Walero’s ‘Real Racers’ campaign intends to shine a light on the personalities, stories and characters across all levels of motorsport. All campaign members compete up and down the land and have chosen Walero to keep them cool under pressure and help them fight it out at the front of the grid.

In our latest edition, we speak to Ashlyn Speed - a budding young racer from Mansfield, Texas who embarked on her racing journey aged just 7 years old! Since then, Ashlyn has become a fantastic role model for young, female racers looking to get involved in the world of motorsport with #Walero at her side.

Fast, determined and with a beaming smile, Ashlyn Speed has already built an impressive track record, securing championships and proving herself as a top driver even before completing her high school education. Ashlyn has enjoyed a fantastic motorsport journey since her first steps into the world of racing aged 7. And what first began as a trip to the local karting track, would soon snowball into a dream that would become the main ambition for young Ashlyn and one that her father, Greg Speed, would help her to pursue to the fullest extent.

“It all started when I headed down to my local karting track after school,” Ashlyn recalled. “My dad took me down to a place called K1 Speed, which was an electric kart rental track. I had no idea what a go-kart was, but once I got out on track it all just began to feel very natural and I got up to speed very quickly. As soon as I hopped out of the kart, someone came over and asked how long I’d been racing, to which I said it was my first time! I vividly remember the shocked look on their face as I had just recorded one of the fastest lap times that month.”

That first trip to the karting track would quickly develop into a passion for Ashlyn as she looked to continue on her new adventure. She would soon begin competing in locally organised karting leagues at the same venue, and she would enjoy several years of league competition before taking the step up to the faster karting categories, where she would win the 2015 and 2016 league titles which were fiercely competitive.

“After starting with rental karting, I advanced to gas-powered go-karts and competed in that category for six years. During that time, I won the North Texas Karters Championships in my class in both 2018 and 2021 and earned several podium finishes in regional competitions. Although I didn’t have the funding to race at the national level, I still found tremendous enjoyment in every moment on the track.”

‍

‍After her time spent karting, where Ashlyn would collect a wealth of racing experience and sharpen her craft against very stiff competition, she decided to take the leap into car racing in 2021. Ashlyn took the step into the Spec Miata series, one which she has not looked back on since.

“After eight years of kart racing, I was practising as usual at my home track, North Texas Karters, when a family friend approached and offered me some track time in his Spec Miata. That experience completely changed my perspective on racing. Having focused on karts for so long, I had never seriously considered racing cars—if anything, it was a distant dream that felt out of reach. But after just one session in the car, I was instantly hooked on the idea of car racing.”

“Initially, I was a bit overwhelmed by how much more there was to manage compared to karting. But as I kept practising, I gradually learned how to handle the car and understand its dynamics and from that moment on, I became more comfortable each time I got out on track.”

Ashlyn would compete in her first-ever car race at Eagles Canyon Raceway in October 2021 and would love every moment of it. However, her second race would see her caught up in a nasty incident. 

This resulted in precautionary checks at the local hospital. Ashlyn would remain undeterred and more spirited than ever, making her return to the track at the following race to continue on her racing journey. Throughout her time in the Spec Miata series, Ashlyn would rack up plenty of laps behind the wheel, not only immersing herself fully in the challenge presented to her but also taking the time to build up her race craft and skills with each passing turn.

After completing her maiden year in cars, Ashlyn took yet another step forward in 2022, getting behind the wheel of a Formula Mazda single-seater for the first time. It was a different challenge together compared to the Miata, which Ashlyn looks back on fondly with plenty of memories and, most importantly, lessons learned.‍

“I really enjoyed my first time in the SCCA Formula Mazda, to take the step up to single-seaters was a challenge, but one that I embraced with open arms at the time. After my first couple of sessions in the car, I was getting used to the nuances in how it handled compared to the Miata and also how important it was to utilise the aero of the car to maximise performance. Yes, the aero was relatively minimal compared to other single seaters, but it still was an important learning curve to master.”

