experiential, participation-driven activations that build long-term loyalty. For Progressive AFT, the combination of youth programming and tightened competition oversight aims to:
– Increase on-site dwell time and per-capita spend from family groups, – Create new sponsorship inventory tied to interactive zones, and – Improve predictability for partners through clearer calendars and governance.
Risks and success measures
Execution hinges on venue space, qualified staffing, consistent safety protocols and smooth sponsor integration. The series will be watching several KPIs closely: event attendance, youth participation and repeat-family visits, streaming and broadcast viewership, and sponsor engagement. If those metrics move in the right direction, expect the program to expand; if not, organisers say they’ll refine formats and scale. Early-season results—particularly from Daytona and Senoia—will be the first real test of whether that strategy delivers more families in the stands and steadier commercial momentum for Progressive AFT.