Calm, Collected, Competitive: Tanton Wooldridge’s Measured Rise in the SLMS

#01 Tanton prepared for action at his home track, Oyster Bed Speedway. Photo Courtesy of: Karly Leclair/Oyster Bed Speedway

July 1st, 2025

[More comprehensive interview transcript available at the end of the article for those interested in more details]

Tanton Wooldridge has quickly emerged as one of the Maritime racing scene's most intriguing young talents. At 19 years of age, Wooldridge, who grew up a stone's throw away from Oyster Bed Speedway, PEI, is making his mark in the Super Late Model Series (SLMS) this year, with impressive finishes of 4th and 3rd in his two starts this season; good for a 2nd place points tie, and merely 3 behind the leader, and inaugural season champion #16 Dylan Gosbee.

"We're definitely pretty happy," Wooldridge remarked about his strong start to the season. "We worked all winter to prepare the car and get our ducks in a row. We didn't have any expectations, I guess, so we're pretty happy."

A Racer Built from the Ground Up

Wooldridge's racing journey began at the age of 7, practicing Bandoleros before officially racing them from age 8 to 15, collecting championships at Centre for Speed, Scotia Speedworld, and Oyster Bed Speedway along the way. He briefly dipped his toes into the Mini-Cup Series at Oyster Bed Speedway, winning all three races in a $500 car discovered at a Connecticut flea market. "I'll be honest with you, it was a $500 car we found at a flea market down in Connecticut. We brought it back with the plan to clean it up a little bit, do a couple of things, and be able to sell it, figuring we could make a little money off of it. It was a little hard to move, so we took it out and ran three races, and we won all three. It was a short-lived thing and it wasn't a crazy deal by any means, but it was still fun while we did it," Wooldridge explained.

At 15, Wooldridge transitioned into Pro Stocks and Legends racing, taking a pivotal step when Troy Burke gave him a test drive that quickly caught attention. "We went down to the track on some scuffed tires, and we beat the pole time for that last weekend," Wooldridge recalled. "Troy's wife Shannon posted the video of it on Facebook, and it got a lot of attention. And then I was actually sitting in chemistry class in grade 11, 2 or 3 months after that, and I got a call from Trevor Lambe and it said to go to his shop, and I brought the whole deal together with Trevor Lambe racing."

"It played a huge role," he reflected on that early exposure. "The exposure—in this day and age—it's more so than having talent, being in the right place at the right time, and knowing the right people. Troy and his people gave me the opportunity to race that car, and it just so happened to reach the right audience."

His Pro Stock debut came at just 16, with standout performances including a ninth-place finish in the prestigious IWK 250. "We started 15th in the IWK 250 and I finished 9th. I was 16 at the time, so we were really ecstatic at that," Wooldridge said.

Driving With Purpose, Not Urgency

His recent shift to full-time Pro Stock competition underlines his steady growth and ambition. Wooldridge described his driving style as calm and strategic, prioritizing long-term race management over aggressive, short-term moves. "You kind of nailed it on the head—calm and strategic. I take a lot of pride in being able to give good feedback to the crew, and make adjustments. It's about that lap 125 to 150—that's when it's go time."

Wooldridge appreciates and emulates the strategic approach of #2 Ashton Tucker, another renowned Maritime driver known for his clean and calculated racing style. "I've gotten to watch him a ton throughout the last 6 or 7 years. He was always the guy that I felt like I related to the most with the way that I drive the car, and the way that I try to maintain throughout a race. I studied a lot off of him over the last winter, and it paid off," Wooldridge said.

A Dream Realized: Florida’s Winter Nationals

His international efforts have seen him competing at the INEX Legends Winter Nationals in Citrus County, Florida, where he earned a podium finish and two top-fives, further sharpening his skills and confidence. "It was a dream come true," Wooldridge reflected. "I'd been wanting to do it for years and years, but whether it was the confidence level to go down there and compete, or whether the funding was lining up, it just seemed really difficult. My dad and I take a lot of pride building race cars, and trying to do most of everything we do on our own."

