Archive for category: 358

Ashley Cappetta Racing (ACR) is excited to announce that the Gettysburg Trading Post will continue as the team’s main sponsor for the 2025 racing season. This marks the 14th season of partnership between ACR and the Gettysburg Trading Post, a collaboration that began in 2012, during Ashley’s debut racing season.

The Gettysburg Trading Post became ACR’s primary sponsor in 2021, a role that includes exclusive branding on the team’s trailer, car, and Ashley’s racing suit, as well as priority involvement in community events. “Having someone who stands by me through the highs and the lows means a lot,” Cappetta shared. “We’ve had some rough seasons, and it’s really special to have Shawn and the Trading Post there for the journey. I’m not sure I’d be where I am without their support.”

The partnership has been mutually rewarding, with both the Gettysburg Trading Post and ACR experiencing growth over the years. “I’m forever grateful for Shawn’s support,” Cappetta added. “Their sponsorship has grown alongside their business, which has expanded to a larger facility. It’s inspiring to watch them build something so strong.”

12th Annual “A Night at the Races” Fundraising Event Set for February 8

Fans and supporters are invited to the 12th Annual “A Night at the Races” event on February 8, 2025, for a night of fun, fundraising, and racing community connection. This annual event brings together friends, fans, and sponsors to kick off the new season and raise funds to support Ashley’s racing journey.

Stay tuned to Ashley Cappetta Racing on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/ACappettaRacing89) for more info on the event! 

Ashley Cappetta’s night at Lincoln Speedway was anything but smooth, marked by early struggles and mechanical issues that derailed her hopes for a successful outing. A bad pill draw—going from a number 1 last week to drawing a 60 on Saturday—was the first sign that things were not going to go well. “I should have known right then and there it wasn’t going to be a good night,” Cappetta said.

Starting fourth in the makeup feature, Cappetta immediately sensed issues. “The car wasn’t good during warm-ups, so we made adjustments,” she explained. However, things took a turn in the first lap. As she went into turn 1, the car nearly got sideways. After adjusting the wing, the car broke loose in turns 3 and 4, causing her to spin. Thankfully, the rest of the field avoided contact.

After tagging the rear for the restart, Cappetta struggled to find her rhythm. “The car felt awful, so I pulled off and told Dad something wasn’t right,” she said. After a quick check, Cappetta was sent back out, but even with more adjustments—moving her wing all the way back—she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

“I was questioning everything—was it me? The car? The setup? I knew it wasn’t the motor,” she shared. After the feature, they discovered that the w-link was tight with no play, and the torque ball was locked up. “We messed with the rear end and got everything free, but it was really disappointing.”

In her heat race, things didn’t improve. Starting eighth, Cappetta struggled to feel comfortable on a track with much different conditions from earlier in the night. “It was really frustrating after the car felt so good the first time out,” she noted.

In the B-main, Cappetta started 12th and worked her way up to 6th, but despite her progress, time was against her. “I think we could have finished at least 4th to qualify, but with all of the wrecks and the time limit, our night ended early,” she lamented.

Reflecting on the difficult week, Cappetta expressed her frustration. “When everything is going wrong, and you go to the track hoping for a good night, it’s defeating to have a night like we did.” Beyond racing, Cappetta has been managing other challenges, including a family member going through a tough time and the loss of a friend.

Looking ahead to the Weldon Sterner Memorial, Cappetta is optimistic. “I think we figured out what caused the lock-up, and we’re hoping that fixes our issue,” she said. Although she’s uncertain about whether she’ll make it to BAPS for practice, she’s putting her focus on being prepared for the big race.

“We’ll at least fire the car to make sure everything is free. The things that go wrong never go wrong in the shop—it’s always at the track,” she added. Despite the rough patch, Cappetta is determined to remain positive. “I’m trying to put things in perspective. Other drivers are struggling, too. It’s a part of racing—it’s not just talent, it’s a lot of luck.”

With the Sterner Memorial up next, Cappetta is ready to regroup and focus on turning things around.

After a strong start to the season, Ashley Cappetta faced a rough night at the track this past weekend. Despite her early momentum, the challenges of the night proved formidable, testing her resilience and determination, “Unfortunately with the way the track was with all of the rain it received it was tough to pass.” The night started with a high pill draw lining Ashley up seventh for her heat race, “Had to make something happen on the start and I just couldn’t get anything to work. The car felt good but I didn’t want to put myself and any of my competitors in a bad spot.” Cappetta finished her heat race where she started, seventh, which had her lined up sixth for the B-main.

