Story By: EMILY WINSLOW – A2DPR / ASHLEY CAPPETTA RACING – ABBOTTSTOWN, PA – Ashley Cappetta is starting a new chapter this fall, balancing her passion for racing with an exciting new endeavor—becoming a licensed auctioneer.
Cappetta, who has been involved in the auction business since she was 16, is enrolled in classes to earn her auctioneer’s license in a single semester.
“I’m excited to start this journey,” Cappetta shared. “I’ve had a passion for the auction business since I was 16 years old, when I truly started going to auctions—buying and reselling items at flea markets to fund my race team. I eventually ended up working for an auction house, doing everything except auctioneering—photos, listings, advertisements.”
Cappetta’s ultimate goal is to run her own auction house, but for now, she’s focused on getting licensed and gaining hands-on experience. “Once I’m licensed, I’ll have the opportunity to work with an established auctioneer, and that’s where I’ll start,” she said. “I prefer live auctions over online ones, so my focus will be on in-house auctions.”
While Cappetta looks forward to this new venture, she faced another weekend at the track filled with challenges. “Frustrated doesn’t even begin to cover it—I feel bad for my race team,” she admitted. “It’s not from a lack of effort. The team has been working hard, both at the shop and on the track, but it feels like we’re beating our heads against the wall.”
Reflecting on Saturday’s struggles, Cappetta noted, “This week, I can’t say I could have done anything better. The car got loose in the heat race after a good start, and I feel like I’m chasing the car in the corners. We fixed the wheel spin, but it’s been one thing after another.”
Despite her frustrations, Cappetta is committed to finding a solution. “Talking out of emotion does nothing, so I use the time at the car wash to unwind and analyze the night,” she explained. “I decided it was time to make a change and pull out a new frame—the only thing we haven’t tried.”
Determined to get back on track, Cappetta and her crew have been working tirelessly. “I worked from 1:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. in the shop to get the new frame and car ready—new fuel cell, shocks, fiberglass, nose wing, wheels, fuel lines, seat insert—we have to try something else,” she said. “It’s confusing because the car felt good at BAPS, but we’re running out of options.”
Cappetta remains hopeful that the new frame and rebuilt engine will bring the turnaround she and her team need. “It’s so defeating to see the crew down. I just want to get comfortable on the track again. It’s my dream to win an important race, and I want to get things figured out before the Weldon Sterner Memorial, to put myself in a good spot. My sponsors and crew deserve it.”