Story By: EMILY WINSLOW / ASHLEY CAPPETTA RACING – ABBOTTSTOWN, PA – The Cappetta Racing Team had a solid car on the track Saturday night at Lincoln Speedway, but rough pill draw had them playing catch up all night.
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 for Hanover Building Systems Night.
Cappetta and the team started the night off with yet another subpar pill draw. The high pill had Ashley start seventh in her heat race. Despite starting towards the back Cappetta’s car carried good speed, “I haven’t had a car that drivable since 2019.” With the car in good shape, Ashley finished fourth in her heat race, putting her in the feature.
Third Time Isn’t the Charm for Cappetta
Ashley started the 20-lap feature from the sixteenth starting spot. Unfortunately, it took three tries to get a lap in, “I carried speed coming out of turns 1 and 2 on the initial start, then on the second start I got up to fifteenth. The third start I stayed where I started.”
With the field being shifted for each start, Cappetta felt more comfortable starting on the outside, which is where she started for the initial start and the first restart. The final restart Cappetta restarted on the inside and despite feeling comfortable for the first five laps, she could not get a good run on Chris Frank. Once Frank pulled in Cappetta could get to where she needed on the track and spent most of the feature racing hard with veteran driver, Steve Owings.
“I got to see how Steve runs and his entry points. I think we could have passed him if I hadn’t showed him my nose.” Owings had the advantage in turns 1 and 2 but Cappetta was able to make up some ground in turns 3 and 4 through the middle. Cappetta crossed the line fifteenth, matching her best finish at Lincoln so far this year.
Cappetta Regrouped and Went Back to Basics
With nearly a month off from racing for Cappetta and the 358 Sprint Car division, Cappetta and the team took some time to regroup, “We switched all of our tires out to the new tire and I took some time to focus on running my business and spent time with family.”
Ashley also spent time with her original crew chief talking and comparing notes on how her season has played out so far, “After chatting with him we started back with the basics and the car felt a lot better. Overall, we are heading in the right direction we just need some luck and to put together a solid night.” Cappetta is looking forward to getting back to Lincoln on Saturday to see the full results of how good the car felt this past weekend.