Shayna Texter Racing Ready for American Flat Track Debut at Daytona

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Shayna Texter Racing Ready for American Flat Track Debut at Daytona

Daytona Beach, Fla. (14 March  2018) –Shayna Texter will open a new chapter in her racing career this week as Shayna Texter Racing with Husqvarna will make its American Flat Track (AFT) debut this Thursday at Daytona International Speedway in the Harley-Davidson TT presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys.

Texter, who won a series-high five AFT events in 2017, has a much bigger to-do list this year as she prepares for the 2018 season after making the move to establish her own racing squad.

And that is just one of the new elements for the third-generation racer in 2018, as the Pennsylvania native has a new ride this year as  Husqvarna Motorcycles sets its sights on success in the AFT Singles ranks.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the Husqvarna Motorcycles family, and to be riding such a proven motorcycle,” said Texter. “I’m out to win the AFT Singles championship this season, for sure, but also to showcase the legendary Husqvarna brand and have a blast racing motorcycles along the way. It’s a really special and exciting opportunity for me.”

Riding the No. 52 Shayna Texter Racing Husqvarna FC 450, Texter will target a strong start to her 2018 AFT campaign this Thursday as the series launches with an all-new layout for the TT circuit at Daytona International Raceway.

“It is all coming together but of course there are always last minute things coming up!” said Texter. “I have a great group of guys that I am working with and that gives me a lot of confidence. I’ve had this role in mind for several years, so I’ve been trying to learn from every team environment that I’ve been in and am just putting those lessons to work now. I knew it was not going to be easy but this was the right time. It is really exciting to have this opportunity and I’m really eager for Daytona.”

With a new ride on a new track with a new team, Texter has a lot of variables to contend with but she’s feeling confident with all of them.

“I had the chance to test the Husqvarna, and I felt comfortable right out of the gate, more than I’ve ever experienced for my first time on a bike so that was a really good feeling,” said Texter. “And we’ve not even started to work with it, and that gives me a lot of confidence about the season overall to feel that on the very first day. The new Daytona layout will hopefully suit my style a little bit more. It is a little less technical ahead of the jump so I think that will suit me better than last year.”

 

Thursday’s TT will be broadcast on NBCSN Sunday, March 25th  at 2pm ET.

Shayna Texter Information:

Born: March 12, 1991 (27), Lancaster, Pa.

Resides: Willow Street, Pa.

Shayna competes in the AFT Singles class in the American Flat Track. The season opens Thursday with the Harley-Davidson TT presented by Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys on a special TT course inside the trioval at Daytona International Speedway.

Texter formed her own factory-supported team for 2018, riding the No. 52 Husqvarna FC 450. Formerly, she rode for Richie Morris Racing from 2015-2017.

In 2017, Texter led the AFT Singles competitors with five main event victories and nine podium (top-three) finishes. She never finished lower than sixth in a main event, with 11 top-five finishes in 12 feature races. Failing to qualify for the main event in six races (all either TT or short track) cost her the opportunity to become AFT’s first female champion, dating back to 1954.

Texter finished third in the AFT Singles class points standings, trailing the champion by 27 points.

Turned Professional: 2007. First American Flat Track (then AMA GNC2) race in 2010.

11 Grand National Championship victories (most of any female racer), including five in 2017. She also had two victories in the Basic Twins division in 2013.

She became the first woman to win a GNC race in 2011, at Knoxville Raceway. She won three races in 2012, finishing fifth in the GNC2 points. Won two races in 2013, finishing fourth in the standings.

She moved up to the Twins class (then GNC1) in 2014, and raced there for three seasons.

Third-Generation racer: Texter’s maternal grandfather, Glenn Fitzcharles, is a member of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame. He led the United Racing Club with 81 victories – including 21 in 1987 – and won five URC championships. Her paternal grandfather, Ray “Tex” Texter raced motorcycles.

Her father, the late Randy Texter, was a very successful motorcycle racer on both pavement and dirt, winning two AMA US Twins Sports championships and carrying a national number in AMA flat track competition.

Her brother, Cory (30, also a Willow Street resident), competes in the AFT Twins class.