Wheel dreams
Youth needs Islanders to rally behind him for 2018 TCM Most Popular Driver award
Tanton Wooldridge is too young to drive to the Oyster Bed Speedway, or even to a mall for that matter, but that hasn’t stopped the 13-year-old from getting behind the wheel of a small stock car and piloting it like a professional.
“My grandfather raced back in his day, and then my dad, and I followed in their footsteps,” Tanton said.
Tanton, a resident of St. Eleanors, started racing competitively at eight-years-old and became the youngest driver to first compete at the Oyster Bed Speedway. He currently races in the middle-age division of the Bandolero category, which features from eight to 16-year-olds.
“They’re very safe vehicles with special requirements for his age group. They have to wear special helmets, seat belts, head and neck restraints, fire suits, safety racing shoes, and gloves, so they have all the same equipment you would see on a NASCAR driver,” said David Wooldridge, as he glanced proudly at his son.
“When I first sat in a stock car, I was seven and knew it was something that I wanted to pursue,” Tanton said. “The following year I was allowed to compete, and I still remember feeling extremely nervous before the race.”
Speeds can top 100 km/h on the racetrack.
“On the track, they are racing fiercely, but off it, they are all hanging out like buddies,” said David.
“Except for the parents,” said Tanton. “They can get a little feisty out there.”
This summer Tanton tackled his first feature race at the Oyster Bed Speedway, which has the top drivers competing in each division, and he steered his way to victory.
“A feature race counts for points at the end of a season championship and usually it’s the longest race that everyone wants to win. To win a feature is just the greatest feeling of all time because you have to be the best in your division - winning is better than Christmas morning,” Tanton said.
The feature win sparked a feeling of confidence on the track and was followed by a triple home win, and taking the title for the Atlantic Championship feature
in Shediac, N.B. He is currently in the running for the most popular driver on Tim’s Corner Motorsports (the go-to website for race car drivers).
Tanton was nominated out of more than 400 drivers in Atlantic Canada.
“We don’t know who nominated him, but we want to thank them,” said David. “It started this year with 110 drivers that were nominated in the first round. It was then trimmed down to 25, and somehow Tanton made it into that category, and he is now in the final round of 10 drivers.”
Voting ends on Friday, Nov. 30. The winner of Tim’s Corner Motorsports Most Popular Driver will be announced in December.
To vote for Tanton, visit www.timscorner.ca/?p=16586. The ballot can be found at the end of the page.