“The season was a great experience from the get-go, it did take some getting used to, but once I had everything figured out, I felt so comfortable in the cockpit. My first podium came in November 2022 in the SCCA Regionals and that was a feeling I will never forget as a driver. To be standing on the podium was the culmination of plenty of hard work from everyone involved and it was fantastic to share it with my family and friends as well!”

Her maiden season in single-seaters would also result in another fantastic achievement, with Ashlyn being named the SCCA Texas Division Driver of The Year at the end of the season, a brilliant way to round out the year!

2023 would see Ashlyn continuing to battle it out in the SCCA Southern Conference Formula Mazda championship, with her season getting underway in February at the iconic Circuit of The Americas for the SCCA Super Tour weekend in the beaming Texas sunshine. The weekend will live long in the memory of the young racer, as she performed brilliantly out on track to claim her first win in the FX Class of the SCCA.

“That weekend in Austin is one I will always look back on fondly. We had some great speed coming into the weekend and to get the opportunity to race in the larger SCCA events is always a pleasure with the sheer number of drivers and spectators that get involved. And my wonderful crew chief started a traditional photo that day, and it has carried through to today. It also gave me some great recognition amongst the paddock, and I came away from it raring to get to the next track and just get racing once again!”

Her fine form would continue throughout the 2023 season, with Ashlyn driving superbly throughout the year to clinch the 2023 SCCA Southern Conference Championship in the FX Class and second place in the SCCA Southwest Division in the Formula Mazda, a superb achievement.

“2023 was a great year for me in the SCCA, we showed some brilliant speed all season long and it all came together nicely as we battled it out for the conference and division titles. I have a lot of people to thank for all their incredible efforts across the season and of course, this extends to the team at Walero for their awesome base layers. In Texas and all across the Southern states in America, it can get super hot on those weekends, with belting sunshine and the added heat of the cockpit having an impact. However, with the help of the Walero products I have been able to keep myself as comfortable as possible in the car, which has made a difference for me. The 2.0 temperature regulating socks, which I recently received, have been a real game changer and are by far the best socks available in motorsport at the moment for me!”

When looking back on the 2023 season, Ashlyn also provided another highlight which further showcased her speed and development as a driver.

‍“We were competing in the SCCA Super Tour race at Hallet in Oklahoma and after a good start, I was sitting comfortably near the front of the pack waiting for the chance to make a move on the cars ahead. However, I then mistakenly dipped a wheel onto the dirt and was ceremoniously dumped to the back of the pack. From that moment on, I went on a pass fest and was flying through the field as the race reached its closing stages and benefited from a handy full course yellow to claim second at the fall of the chequered flag.”

2024 has seen intermittent running for Ashlyn in the SCCA F1600 Championship as she has looked to take the next step in her fledgling single-seater career. With budget and funding becoming increasingly key in deciding the outcome of many young racers' careers, Ashlyn has looked to enjoy her racing whenever possible and ensure she gives it her all out on track. However, most recently in November this year, Ashlyn became the winner of the coveted Womens Initiative Scholarship prize in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout, held at Homestead, Miami!

“Words cannot describe the emotions I felt when winning that scholarship prize for the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup! I had worked so hard to even be selected for the chance to compete in the 12-driver shootout and I was up against some extremely tough competition on the final day, with some fantastic drivers displaying their skills. To win $100,000 to go towards my racing was unforgettable and to have the opportunity to race in a prestigious support championship for the IMSA package is a true honour for me and my family.”

“Walero helped to keep me extremely cool and collected on that final day and it provided that added confidence and benefit that I needed to go out there and prove to the judges that I was a worthy winner of the prize. 2025 is going to be incredibly exciting for me as a driver and I cannot wait to get going when the time comes.”

It is clear to see that Ashlyn truly is a talented and focused young racer, filled with ambition and determination to achieve her goals. 2025 looks set to be her best year yet as she takes to the track in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup in one of the most competitive grids on the motorsport calendar! You can follow her ongoing racing journey on her Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.