NASHVILLE – Officials at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway have confirmed the return of the Bandolero division for the upcoming season.
The INEX Bandoleros are governed by the same organization as INEX U.S. Legends Cars Int’l.
Music City USA’s Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway has a rich history with the INEX Bandoleros, hosting the National event during the 2005 season. Josh Williams (Bandolero Bandits), Trey Maughan (Bandolero Outlaws) and Brandon McReynolds (Bandolero Young Guns) used the national meet to claim titles for the series.
Throughout the history of the Bandolero series, the quarter mile track at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway has seen the likes of Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace compete. All three today are current drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series.
The track hosted local divisions during the early time period of the 2000’s. Chase and Chaz Chaffin racing debut at the speedway came in the Bandolero series. Chase and Chaz, both have advanced to the high banked five-eighths mile oval at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. Chaz Chaffin locked down the 2017 Super Truck championship competing on the five-eighths mile track.
Hunter Taylor, son of second-generation driver Jon Taylor, plans to make his Bandolero debut this season, moving from the quarter-midget ranks. Courtney Curran, daughter of Mike Curran, the young lady of the group, has made tremendous strides in karting and is moving to the Bandolero division this season.
Trenton Hubbell, son of Pure Stock driver Jason Hubbell, will be a rookie, as this season in the Bandoleros will be his first encounter of competition.
The local talent base coming from the Quarter-Midgets and Bandoleros ranks has increased over the years, spilling over into the five-eighths mile high bank oval. Jackson Boone, the defending Pro Late Model champion at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, has two Nashville Quarter-Midget titles, with 75 wins during that time period. Hunter Wright, a three-time INEX Legends champion at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, used the quarter-midget cars on his way to now competing in the Pro Late Model division, driving a car out of the Wayne Day Racing shop.
The Bandolero division serves as a steppingstone between a quarter-midget or go-kart and a race car that is simple for everybody to use. The driver operates a Bandolero in a similar manner to a go-kart with left foot braking. The car is equipped with a centrifugal clutch so the driver does not have to shift gears.