Karts... Dirt. Oval. Let's roll.
Frank Ashe, Crew Chief
Frank started Ashe Racing in late 1990 when a friend, Tommy Coon, offered him a ride in a back-up kart. Frank and Tommy raced a few times together when Tommy decided to sell his racing gear and Frank bought it.
With a lot to learn, Frank began the 1991 season at Capital City Speedway in Ashland, Va., and it took a few races to win his first race but after the first win, the wins came and he capped off the 1991 season with the championship in Stock Medium.
In 1992, Frank traveled to other tracks racking up wins at Amelia Motor Raceway, King George Speedway, and Superkarting Speedway in Oxford, N.C. He gave the state series, Virginia Dirt Karting Association, a run and came up two points shy in the state championship Super Stock Heavy.
On active duty with the U.S. Navy since 1985, Frank was able to travel to many tracks around the country as he moved from duty station to duty station and won races and championships from Maine to California to Florida.
Frank and Jeremy Fair launched Oval Kart Magazine (OKM) in 2003 and was a huge success as the top karting magazine for oval racing for several years. Frank wrote articles, conducted race coverage, and did graphics and layout for the magazine. Frank left OKM in 2007 due to the time requirements it took to produce an issue.
Frank Ashe at Atoka Raceway Park in 2007. Photo by Chris Desmond.
In 2004, Frank's son, Franklin, was old enough to race and he turned his attention to driver and crew chief duties. The whole family joined in as the pair went racing.
Frank retired from the Navy in 2009 and found himself in Atoka, Tenn., and the local track, Atoka Raceway Park (ARP) needed a race director. Confident he could handle the job, Frank took over and had a lot to learn regardless of his racing experience. He had to learn how to prep and water a track, conduct the event, write rule books, complete tech, and repair equipment among other things. During this time, Franklin began racing again full-time and Frank played crew chief during the week and part-time crew chief during the race day as he operated the track. In 2013, his son, Elliott also climbed behind the wheel.
Frank turned over the race director job at the end of the 2014 season after five seasons and went back to full time crew chief in 2015 where they team claimed titles at ARP in Stock Light, Stock Heavy (tie), and Stock Super Heavy and a win in the Survivor Series event.
In 2016, Frank will be the crew chief at the shop and part-time at the track since he once again will be the track promoter and race director at ARP.
Frank manages the team, sets up the chassis, designs the kart's paint and decal themes, and does all graphic design work for the team. He also manages the website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel.