2025 Keith Kauffman Classic at Port Royal Speedway

Shark Racing Taps West Coast Native To Drive The No. 1A

Shark Racing Taps West Coast Native To Drive The No. 1A

After a short-lived stint with Cale Thomas, a West Coast native has been hired to race Shark Racing's No. 1A.

Apr 24, 2025 by Kyle McFadden
Shark Racing Taps West Coast Native To Drive The No. 1A

A few days after abruptly parting ways with Cale Thomas, Central Pennsylvania-based Shark Racing has reached across the country to fill the seat of the No. 1A long held by Jacob Allen.

Ashton Torgerson, the 18-year-old of Medford, Ore., posted on social media Wednesday that he's making the cross-country trip for three races in Central Pennsylvania this weekend, likely at Williams Grove Speedway on Friday, Lincoln or Port Royal Speedway on Saturday, and BAPS Motor Speedway on Sunday.

The deal has long-term potential, but the Bobby Allen-owned team first wants to get the teenager comfortable and acclimated to routinely racing in the 410 ranks. Torgerson has 23 career 410 starts, all coming the last three years.

"Big announcement!!! I’m excited to announce that I am teaming up this weekend with Shark Racing for three nights of racing in Pennsylvania," Torgerson wrote on Facebook. "I cannot express my gratitude enough to Bobby Allen and Jacob Allen for believing in me and giving me a shot to come drive their race cars."

Torgerson takes over for Thomas whose stint with Shark Racing last only three starts. The teenager finished fourth in last year's Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series driving for Midget car powerhouse operation Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports.

Torgerson won four times in a Midget last year, including last April's Xtreme Outlaw Midget stop at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway as part of Illini 100 weekend. 

As for his Sprint Car background, the teenager has two career 360 victories in May 2023 at Placerville (Calif.) Speedway and Aug. 2023 at Southern Oregon Raceway on the Western Sprint Tour. In the 410 ranks, he has a best finish of seventh on the NARC King of the West tour last June at Southern Oregon Raceway.

So far this year, he has eight 410 starts with a best-finish of 15th at Central Arizona Raceway with Kubota High Limit Racing.