“In the B-main it was tough to get going but after the caution, we were better.” Ashley was up to fourth and was going for fourth when she misjudged the guardrail and ended up on her side, “I’m shocked it happened, I lacked judgment and after I hit the guardrail I gathered it back up and then spun and the car stood up and tumbled over.” Cappetta was able to restart as it did not appear that the car suffered much damage, but Ashley said the car did not feel right for the rest of the race. Cappetta would finish the night with a sixth place finish in the B-main, “All in all it was a frustrating night, especially after testing on Wednesday went well.” After a tough night Cappetta and the team are looking forward to their next race, “One positive is that we have the speed we were looking for, it just wasn’t our night. It was the first feature we haven’t qualified for this year which is still ahead of where we were compared to last season.” Another positive from the night, “In 12 years of racing I haven’t made too many mistakes and it makes you feel good knowing nights like this don’t happen often.”

Ashley and the Cappetta Racing Team will be back in action Saturday at Lincoln Speedway for the Kramer Klash.

Ashley Cappetta grew up around racing and at the track, there was one driver she always looked up to, Greg Hodnett. Cappetta’s uncle, Rob, was the engine builder for the Apple #12 when Greg was behind the wheel and that is how Ashley was introduced to her hero. The first time Cappetta met Hodnett, it was Opening Day at Williams Grove Speedway in 2004, a race which Greg would win, “Greg’s personality was what drew me to him and made him my favorite driver, which will never change.” The Apple #12 team had a lot of wins with Rob’s engines and Hodnett behind the wheel which means there are a lot of photos with Ashley as a kid growing up with those two Central PA racing titans.

One night at Sherry Hodnett’s salon, Cappetta and Sherry were talking about the Hodnett Classic, “Sherry and I were talking about bringing the tribute cars back to make the race feel more like it was for Greg and I asked Sherry if she needed a car that mine would be available. Sherry liked the idea and gave me the green light to do the Apple Car.”

Cappetta and her dad started with a black car which meant a major transformation was needed, “Dad and I primed and spray painted the wing red and we wrapped the car.” A lot of different people played a part in pulling this project together. Dustin Beard from Posseland Apparel helped wrap the car and Andrew Rucker had the vector files of the design and most of the decals. Ashley also had the opportunity to see one of the Apple Cars that is in the storage building at the Eastern Museum of Motor Racing, to make sure all of the details on the car were accurate. The only thing not exactly the same was the wheels, “We kept black wheels because it was what we had and it wasn’t cost-effective to get chrome ones.”

“It was definitely hard to put this deal together and there was a lot of emotion behind it but it was totally worth it.” In addition to the emotion, there was a lot of history behind the project, “Bob Stewart (Stewart owned the Apple Car), sponsored me and my softball number was always #12, that car and number got me invested in racing.” Another tie-in to the #12 was that Greg attended Ashley’s 12th birthday party, “that was my best birthday party ever.”

“Rolling into Port Royal, it was emotional, I know how much it meant to Greg.” Fans loved seeing the car and many stories were shared about Greg throughout the night, “I met a lot of nice and new fans at the autograph session. It’s always nice to connect with fans and it was rewarding seeing the fans appreciate the car.” 

Ashley and the other tribute cars got ready to pace the field before the feature, “I was ok emotionally until I got into the race car and was sitting out on the track, and then as soon as the car fired I teared up right away.” Along with Cappetta’s Apple #12, Dylan Orwig had a replica of one of Greg’s Australian cars Kody Hartlaub was in the Trone #39, Anthony Macri had a Jim & Sandy Kline #22 wing and Troy Wagaman was running a Heffner Racing #27, “I had tears in my eyes the entire time I was on the track. The crowd had their phones lit up, officials were giving us thumbs up and I had some of the best sprint car drivers in the country along side of me.”

Cappetta watched the feature from the infield, “Overall it was an awesome night. I got to spend time with Sherry, I had my friends and race team with me and it was a huge honor to run the car in honor of my favorite driver who is the reason I fell in love with racing.”

After positive feedback from fans at the Hodnett Classic, fans were looking forward to seeing the car in action on the track. Ashley had a discussion with Bob Stewart, Sherry Hodnett and Pat Sterner and the car will be raced at the 21st Annual Weldon Sterner Memorial at Lincoln Speedway on September 28.

“I am very grateful to have met someone like him because if it wasn’t for him I don’t know if I’d be in the driver’s seat. It was incredibly hard to climb back in the car but in 2019 I did it for him because I know he wouldn’t want me to quit and I wouldn’t have gotten my first win.”