Ashley Cappetta Kicks Off 2025 Season with Solid Run at Lincoln Speedway
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hanover, PA – March 19, 2025
by Emily Winslow / Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Mgmt
Image Credit: Jeremy Zarfos / WRT Speedwerx
Ashley Cappetta kicked off her 2025 358 Sprint Car season on Saturday night at Lincoln Speedway with a strong performance and a new crew chief in her corner. Cappetta’s solid showing was highlighted by a heat race win and valuable lessons learned for the season ahead.
Cappetta welcomed Dwayne Watson as her new crew chief for the 2025 season, a decision that’s already proving to be a game-changer. Watson stepped in to help during Cappetta’s final race last season, and the immediate improvements led her to bring him on board full-time.
“I honestly feel like that was the best decision we’ve made,” Cappetta said. “It’s nothing against my dad or the rest of the team — I just needed something different to get comfortable. Dwayne and Larry have already made me feel more confident in the direction we’re headed.”
Saturday night started off strong with a good pill draw, easing some of the early-season pressure. Cappetta made the most of her front-row starting spot in the heat race, getting a strong start and driving away with the win. “I can’t remember the last time the car felt that comfortable,” Cappetta shared.
Heading into the feature, Cappetta and her team made minimal adjustments, unsure how the track would hold up. After a rocky initial start, Cappetta nailed the second restart and was running strong until a string of cautions slowed her momentum. “Every caution actually hurt us on Saturday,” she explained. “The car got a little uncomfortable with about eight laps to go, but we’ve already figured out what changes we need to make to fix that.”
Cappetta also battled some physical challenges late in the race. “My neck got really stiff toward the end, so I was just holding on at that point,” she said. “I would’ve liked to see what would’ve happened without those cautions — I think we had a top-three car.”
Adding Watson to the team has already made a noticeable difference. “I don’t feel like I have to worry as much,” Cappetta said. “I give him feedback, and he understands it differently because he’s driven a sprint car. That’s huge. Plus, he just gelled right away with the rest of the team since he’s worked with them before. It’s taken a lot of stress off my shoulders.”
Saturday’s race saw plenty of action, with multiple cautions throughout the night. “Unfortunately, you kind of expect it with our class early in the season,” Cappetta noted. “There are a lot of new people out there. I just wish we could get through the first turn without so many cautions. But I’m glad nobody was seriously hurt.”
Cappetta and the team are already focused on the next race at Lincoln Speedway this coming Saturday. “We know what adjustments we need to make,” Cappetta said. “If we get another good start and the car feels like it did in the heat race, I think we’ll be in a good spot.”
Quick Results
• Date: 3/15/2025
• Event: Weekly Racing
• Track: Lincoln Speedway
• City, State: Abbottstown, PA
• Quick Stats: 24 cars, Heat 1st [1], A-main 6th [4]
Up Next
Cappetta will return to Lincoln Speedway on Saturday, March 22 at 6pm.
Season Stats
1 race, 0 wins, 0 top 5’s, 1 top 10’s, 0 top 15’s
ABOUT ASHLEY CAPPETTA
Ashley Cappetta is a second-generation racer following her uncle’s footsteps. She started her racing career in 2012. It was her first year piloting her race car but certainly not her first exposure to the sport. She was introduced to racing by her father, who was Steve Smith’s crew chief. Her uncle, Rob Cappetta was also involved in the sport driving his own #89 sprint car and went on to be a gasman for Robert Yates Racing. Ashley is making her own way by being the first female in her family to set center stage as a driver. Ashley has had a couple of years of sprint car experience with various teams, starting out as a crew member doing such simple tasks as scrapping mud to advancing her skills into doing maintenance for her own race car. Ashley showing her success with not only her abilities working on her race car but also by winning a Hard Charger Award in only her first season racing. Ashley feels she has the best of both worlds by not only knowing how to race but by having the knowledge of the mechanics and being able to provide detailed feedback to her team. Her goal is to continue to grow as a racer and work her way up through the sprint car division.
Follow Ashley’s season:
- Press Releases: A2DPR.com/latest-news
- Facebook: Facebook.com/ACappettaRacing89
- Twitter and Instagram: Twitter.com/A_Cappetta89
- Website: AshleyCappettaRacing.com
THANKS TO OUR 2025 PARTNERS!
- Gettysburg Trading Post
- Mike’s Towing & Recovery
- Yesteryear Antique Center of Hanover
- Stoner’s Auction
- JZ Construction
- Jersey Mike’s of Hanover
- Snelbecker Electric
- Chris’s Coins Antiques & Collectibles
- Iron Horse Trains
- Republican Club of Hanover
- Racing Through Time Antiques & Collectibles
- CP-Carrillo
- DW Automotive Services, LLC
- FK Rod Ends
- Food Adventures
- Brenneman Painting
- BAM Products Roller Lifters
- KH Suspension
- Schaeffer’s Oil / Doug Smith
- Smith Titanium
- Total Seal
- Hooker Harness
- MyRacePass
- Sharp Advantage Safety Products, LLC
- Titan Wings
- BDB Graphics
- K1 Racegear
- Kinsler Fuel Injection
- AL Driveline
- 3 Feathers Racing
- Jesel
- Slick Products
- Paul Felsch Engines
- Barnes Oil Systems
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Sponsorship opportunities with Ashley Cappetta Racing are available for the 2025 season! Contact the team today at [email protected].
ABOUT ADDICTED2DIRT PR & MEDIA MANAGEMENT
Addicted2Dirt PR and Media Management specializes in enhancing race teams’ visibility through strategic PR services. A2D offers a comprehensive range of services, from handling strategic PR initiatives like press releases and social media content to providing coaching and consulting to empower teams to manage their own public relations effectively and affordably. Whether you need A2D to manage your PR or want to learn how to do it yourself, A2D is committed to helping you build a loyal fanbase and attract marketing partners!
Visit A2DPR.com to learn more!
Rich “MrAddicted2Dirt” Watts is a passionate fan-turned-PR expert who helps elevate racing teams’ public relations in the dirt motorsports industry. With extensive knowledge and connections, he helps teams boost visibility, grow loyal fanbases through proven strategies, and secure marketing partnerships. Rich also offers PR coaching and consulting services, plus shares his insights as a speaker and podcast guest.
To learn more or to contact Rich about an opportunity, visit MrA2D.com!
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ABOUT TYLER ROSS