What’s Next for #01

As for his 2025 plans, Wooldridge is committed fully to the SLMS with the #01 team. He’s also aiming to compete in select marquee events, such as the Mike Stevens Memorial and the coveted Speedway 660 250. His presence at Speedway 660, his favourite track due to its driver-oriented two-groove racing, holds particular significance. "It's probably one of the best things that 660 has," he said about the race weekend atmosphere.

While Wooldridge's Legend car schedule has scaled back, he remains intent on chasing victory during the IWK 250 weekend at Riverside International Speedway. His approach to racing is reflective, mature, and deeply strategic, poised to make him a persistent presence in Maritime motorsports for years to come.

Sponsor shout-outs:

Livingston Steel Inc., Kris Fournier Remax, GSD Utility Services, Rayners Automotive, SGK Atlantic, Troy Burke-White Cap PEI, and King Competition.

Transcript:

Tanton: We're definitely pretty happy. We worked all winter to prepare the car and get all of our ducks in a row. We didn't have any expectations, I guess, so we're pretty happy.

I started when I was 7, practicing bandoerlos. I ran bandos from when I was 8 to when I was 15, and then when I was 15 I practiced a Pro Stock a couple of times. It was my final year in bandos, and I purchased my own legend car in August of that year. I was sitting at home one night eating supper, and I got a message from Troy Burke. He asked if I could come to the shop Wednesday Night, bring your seat, and we will go to the track on Saturday. So we ended up doing that - the series had raced the Saturday prior. We went down to the track on some scuffed tires, and we beat the pole time for that last weekend, so they were definitely pretty happy. Troy's wife Shannon posted the video of it on facebook, and it got a lot of attention. and then I was actually sitting in chemistry class in grade 11 2 or 3 months after that, and I got a call from Trevor Lambe and it said to go to his shop, and I brought the whole deal together with Trevor Lambe racing in either 2021 or the 2022 season.

[about getting the limited practice experience in a pro stock at 15]

Yeah, it played a huge role. The exposure - in this day and age, it's more so than having talent, being in the right place at the right time, and knowing the right people. Troy and his people gave me the opportunity to race that car, and it just so happened to reach the right audience.

I got to run that #28 Lambe car, and I think Troy and them were on the fence about if I would get the chance to race, and I got those couple of years in the car to try to prove myself, and see if I run well, including the IWK 250 and Summer Clash.

Eventually doors starting closing, and other doors started opening up, and that's where I am today.

[on the IWK 250]

We started 15th in the IWK 250 and I finished 9th. I was 16 at the time, so we were really ecstatic at that.

I started racing Legend cars. I've been running legend cars from 15 until now (19 years old now).

Somewhere in there before I was 15 I ran an Eastern Super Mini-Cup Series Car. I ran a 3 race series at Oyster Bed. I'll be honest with you, it was a $500 car we found at a flea market down in Connecticut.

We brought it back with the plan to clean it up a little bit, do a couple of things, and be able to sell it, figuring we could make a little money off of it. It was a little hard to move, so we took it out and ran three races, and we won all three. It was a short lived thing and it wasn't a crazy deal by any means, but it was still fun while we did it. The car is more like a bandolero, but with less power, more brakes, and front suspension.

I think when I was 14, 15, and 16, I ran 2 or 3 Mini Stock races. The mini stock I drove was for Matt Watson.

And from 16 to 19 (present), I ran a part-time Pro Stock schedule and full-time Legend schedule.

This year it has transitioned to full-time Pro Stock, and part-time Legends. I've been in quite a few different cars I guess over the past 6 or 7 years.

Oyster Bed is my home track, it's about 45 minutes down the road. Not including Oyster Bed, I have 2 favourite tracks, because I run well at both of them. My favourite track of all is Speedway 660. In the Pro Stocks it's 2 groove racing, it's more susceptible to being able to pass, if you have a good car, and good lines. It leaves things more in the drivers hands. So along with 660, everyone obviously loves Riverside. It's been a love-hate relationship there, I've brought some of the fastest race cars I've had, and I've also torn up some of the fastest race cars I've ever had there.

