Archive for category: Ashley Cappetta

Ashley Cappetta and the Gettysburg Trading Post, Mike’s Towing and Recovery, Yesteryear Antique Center, Stoner’s Auction, O’Brien’s Fuel and Service, Iron Horse Trains, Republican Club of Hanover No. 89 were back in action on Saturday night at Lincoln Speedway.

The night started off with a pill draw of 50, which was higher than last week and lined Cappetta up seventh in her heat race. Ashley started seventh and finished seventh in her heat, “We missed the set up in the heat race a little bit. I felt like I was rolling the right rear and the car was hard to handle from the middle of the heat through the end.” Prior to the racing action, there was a lengthy rain delay on Saturday night which meant the track had a lot of moisture, “At the beginning of the heat the track was still wet and I ran out of tear-offs. Driving into turn 3 there was so much mud on my visor I couldn’t see.”

Ashley lined up fifth for the B-main and would move up to finish fourth putting her in the feature line-up. Cappetta started the 25-lap feature 24th and drove up to finish 15th, “It was tough to start in the back, especially when the track was as fast as it was, but we stayed out of trouble which is 100% a priority for the team.” Saturday’s finish was the best for Cappetta so far this season and it just happened to be the first race of the 2023 MacMor Summer Series for the 358 sprint car division, “Overall it felt good to pass cars and come home in one piece. If it would have stayed green for longer, we would have finished better.”

There have been a lot of changes in sprint car racing since Cappetta embarked on her career in the sport, with one change at the top of the list, “Cost has definitely changed drastically.” Cappetta recalls rear tires costing $199 11 years ago and now they are over $300, just as one example of the change. Another change Ashley has noticed is the atmosphere, “It used to be more fun and friendly, maybe it’s the cost that has caused the atmosphere to change but the car wash used to be a fun place to hang out after the races and now it’s more of a business atmosphere, so it’s not as fun.” Technology has also evolved over the years. Now streaming is the preferred way to watch and rewatch races but at the start of her career everything was on DVDs.

As much as things change there are always things that stay the same, “I’ve always had passionate fans that are there for me no matter where I finish and what happens.” Cappetta’s crew has also been a steady force throughout her career. And one thing that will never change is her commitment to giving back to the racing community.