Author Archive for: ewinslow10

Ashley Cappetta added another successful Weldon Sterner Memorial to her resume this past weekend, marking her second time this season organizing the special event. While Cappetta was juggling her role as both a promoter and competitor, she came away with pride in how the night unfolded on and off the track.

“I thought it went really well,” Cappetta said. “We had a strong car count, and aside from one bad crash in the 358 division, the night ran smoothly. Every time I promote one of these races, I learn more about what needs to be done, and it becomes easier. Sponsorship is always the hardest part, especially hosting two events in a season, but considering how quickly we put this one together, I’m really happy with the results.”

One of the highlights of the night was the added contingency bonus support for the 358 Sprint Cars, something Cappetta pushed hard to secure.

“As a 358 driver, I know how tough the pay is for us compared to the 410s,” she explained. “After some tough track conditions the week before that really hurt teams’ equipment, I thought it was important to get extra money and product awards for the division. A lot of great businesses stepped up to help, and I really admire people who support the ‘little guys.’ Many 410 drivers started in the 358s, so it’s nice to see that kind of support come full circle.”

On track, Cappetta battled a tough night behind the wheel.

“I went into the night knowing my grandmother wasn’t doing well, and my mind was definitely with her,” Cappetta shared. “I told myself to give myself grace no matter the outcome. We missed the setup in the heat race, which put me deep in the field. Starting 14th made it tough with everyone running the same line, but I passed a couple cars before giving one spot back. At the end of the day, I was just thankful the car came home in one piece, and we know what we need to adjust moving forward.”

With only two races left in the season, both at her home track of Lincoln Speedway, Cappetta is focused on closing out strong.

“I’d really love to get a win before the season ends, especially in honor of my grandmother who just passed,” Cappetta said. “But with a new crew chief and crew this year, the main goal is to build a strong notebook for next season. If we can finish the last two races in the top 10 and keep our equipment in good shape, I’ll be happy.”

Off the track, Cappetta also recently spoke at the York County Racing Club meeting, something she truly valued.

“It was a really cool experience,” she said. “Not everyone gets to meet drivers face-to-face and ask questions, so it’s a great way for people to connect with us. The club does so much behind the scenes, and going to the meeting gave me a new appreciation for their work.”

Cappetta will return to action at Lincoln Speedway for the final two 358 Sprint Car races of the 2025 season as she looks to end the year on a high note.

It’s been a rollercoaster three weeks for Ashley Cappetta and her team, as they’ve faced mechanical setbacks, tough track conditions, and flashes of speed that show just how close the East Berlin driver is to breaking through for her first win of the season.

The stretch began with heartbreak at Lincoln Speedway, when Cappetta’s night ended prematurely with motor trouble while battling near the front of her heat race. After a strong start and a car that was showing speed, Cappetta heard the telltale signs that something wasn’t right. The team diagnosed a major issue with the camshaft, an unexpected step back in their season plans.

“It was really defeating because we were in position to qualify well and had a car I felt comfortable with,” Cappetta said. “We work so hard, and to have something completely out of our control end the night early was tough. But you can’t dwell on it—we just have to regroup and keep moving forward.”

Regroup is exactly what the team did. The following week at Lincoln, Cappetta rebounded with a strong qualifying effort and showed race-winning speed in both her heat and the feature. After racing into second during the heat and lining up solidly for the main event, Cappetta spent much of the feature inside the top five. Twice she made passes for position, only to have cautions negate her progress. In the end, she came home with a top-five finish—a run that gave the team confidence heading into the final stretch of the season.

“I really felt like we had a car capable of finishing in the top three or even challenging for a win if the cautions had fallen our way,” Cappetta noted. “It was definitely a confidence booster after the week before.”

This past Saturday, however, luck was once again not on Cappetta’s side. After drawing into a tough heat race and being relegated to a 17th-place starting spot in the feature, her night became an uphill climb. On the opening lap of the 20-lap main event, Cappetta was collected in another driver’s incident and forced to restart at the rear of the field. From there, she mounted a steady charge through the pack, only to be stalled multiple times by caution flags. Despite the setbacks, Cappetta passed cars and worked her way forward over the course of the race and salvaged a 13th-place finish.

“The car felt really good, but we just couldn’t catch a break with all the cautions,” Cappetta said. “Every time I made progress, the yellow would come out. We had a top-10 car, easy, but the circumstances just didn’t allow it.”

With just five races remaining on the 2025 season schedule at Lincoln Speedway, Cappetta and her team are focused on finishing strong. Cappetta continues to chase her first win of the year, with her sights set on the Weldon Sterner Memorial in September and a season finale in October.

