By Ben Deatherage
SALEM, Ind. (Oct. 3, 2025) — In the rolling hills of southern Indiana, where small towns dot the countryside and history runs deep, sits Salem. It has become a crossroads town with a courthouse square at its heart and strengthened by generations who rebuilt after every setback. Today, its brick streets and quiet neighborhoods still reflect that heritage of resilience.
From this backdrop rises Ashton Thompson’s story — a third-generation racer who has carried her family’s tradition further than ever, chasing speed across the Midwest and now carving her path in the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car division with the Huntley’s Hoosier Winged Sprint Series.
A Family Affair
“I’m a third-generation racer,” Thompson said with a grin. “My dad told me I had to play a sport when I was six, and I chose racing. We kept it in the family.”
Her father, Tyson, and grandfather, Gerald, both ran Mini Sprints on the local scene. Ashton went further, climbing from quarter midgets into Micro Sprints, Midgets, and even developmental series on pavement and road courses. Along the way she spent years touring the country, logging miles and lessons that most drivers twice her age would envy.
Still, there were breaks — times away from the cockpit — before she jumped back in fully four years ago. Now, with seven full seasons under her belt, she’s all in.
Ashton Thompson watches the competition from the pit stands, studying the action and preparing for her own time on the track. (Courtesy photo)
Into the Winged World
The decision to join the RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car ranks wasn’t random. Thompson had helped wrench for Trey Osborne when he broke into Sprint Cars, and the experience stuck.
“That gave me some Sprint Car knowledge,” she explained. “When we decided to buy our own car, we wanted something local. Here in Indiana, you can find a Sprint Car race within 50 miles almost every weekend. The RaceSaver deal made sense for our budget, and my mom wanted me in something as safe as possible.”
In just her first year in the division, 2024, she was competitive. By August 9, 2025, she had her breakthrough — a dramatic victory at Paragon Speedway.
“Honestly, I went in that night not expecting much,” Thompson said. “There were 31 cars, and just making the show was going to be tough. I ended up winning the heat and started third in the feature. Dillan Baldwin and I went side by side for 10 laps. On the last lap something just took over me — I went to work, and I pulled it off. Everyone wants to win, but that one was really special.”
Ashton Thompson celebrates her first career RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car victory on Aug. 9 at Paragon Speedway, standing proudly in victory lane with her no. 23T. (Courtesy photo)
Racing with a Cause
Winning is one thing. Racing with purpose is another. For Thompson, 2025 has been about both.
This season she partnered with Indiana Women In Need (IWIN), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting women battling breast cancer. Their mission — compassion, integrity, professionalism, and helping warriors find relief in the storm — resonated with her.
“They came on board as a marketing partner,” she said. “At the end of the year, our team will write them a check from a portion of our apparel sales. I wanted something that raised awareness for breast cancer, and IWIN was the perfect fit — it’s racing related, it’s Indiana based, and it means something.”
The cause also struck close to home. “One of my coworkers’ wives went through breast cancer,” she explained. “Thankfully no one in my immediate family has faced it, but it affects so many people you know. Everyone’s been touched by it in some way.”
It isn’t her first foray into cause-driven racing. A few years ago, she worked with the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, and that experience left its mark. “It’s about more than me,” she said. “If we can help make even a small difference, then it’s worth it.”
Home and History
Thompson now calls Charlestown, Indiana, home — just across the Ohio River from Louisville. But her racing roots reach back to Salem, where she grew up in a town known for its deep history and high-banked speedway.
Laid out in 1814 and named after Salem, North Carolina, the town became a southern Indiana hub with railroads, mills, and industry anchoring its early growth. Salem’s place in history is dramatic — from Civil War action during John Hunt Morgan’s Raid in 1863, when Confederate cavalry briefly occupied and looted the town, to moments of rebuilding and resilience that shaped its character.
For racers, though, Salem is defined by Salem Speedway, a historic oval that has tested drivers for generations. It’s a place of personal significance for Thompson. “I was the first female to sit on the pole at Salem,” she said. “It was a big deal to me because it’s historic — and it’s my hometown track.”
The historic Washington County Courthouse in Salem, Ind., anchors the city’s downtown square. Built in the 1880s, it remains a defining landmark of Thompson’s hometown. (Photo by IndianaLandmarks.org)
Looking Ahead
Behind Thompson is a team of supporters that makes it possible: Amy Rudy of Impact Sales Systems, Indy Race Parts, Lucky 7 Shock Technology, Equus Flight Academy, Vantage Innovative Systems, and Bell Racing Helmets.
“It’s incredible,” she said. “Two years ago, we’d never raced a Sprint Car. Now, we’ve had success, and it shows what hard work and teamwork can do. It takes so much just to learn, and even more to win. But we’ve proven we can do it.”
Her goals are clear: keep climbing, keep winning, and one day, land a ride for a bigger team. “I think it’s totally possible,” she said. “I want to make a career out of this.”
And with the passion of three generations, the lessons of the road, and a cause greater than herself, Ashton Thompson is proving she’s not just racing for today — she’s racing for the future.
