Ashlea Albertson, a racer based in Indianapolis who competed for Tony Stewart Racing, died from injuries sustained in a crash on Interstate 65 Friday morning, as shared by Stewart and her family. She was 24.
Ashlea’s father, Todd Albertson, announced her death on Facebook, expressing her passion for racing and gratitude to the community. “She was a good kid, a better person, and she just loved racing,” he said. “She loved the community, and you all have done so much for her. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Ashlea Albertson raced TQ Midget cars and her last competition was on August 11, according to her stats. Tony Stewart, a teammate of Albertson, paid tribute to the “great race car driver” on social media and urged drivers to reconsider road rage in her honor.
“In the past, I’ve also gotten caught up in road rage,” Stewart said. “I hope that we can honor Ashlea by controlling what we can control on the highway. Losing her is a sobering reminder of how precious life is.”
The Indiana State Police’s initial investigation revealed the crash occurred when two drivers accelerated rapidly, refusing to let the other pass on northbound I-65 near the 48-mile marker, south of Seymour.
Albertson was a passenger in a car driven by Jacob Kelly, 31, of Indianapolis, traveling in the left lane. The other car, driven by Austin Cooper, 22, of Austin, Indiana, was in the right lane.