Wampler enjoying travels, competition on DRC Street Stock Tour

Over the past few years, the miles have piled up for the Wampler Racing Team of Hecla, S.D. The 24 car, driven by Ashley Wampler, has been a regular on the Dirt Race Central Street Stock Tour for the past few years, which has taken her to tracks in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

While there are long weekends of travel sometimes, Wampler isn’t complaining. Instead, she views traveling on the tour as an opportunity for growth behind the wheel.

“Racing at the same track, you only get as good as the best guys there,” Wampler said.  “The tour lets me meet and race new people and I always enjoy traveling to all these tracks. I’ve learned a lot more control with my car. I’ve raced at over 25 tracks now.”

Wampler has finished in the top 10 on the tour the previous three seasons and is aiming for a fourth straight top 10. She was sixth in 2022, finished seventh in 2023 and eighth on the tour points in 2024. She is currently ninth in the Dirt Race Central Street Stock Tour points heading into this Friday’s show at Red Cedar Speedway in Wisconsin. The tour goes to Rice Lake Speedway on Saturday.

The 32-year-old Wampler is in her 17th year behind the wheel. It was her brother, Blaine’s racing in the bomber class that got her interested in driving herself.

“My older brother raced from 2000-03 and that’s when I really got into it,” Wampler said.

Her crew chief and mechanic is her father, Dale, a former racer, or as Ashley describes him, “is the guy” behind the 24 race team.

“He’s definitely taught me to be a lot tougher, and more believing in myself,” Wampler said. “He’s the biggest cheerleader. He’s always there. Having that support system is a pretty big thing.”

She spent nine years in the Bomber/Pure Stock class before making the move to the Wissota Streets, where she has found a home.

“Pretty much everywhere you go, if it’s not IMCA, there are street stocks there,” Wampler said. “It’s one of the longest-sustaining classes. When I moved up, I knew that’s where I wanted to be.”

She had top two five finishes and six top 10s in 2024.  This season, there were some rocky moments early, including a very hard T-bone crash during the DRC Street Stock tour feature at Viking on May 23 that required a trip to the ER.

“I just remember the people coming up to my car and saying ‘are you OK?’” Wampler said.

She was OK and was able to come back and race the next night. Since then, there’s been steady progress with five top 10 finishes, including a seventh-place finish at Buffalo River Speedway.

“It’s been an improvement,” Wampler said.

With several tour races remaining, Wampler is looking to add more solid finishes. She is aiming for her third straight top 10 finish in the point standings in the DRC Street Stock Tour.

“Top 10s would be nice,” Wampler said. “I really enjoy the door-to-door racing where you can take a corner, and you don’t have to think about outside things. You’re just working with your 3,200-pound car.”

Driver Profile

Ashley Wampler

Wissota Street Stock #24

Residence: Hecla, S.D.

Age: 32

Sponsors: Ox Racing Supply, Holland Brothers Oil & NAPA, Dakota Ag Service, Weber Body Shop, Ken’s Super Fair Foods, Werner Automotive, Dakota Concrete, The Bull Pen, Spencer Farms, HMR Photography