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By: Robert Janis New But No
Neophyte
 Bubba Hustead may have started racing ATVs
only four years ago, but he isn't a novice. The
20 year-old resident of Tracy, California is a
member of the Teixeira Technologies' racing
team, which also includes Jason Anderson, Jason
Sparks, Derek McCabe, and Max Messina.
Hustead first started riding ATVs when he was
14 years-old. He raced in his first event
without any preparation. "I showed up having no
clue as to what I was getting into," he said. He
turned to racing ATVs because they were
different from dirtbikes. His first racing ATV
was a 400EX because it happened to be what he
had at the time. The only upgrade to the machine
just prior to that first run around a track was
some new tires.
 He turned Pro on January 21, 2007 and today
races a 2005 and 2006 Yamaha YFZ 450. Why the
YFZ450? "I feel more comfortable on the Yamaha
than any other quad. It fits my riding style,"
he said. The bike has been enhanced with
Teixeira tech a-arms, axis shocks, Dasa motor,
DG performance parts, Flexx bars, One
Industries' graphics and more. He participates
in the ITP Quadcross Series racing in the Expert
Class for MX.
The ITP Quadcross Series includes 11 events.
Participating tracks include Glen Helen, San
Bernardino, California; Racetown, Adelanto,
California; Arizona Cycle Park, Buckeye,
Arizona; Speedworld, Surprise, Arizona; Honolulu
Hills Raceway, Taft, California.
Hustead claimed to have completed about 15
races just this past year and didn't finish
lower than sixth place the whole year, he
boasted.
"The best part of racing," said Hustead, "is
the excitement of doing something that not very
many people can do, and doing the best you can
do."
"The worst part of racing," he continued, is
the cost. "The money that you have to put into
each quad just to get them at the level that it
takes to race them competitively," he said.
 His favorite track is Glen Helen National
Track. "I like it because of the size, the
roughness, and the challenge," he said. His
favorite obstacle is jumping. "I am really
comfortable jumping--big or small."
His sponsors include Teixeira Technologies,
DG Performance, One Industries, Yamaha of
Modesto, and Flexx Bars. He got these companies
to support him by sending out a lot of resumes.
He sees the sport of ATV racing growing
tremendously. "Every year I have been racing,
it's gotten bigger, so it can only go up from
here," he said.
As far as his future is concerned, Hustead
concluded, "I would love to get better and
better and try and race my quad for a living.
That would be a dream come true!"
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