PITTSTON- Every track has their staple drivers that when you think of that track you think of those drivers even those drivers that no longer race there on a regular basis. For me when I think of Oxford Plains Speedway I think of Tim Brackett,Kyle Hewins,Spencer Morse,Jon Lizotte and Ben Ashline. Ashline isn’t a name heard too often at Oxford Plains Speedway anymore but this year “The Kid” will be back attempting to qualify for this year’s Oxford 250,7 years after his last qualifying attempt.
The 28 year old Pittston native has had racing fever since he was a child in the grandstands watching his father and uncles race at Wiscasset,Unity and Oxford Plains Speedway eventually beginning his own racing career when he was 10 years old racing Go-Karts. After 6 years of learning all he could learn in the go-kart class, Ben jumped all the way up to the late model division at Oxford he ran 4 seasons there and earned the name “the kid” for being one of the youngest drivers in the division at the time. He had a very memorable run at Oxford winning a weekly race in 2010 and attempting the Oxford 250 during the years he raced weekly,making it into the big show once in 2010. The following year Ashline joined the American Canadian Tour and earned himself rookie of the year but that didn’t really compare to another accomplishment he achieved that year.
One of the biggest moments of career happened at the 2011 Oxford 250 when not only did he make it into the race but he sat on the pole for it.
“I can remember sitting in the stands as a kid saying one day I’m going to sit on the pole at the Oxford 250 and one day I’m going to win the Oxford 250.The experience made me hungrier for more success.” He explained about the big moment. Unfortunately only the first part of his childhood dream happened that year, he ended up finishing 30th after running into a lot of issues throughout the race
During the 2012 season he won his first ACT race at Oxford and pushed himself to the limit trying to make it into the Oxford 250 again. For him the memory isn’t a fond one but it's one he will never forget.
"Basically I had a pretty good car in qualifying and I tried to utilize the 3rd groove,before I knew it I had ventured my way to the 5th groove.”Ashline said recalling the moment.
Ashline ran out of asphalt and ended up in the back stretch going 5 wide. For many it was crazy to watch and they couldn’t believe that he did that.
“A lot of people say do you regret doing that? And at the end of the day I don’t because there’s 25,000 reasons why I was trying to get as much I could out of every lap of that qualifier. August 25th isn’t going to be any different where they don’t go I’m not afraid to go.”
More bad luck occurred to Ben after the 250 when he severely injured his shoulder at the end of the season causing him to be sidelined the entire 2013 season. In 2014 he made a big comeback after injury by winning the ACT race the night before the Oxford 250. Ashline isn’t someone you want to count out even when you think he’s not going to be a contender he proves to everyone he is.
“I literally eat,breathe,sleep racing I don’t do anything else besides race and work on race cars.” is a quote that is best to describe how Ben Ashline lives his life.
He’s spent the last 5 years working for Jeff Taylor at Distance Racing. Ashline is so passionate about racing that he says it’s his dream job being able to work on race cars every day for a living. For him being able to work on his race car at work is an advantage.
“When you go into a race weekend for the average person it isn’t a normal everyday routine so the moments between practices they make decisions on the whim but when you work on them everyday you know the mindset and you know what needs to be accomplished on the cars.The decision making is easier and less stressful,what hurts us is not racing every week”
Though Ashline hasn’t raced full time at a track or on a tour since before his injury he has raced some Distance customers race cars at Oxford and Wiscasset. He even won his first super late model race in 2016 during a weekly race at Oxford racing Gary Smith’s SLM. He hasn’t completely gave up running his old reliable family owned 15ME late model yet,he has won the Coastal 200 at Wiscasset Speedway the last two years. Running the Coastal 200 has really helped him keep race wise in shape and i’d imagine help him prepare for the Oxford 250.
“You have to be race sharp and mentally aware just to be able to contend with a lot of these guys because they do it every week,the tough part I have not racing weekly coming in and capitalizing on all the little stuff you have to have go right as simple as tires or going through tech just making sure you tie up all the loose ends.” Ashline explained.
For Ashline it's a lot of added pressure running a big event like that and not racing every week like everyone else. One of the biggest things for him and other drivers that don’t race big event often is making sure the pit crew is all on the same page,Luckily the pit crew he had at the Coastal 200 will be pretty much the same guys at the Oxford 250 with him.
