Story By: EMILY WINSLOW / CAPPETTA RACING – ABBOTTSTOWN, PA – Ashley and the Cappetta Racing Team put together a two-race weekend for the first time since 2021, competing at both Williams Grove and Lincoln.
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 twice this weekend racing at both Williams Grove and Lincoln.
Cappetta and the team made their return to Williams Grove Speedway on Friday night after last racing at the famous paper clip in 2021. For once Cappetta was not disappointed with a high pill draw, “Since I hadn’t been there in a while, I was comfortable starting in the back.” Hitting the track for the first time in two years, Ashley felt comfortable in warm ups and then in the heat race the struggles started, “I was struggling in the corners finding my comfort spot. The Grove is demanding and if you don’t race there enough, you’re going to struggle.” Unfortunately, Cappetta’s feature was cut short when she got tangled up with a spinning car.
Cappetta finally had the opportunity to start up front in her heat race with a decent pill draw to kick things off on Saturday night at Lincoln. Ashley finished the heat race fifth, making the feature. Cappetta and the team went to work on the car and made some adjustments, “We made some adjustments after learning from the heat race and that seemed to help.” Ashley had a good start that unfortunately got called back, “I wish the initial start would have stuck. I had passed two or three cars.” Once the field lined up for the restart Cappetta went to work and eventually moved off the bottom to get around a car taking her out of her comfort zone. Saturday’s finish of 11th is Cappetta’s best finish of the season so far.
After struggling at the Grove on Friday night, putting together a night at Lincoln on Saturday which resulted in Ashley’s best finish of the season was just what the doctor ordered, “Saturday night’s feature helped bring my confidence back.” Not having put together a two-race weekend in over two years it was definitely not an easy feat for Cappetta and the team, “I give drivers credit that race multiple times a week on a regular basis, it is demanding and exhausting.” Moving forward the team has decided to focus on Lincoln for the rest of the year.