ST52 Racing’s Texter Takes Solid Third on Husqvarna in Red Mile

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 3, 2018) – Challenging at the front from start to finish, ST52 Racing’s Shayna Texter took a competitive third-place finish in Saturday’s Red Mile, the best American Flat Track Singles finish of the season for her Husqvarna motorcycle on a mile track.

Having the third choice of starting position for the 15-lap main event, the Pennsylvanian opted to start from the outside of the second row on her No. 52 Husqvarna FC450. With a focus on improving her race start performance, Texter put that concentration to good use as she made a great start in the main.

Texter went to the outside at the green light, running third by the first turn and moving to second in turn two. From that point, she led the race on many occasions as the top three riders shuffled positions on every lap. She ran third on the final lap looking to mount a charge to the checkered flag, but came up 0.049 seconds short. 

“Man, that was tight the whole race long with Kolby [winner Carlile] and Kevin [Stollings],” Texter said. “It was great to be able to race guys you trust and respect. I felt if a could get a run off of turn four [on the last lap] I had a chance, but unfortunately, I gave them the gap they needed. I really want to get Husqvarna their first win, and it’s coming.”

The main event finish carried over where Texter left off in her semi. Starting on the outside of the second row, Texter got off second at the start and went to the lead on lap two of the eight-lap race. Going back and forth from the lead to third throughout the race, Texter’s final lap charge left her in a virtual dead heat at the finish. While she was classified as placing second, the official margin of victory was 0.000 seconds.

It was the third podium finish of the season for Texter, who took a pair of runner-up finishes on half-mile tracks. Texter formed her own team for 2018 – ST52 Racing – taking Husqvarna to its first season of AFT competition. 

The Red Mile marked the sixth consecutive weekend of competition for Texter and her AFT competition, with the next race the Oklahoma Mile on Saturday, June 16. 

“It’s been crazy, racing the last six weeks,” Texter said. “Now I’m excited to be able to spend a weekend off at home, see my sister graduate from high school and enjoy a picnic with my family. I’ve been going non-stop since the Rolex 24 At Daytona in January, spending a lot of time training to get ready for the season. Now I’m looking forward to a weekend at home.”