Ettinger, Tanner Accept National Championships In Concord

Hydraulics Plus Bandolero drivers Cole Tanner of Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia and Luke Ettinger of Kennetcook, Nova Scotia were in Concord, North Carolina this past weekend as the two were officially crowned INEX Canadian Bandolero Champions. The two Speedworld regulars also got some track time at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course on the weekend in between dodging rain drops which limited what time the two had on the infield layout.

Tanner, who finished second this past season in the Hydraulics Plus Bandolero standings at Scotia Speedworld, was the top driver in the INEX Canadian Outlaw point standings in 2011 and was awarded with the title Saturday night at the Speedway Club. Ettinger, the 2010 Hydraulics Plus Bandolero Rookie of the Year took home the championship when it came to the INEX Canadian Bandits points.

The aforementioned rain kept the Bandolero teams from running on Saturday afternoon and with conflicting flight schedules Tanner was unable to race on Sunday. Ettinger had minimal practice on the infield road course prior to racing on Sunday due to the rain which hung over the area most of the weekend. Ettinger, who drove a #08 car out of the Chris Woods Racing shop, was on his way to the front in the main when water got into the car after avoiding a wreck. The car had developed throttle problems in the later stages of the race, which forced the Kennetcook driver to the pits. The Chris Woods Racing team fields cars for Scotia Speedworld Alumni Ryan Mackintosh, who was also racing in the Winter Heat Series in a Legend car.

Derek MacCallum of Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia also took away a Canadian Championship in 2011 season, winning the INEX Canadian Semi-Pro Legend title this past season. MacCallum, who drives the #46 Hella’s Diner entry in the Coco Beach Legend division, won the Cathy Ledwidge Memorial Rookie of the Year Award in 2010.

Some photos from the event can be found at Luke Ettinger’s new website at www.leracing.ca. Ettinger’s next race is slated for the Weekly Racing Series Opener at Scotia Speedworld in May while Tanner’s next event is in February when he takes to the track at Auburndale, Florida for the INEX Winternationals.