Dallas Fort Worth Honda/RLT Racing-backed Honda's Shanya Texter (Photo: AMA Pro Racing/Dave Hoenig)
The Knoxville Raceway is fast becoming the personal playground for Shayna Texter and her Dallas Fort Worth Honda / RLT Racing-backed Honda.
Whether it is her love of a fast groove track or the fact her Grandfather is enshrined in the Sprint Car Hall of Fame outside turn two, the big oval has been very good to her.
Texter became the first female to win an event at an AMA Pro Racing Grand National last year and was anxious to defend her title, posting fast qualifying time and winning her heat race.
Much like last year she got off to a slow start in the 16-lap Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles final. Fellow heat winner Stephen Vanderkuur (Parkinson Brothers Racing) held the spot for three laps as Texter worked her way to the front, drawing large cheers from the grandstands with every pass.
Once in front, it was hammer down as she steadily increased her lead. "Last year was a different experience, having to battle from beginning to end," said Texter referring to last year's race-long war with Briar Bauman. "These guys didn't make it easy on me. All these guys out here are competitors on the track but racing aside we make up a good family."
Jake Cunningham (Schiller's Tree Service) grabbed second on lap ten. In the closing laps Cunningham was able to shake the big war over third and held a good lead for second. Vanderkuur slipped back into the clutches of Jake Shoemaker (Montgomeryville Cycle Center / Bob Weirbach Racing) and Wyatt Maguire (Kirkland Racing / Pro1 Racing). Despite the close combat that is the way they finished.
The Motorcycle-Superstore.com Pro Singles championship is coming down to a four rider battle with Stephen Vanderkuur holding the advantage over Ryan Wells by seven, 137 to 130. Jake Shoemaker and Jason Isennock are still in the hunt with 126 and 121 points respectively. The injured Gerit Callies has dropped from points leader to fifth at this time.
Pro Singles Race Results Pro Singles Point Standings
1 Shayna Texter 16 Laps 1 Stephen Vanderkuur 137
2 Jake Cunningham 1.19 2 Ryan Wells 130
3 Stephen Vanderkuur 2.753 3 Jake Shoemaker 126
4 Jake Shoemaker 2.794 4 Jason Isennock 121
5 Wyatt Maguire 2.961 5 Gerit Callies 107
6 Nick Mataya 8.374 6 Dominic Colindres 98
7 Jason Isennock 8.632 7 Shayna Texter 92
8 Ryan Wells 8.73 8 Jake Cunningham 82
9 Dustin Cassidy 9.132 9 Wyatt Maguire 69
10 Michael Bickerton 9.26 10 Zakk Palmer 59
11 Dominic Colindres 9.608
12 Cole Anderson 11.373
13 Jeremy Hamilton 12.822
14 William Cato 13.352
15 Zack Cassidy 14.06
16 Coy Matthews 14.667
17 Richard Bretl 17.133
18 Danny Koelsch 23.526
Sunoco "Go the Distance" Award Update
Jason Isennock - 211.14
Jake Shoemaker - 208.97
Ryan Wells - 203.19
Wyatt Maguire - 199.81
Stephen Vanderkuur 191.33
Next Up
The stars of AMA Pro Flat Track will return to the Illinois State Fairgrounds on September 15-16, 2012. For tickets and information, please visit http://www.illinoismda.com/