Photo by Stephanie Ramsay Shayna Texter's determination to catch the frontrunner helped her win the Pro-Sport 450 race at Sunday's Barbara Fritchie Classic.

If people heard she was an athlete, they'd probably guess she was a soccer player, a gymnast -- maybe even a jockey.

Few would guess she was a motorcycle racer. But they'd figure it out after watching her battle on the track.

In a sport seemingly invented for big, strong men, Texter relies on smarts, competitive drive and a zest for speed. All those ingredients helped her become the first female to ever win a title at the Barbara Fritchie Classic on Sunday.

Relentlessly pursuing frontrunner Jeff Carver for the first half of the race, Texter finally passed him and held on to win the 450cc Pro Sport checkered flag at The Great Frederick Fairgrounds.

Her race was the day's most thrilling. It was sandwiched between Jared Mees' win in the 750-1000cc Expert main event and Matt Weidman's victory in the 450cc Expert class.

Even after the main event, people flocked to Texter's motorhome for her autograph. Hannah Smith, who competed in the mini race at the 2006 Fritchie Classic, had her picture taken with the racer.

Texter, a 17-year-old high school student from Willow Street, Pa., is used to the attention. Female racers -- especially successful ones -- are a rarity in this sport. Texter found that out when she was invited to a Women in Motorsports function.

"I was the only female there representing motorcycles," she said.

Fellow invitees included IndyCar Series drivers Danica Patrick and Sarah Fisher.

"It was pretty cool just standing up on the stage with them," Texter said.

At least Patrick and Fisher have a car between them and the bigger, stronger men they're competing against. Texter has no such luxury.

With no roll bars to protect her, she must try to navigate a bike just inches from her male competitors. Does being smaller and lighter give her an edge, allowing her to gain more speed?

"Most of the time, it hurts me because they're bigger than me and they can throw the bike around better," Texter said. "They're taller and probably stronger."

At races, she typically tangles with men at least twice her weight.

"It's like a baseball bat hitting a baseball," said Randy Texter, Shayna's father. "But she doesn't give up."

She sure didn't Sunday. Carver took the early lead, but he just couldn't shake Texter. She finally passed him on the third turn, triggering a roar from the crowd.

"She just looked up better than me and rode better than me," Carver said.

Carver -- a 17-year-old from Alton, Ill. -- knew what he was up against. In the past week, he and Texter both raced in Illinois and Lima, Oh.

"Her and me used to bang bars together on 85 (cc)," Carver said. "She's always been a good racer. You've got some people who are squirrely, but she's real smooth."

Over the years, she won plenty of amateur titles. In 2006, she was named AMA Female Rider of the Year. And as she showed Sunday, she can compete in the AMA Pro-Sport Hot Shoe Series.

Texter comes from a racing family. Her father Randy was a pro and used to compete in the Fritchie Classic, starting in 1979. Her grandfather Ray "Tex" Texter raced and later opened a Harley Davidson Shop. And her older brother Cory, who is 20, also races -- he finished fifth in Sunday's Fritchie main event.

Like her brother, Texter started riding a motorcycle when she was 3. She likes the speed and adrenaline.

"It's what she wanted to do as a little kid," Randy said. "If I can get her hooked up and give her a good horse, she can ride the wheels off of it."

Texter travels all over the country racing. Instead of attending a public high school, she takes classes online via cyber school.

"I have our whole motorhome set up for the internet," Randy said. "She just takes her laptop and goes to work."

She is on pace to graduate in January. And as far as racing goes, she's trying to graduate to the expert class.

What kind of reactions does she get competing in this male-dominated sport?

"I get good reactions when I'm the frontrunner," she said. "They treat me like a regular competitor. I don't want to be treated special."

Texter is proudly sponsored by American Suzuki, Bromleys, Lancaster H-D, PowerBar, Ogio,
Arai, Fly Racing, Spy Optics, Brain Leathers, Motion Pro, and Supertrapp.

Right after Texter's win, Mees won the Fritchie main event for the first time since 2005. He jumped out to an early lead over Weidman.

"I tried to reel him back in," Weidman said. "But I ran out of laps there."

Dan Gedeon, last year's main event champ, placed third.

As for Weidman, he took the 450 expert race over second-place Mees and third-place Robinson.

Ty Puchino, an 8-year-old New Market resident, won the mini race. Madison Riley, an 8-year-old Frederick resident, was second and Jimmy Carson, a four-year-old Frederick resident, was third.

Three racers were involved in a wreck during the Pro-Sport practice. One of the racers, Curtis Vanderkooi, was taken to Washington County Hospital. Family members said he had back X-rays.

"He was conscious, moving all his limbs. He seemed good," said Jack Vanderkooi, Curtis' father. "Just precautionary, I think, getting the X-rays."

Another racer involved in the wreck, Jason Griffin, refused to go the hospital but thought he had a broken collarbone.