FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Port Royal, PA – July 24, 2025
by Emily Winslow / Addicted2Dirt PR & Media Mgmt
Image Credit: Jeremy Zarfos / WRT Speedwerx
After a five-year absence from the Speed Palace, Ashley Cappetta returned to Port Royal Speedway with high hopes on Saturday night—but mechanical gremlins had other plans. Cappetta’s night was filled with troubleshooting and perseverance as she fought through persistent issues with horsepower and ultimately made the tough call to pull off early in the feature to prevent further damage.
Cappetta last raced at Port Royal in 2020, making Saturday’s return a long-awaited one. “I love the track and wish we could get there more often,” said Cappetta. “Unfortunately, from the start of the night, we just couldn’t find any horsepower.”
Despite adjusting gears and fuel settings, her team continued to chase a solution throughout the evening. “In warm-ups, I only turned 7,200 RPM, which was a red flag. Normally I’m way past that at Lincoln, and Port is a faster track. I knew something wasn’t right,” she explained.
Cappetta got a solid launch in her heat race, but was quickly overtaken—a sign that the issue hadn’t been resolved. In the feature, things went from bad to worse when she felt something hit the bottom of the car. She pushed on but couldn’t find the speed she needed. “I heard a weird noise from the motor and just knew something was off.”
Playing it smart, Cappetta exited the race early to avoid a catastrophic failure. Once off the track, the issue revealed itself—oil was pouring out from a hole in the oil pan, the result of debris damage. While initial concerns pointed to a possible blown motor, her engine builder, Paul, later diagnosed the real culprit: a weak fuel pump.
“Paul flowed the pump on Sunday and confirmed it was barely functioning. That explains why we had zero power,” Cappetta said. “Thankfully, there was no major engine damage, and Dean Bowman already repaired the oil pan. We’ll send the pump out this week and get it fixed.”
While the night didn’t go as planned, Cappetta was encouraged by the full field of 358s and the strong racing that fans got to witness. “The division put on a great show despite a few mishaps. I’m proud of everyone who made the trip and gave it their all. That’s what we need to keep showing other tracks—358s can put on a great race.”
Next up, Cappetta and her team will head to BAPS Motor Speedway this Saturday, as they look to bounce back and continue their strong 2025 season.
ABOUT ASHLEY CAPPETTA
Ashley Cappetta is a second-generation racer following her uncle’s footsteps. She started her racing career in 2012. It was her first year piloting her race car but certainly not her first exposure to the sport. She was introduced to racing by her father, who was Steve Smith’s crew chief. Her uncle, Rob Cappetta was also involved in the sport driving his own #89 sprint car and went on to be a gasman for Robert Yates Racing. Ashley is making her own way by being the first female in her family to set center stage as a driver. Ashley has had a couple of years of sprint car experience with various teams, starting out as a crew member doing such simple tasks as scrapping mud to advancing her skills into doing maintenance for her own race car. Ashley showing her success with not only her abilities working on her race car but also by winning a Hard Charger Award in only her first season racing. Ashley feels she has the best of both worlds by not only knowing how to race but by having the knowledge of the mechanics and being able to provide detailed feedback to her team. Her goal is to continue to grow as a racer and work her way up through the sprint car division.
Follow Ashley’s season:
Press Releases: A2DPR.com/latest-news
Facebook: Facebook.com/ACappettaRacing89
Twitter and Instagram: Twitter.com/A_Cappetta89
Website: AshleyCappettaRacing.com
THANKS TO OUR 2025 PARTNERS!
Gettysburg Trading Post
Mikes Towing & Recovery
JZ Construction
Snelbecker Electric
The Gun Center
Stoners Auction of Glen Rock
Yesteryear Antique Center
Jersey Mike’s Subs – Hanover PA location
Iron Horse Trains
FK Rod Ends
Hooker Harness
Brenneman Painting
DW Automotive
Schaeffer’s Oil — Doug Smith
CP Carrillo
Republican Club of Hanover
Victory Fuel
Deans Auto Plaza
The Racing Trading Post
Food Adventures
Fastener Specialties
Bam Lifters
Kinsler Fuel Injection
My Race Pass
3 Feathers Racing
K1 RaceGear
Chris’s Coins, Antiques & Collectibles
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Sponsorship opportunities with Ashley Cappetta Racing are available for the 2025 season! Contact the team today at AshleyCappettaRacing89@gmail.com.
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Visit A2DPR.com to learn more!
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Rich “MrAddicted2Dirt” Watts is a passionate fan-turned-PR expert who helps elevate racing teams’ public relations in the dirt motorsports industry. With extensive knowledge and connections, he helps teams boost visibility, grow loyal fanbases through proven strategies, and secure marketing partnerships. Rich also offers PR coaching and consulting services, plus shares his insights as a speaker and podcast guest.
To learn more or to contact Rich about an opportunity, visit MrA2D.com!
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- administrator on Jul 27, 2025
- Article Date: 7/24/2025 by Emily Winslow / Addicted2Dirt PR