Ben Ashline has a few memorable moments from running at Oxford Plains Speedway,5 wide at the 250,winning a race on the night of his high school graduation, but his favorites have been being able to spend time with his dad.
“We don’t get to do a lot together,but one thing we do together is we race.So being able to experience things with him that he didn’t get to do at this level,these moments he’s been a part of have probably been my favorite part from racing over here.”
Although he hasn’t been an entry for the Oxford 250 since 2012,Ben has still been there the past few years crew chiefing for his boss and mentor Jeff Taylor. 9 time Oxford track champion, Taylor is also one of those drivers who has never really had all the pieces fall into place to win the Oxford 250.
“We had a solid performance going last year but we made wrong calls,stretching fuel a little longer than we should have.”
The years Ben Ashline attempted the 250 were years that the track was still ACT-late models in 2012 when the Mayberry’s took over they switched to super late models. This will be an adjustment having only ran 5 super late model races his entire career.
The 46th annual Oxford 250 will mark Ben Ashline’s 2nd run at Oxford Plains Speedway this season after an impressive run during the PASS 150 last months after leading at least a quarter of the race he finished in 6th place driving the #99 super late model.
“We had a solid showing at our first ever PASS race with only two days of prep time. I’m excited to see how it goes after a month of preparation.”
The car is owned by Ajay Picard and his family good friends of Ashline,he drove it at Wiscasset once when Picard was busy a few years ago and found that he worked really well with Picard’s crew and they have had a good working relationship having helped each other with each others cars. Ashline says Ajay Picard is the brother he wishes he had. Recently Ajay injured his neck and offered the car to Ben to race at the Oxford 250 because him and his family wanted to see the car on the track. Ashline was more than happy to accept the great opportunity,since he “has the time,just doesn’t have the funding to do it at this level quite yet.”
Experience is really important at Oxford especially at the Oxford 250,which Ashline doesn’t lack having probably turned thousands of laps at the track and having helped others race there.He’s not at all worried he won’t be able to able to handle racing with these guys who race all the time.
“All drivers can drive the car if it’s good,problem is you have to make them good and there isn’t anyone more hungrier to find speed then me.” he explained before adding that there is still a lot more speed to be found in the #99.
“One thing i’m not afraid is: work,so we will do whatever it takes to find the speed and we will find it.”
Every driver dreams of winning the Oxford 250,Ashline is no different,being able to add his name to the list that includes drivers he grew up watching for him would really be great.
“Winning it is something I really want to do because I'd get to go racing more with that 25,000 dollars you would get to race 20 more races afterwards. I just want to race,you know?” Ashline admitted.
“As a business it would be great for us because we obviously want our cars to run as well as they can but it would be even better for them to get top 5 then it would be for me or a customer to win it. As a group we are trying to make them as good as we can make them,the search for speed never stops.”
The last Distance Racing super late model to win the Oxford 250 was the 7G- Curtis Gerry in 2016 since then he’s been one of the most dominant cars at Oxford during the weekly 50 lappers and longer PASS races.
Ben Ashline though still in his 20s has had enough experiences in racing to last a lifetime and shows by how selfless and thoughtful he is of the business he works for and the customers he’s helped on and off the track with their cars. More than anything he wants to be back in the car full time and he hopes if he does well at the 250 he will be.
When asked who his favorite competitors are he simply explained any driver in his rear view mirror.
“I love competition,and I love a challenge. I believe I am no better than anyone,I just try to be the best I can every time I climb in a race car. The competition is what drives us and there is a lot of good guys out there right now.”
He looks forward to racing this year with the group of drivers he grew up watching and the drivers who came through the ranks similar to him.
Ben Ashline is ready to be the “dark horse” of this years Oxford 250 and accomplish one of his life goals by joining the likes of Curtis Gerry,Gary Drew,Scott Robbins who didn't bring a ton of money and big sponsors with them but had the support and encouragement from family and fans,luck and the passion for racing.
Come see the Ben Ashline in the #99 Picard family super late model this weekend at the 46th annual Oxford 250 at the historic Oxford Plains Speedway,Green flag drops at 1:30pm.
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