“I want to get a win so bad for my team, my sponsors, and all the people who support me,” Cappetta said. “We’ve been close—we just need the right night to put it all together.”

Cappetta also addressed recent rumors circulating in the pits about her future in racing:
“There’s been some talk that I might retire after this season, and I just want to be clear—that’s not true. Next year will be my 15th season, and we plan on running a full schedule again in 2026. My future is still in racing, and I’m not done yet.”

Fans can catch Ashley Cappetta back in action this Saturday night at Lincoln Speedway, where she’ll continue her pursuit of victory lane.

After a five-year absence from the Speed Palace, Ashley Cappetta returned to Port Royal Speedway with high hopes on Saturday night—but mechanical gremlins had other plans. Cappetta’s night was filled with troubleshooting and perseverance as she fought through persistent issues with horsepower and ultimately made the tough call to pull off early in the feature to prevent further damage.

Cappetta last raced at Port Royal in 2020, making Saturday’s return a long-awaited one. “I love the track and wish we could get there more often,” said Cappetta. “Unfortunately, from the start of the night, we just couldn’t find any horsepower.”

Despite adjusting gears and fuel settings, her team continued to chase a solution throughout the evening. “In warm-ups, I only turned 7,200 RPM, which was a red flag. Normally I’m way past that at Lincoln, and Port is a faster track. I knew something wasn’t right,” she explained.

Cappetta got a solid launch in her heat race, but was quickly overtaken—a sign that the issue hadn’t been resolved. In the feature, things went from bad to worse when she felt something hit the bottom of the car. She pushed on but couldn’t find the speed she needed. “I heard a weird noise from the motor and just knew something was off.”

Playing it smart, Cappetta exited the race early to avoid a catastrophic failure. Once off the track, the issue revealed itself—oil was pouring out from a hole in the oil pan, the result of debris damage. While initial concerns pointed to a possible blown motor, her engine builder, Paul, later diagnosed the real culprit: a weak fuel pump.

“Paul flowed the pump on Sunday and confirmed it was barely functioning. That explains why we had zero power,” Cappetta said. “Thankfully, there was no major engine damage, and Dean Bowman already repaired the oil pan. We’ll send the pump out this week and get it fixed.”

While the night didn’t go as planned, Cappetta was encouraged by the full field of 358s and the strong racing that fans got to witness. “The division put on a great show despite a few mishaps. I’m proud of everyone who made the trip and gave it their all. That’s what we need to keep showing other tracks—358s can put on a great race.”

Next up, Cappetta and her team will head to BAPS Motor Speedway this Saturday, as they look to bounce back and continue their strong 2025 season.

Ashley Cappetta continued her strong 2025 campaign with a resilient eighth-place finish at Lincoln Speedway on Saturday night, overcoming an early misstep in the heat race to charge forward in the feature.

The night started with a favorable pill draw, setting Cappetta up with a solid opportunity in her heat race. However, a misjudgment at the chalk line during the initial start led to a loss of momentum that dropped her to fourth in the running order. “I just made a dumb mistake,” Cappetta admitted. “I misjudged the chalk line and second-guessed myself. Looking back, I probably should’ve just gone for it.”

Despite the early frustration, the setback provided an unexpected advantage. The team made strategic adjustments to the car ahead of the feature—changes they may not have considered had they started further up the grid. “That mistake ended up pushing me to agree to try something new with the car setup, and it really worked out for us,” Cappetta explained.

Starting deeper in the field, Cappetta quickly moved forward in the feature, making key passes and battling within the top 10. A red flag at lap 10 allowed for additional adjustments during the open red. “We needed a tire pressure adjustment, and that break gave us the chance to make it,” she said.

Cappetta crossed the line in eighth, adding another consistent finish to her season resume. “We’ve been working so well as a team, and even though we’re only five races in together, it feels like we’re really finding our rhythm,” she shared.

Currently sitting second in Lincoln Speedway’s season point standings, Cappetta recognizes the challenge that comes with consistent finishes. “It’s a blessing and a curse,” she laughed. “It’s great to be up there in points, but it means starting even further back each week. Still, I’m proud of our consistency.”

With a weekend off ahead, the team is using the time to finalize their second car and prepare for a special night on June 21—the Steve Smith Tribute Race. “That race means a lot to us,” Cappetta said. “My dad has history with Steve and the Smith family, so if we could get the job done that night, it would be incredibly special.”

Looking ahead, Cappetta and her team are focused on maintaining momentum, continuing to test and improve, and—ultimately—getting to victory lane. “We’re not getting complacent. I want to get a win under our belt and just keep building from there.”