[about the 660 Speed Weekend]

That's one of the most anticipated bucket list races that I want to do, is the 660 250 (Pro Stock). I'm basically there every year, but with the Legend Car. Watching all of those guys Saturday night, the anticipation builds up and the lights go down, and it's just really, really cool so it's definitely one that I am looking to try to make the next couple of years.

[about the 660 250 atmosphere]

It's probably one of the best things that 660 has. When you go through the pit area, all the campers are right packed there around it. On Sunday when the 250 is picking up, you see gradually more and more people walking up from the campers, and you can tell that something big is going to go down, bringing an energy to it. It's really well done.

[about Brent Roy of SLMS + Speedway 660]

He did a lot to try to help me get some promotion when I was running for Troy last year in the 24 car.

Me: Brent provided me with valuable advice when I first started my platform, and I had almost no personal connections in racing.

Me: you had a trip down to Citrus County, Florida right? For the INEX (Legends) Winter Nationals?

Tanton: I've actually been down there twice. The first time I went down there and raced 1 race in Ayden Christensen's legend car when they first got it. I ran the young lion's division that year, and I got a 5th place finish.

And then the 2nd time we went down, with all of our own stuff and everything. It was Winter of 2024. We went down and had a really good week, finishing 6th out of 39 cars in the points. We had a podium finish and 2 top-5s. It was a really good learning curve for doing my own adjustments and my own maintenance.

It was a dream come true to go down there. I'd been wanting to do it for years and years, but whether it was the confidence level to go down there and compete, or whether the funding was lining up, it just seemed really difficult.

My dad and I take a lot of pride building race cars, and trying to do most of everything we do on our own. We had a really good year in Legend cars, and really stepped up our game, so we took a gamble on it. We went down with a car that we had just clipped ourself and completely rebuilt. We rebuilt it the very best that we could, and went down, and were very happy with the results.

[about his 2025 plans]

We're full-time on the SLMS for the #01. They gave me my first shot, and then it all kind of came full-circle last year. It was a couple of a weeks after the Mike Stevens Memorial last year that I drove their car for them, and made plans to go full-time this year.

Me: is it safe to say that, with relatively few late model starts under your belt, that you're still adjusting to full bodied late models, and still trying to get the handle on it?

Tanton: It's a tough question, I like to think that when I go to the race track I have a shot to compete and do well. But it is still kind of that transition base. I am lucky enough to have a crew and a team that is providing everything that I need to go out and run well. Whether that is making sure that we have all the parts ready to go. Or if it's spending 4-5 nights in the race shop if the car gets torn up, or if it needs something to be fast and competitive. Or making sure that we have guys at the race track that have knowledge, or guys that can coach me if I am doing stuff wrong. So with the help of that, it's made it a faster transition. It's helped me go to the race track and feel like I am compete for top-10s, and top-5s.

But at the same time before I get in the car before every feature, the guys remind me that I am only 19, that I only have about 10 starts in one of these cars. They say that they have all the faith in me, and that they trust what I am going to do, but it's a building process. This is 1 year of a 3, to 5, or whatever year plan to make sure that when I am in a race car this year, that we go out and take every opportunity to learn, and to make mistakes. If that kind of means stepping over the boundary in order to make those mistakes to learn from them, if that's the case, then hopefully we can take those lessons learned. And then we'll try to take those lessons learned, and then in 2-3 years go to the race track wherever it is, and try to win races.

Me: To be clear, it's not that I don't think you can't compete for a win now. I absolutely think that you can, and your performances this year so far show it.

Me: Do you have a way that you'd describe your style of driving so far?

Tanton: You kind of nailed it on the head - calm and strategic. When I raced in bandos, I had a lot of success in those cars just by being able to give good feedback and be able to make the car better, then go out and not tear the car up. Just being able to maneuver around guys. And then throughout the past 3 years in Legend cars - you know, I ran 3 full seasons in the League of Legends Tour, and I haven't been able to win a race yet. In that style of car, you've got to be so aggressive, and be able to send it in the corner, and not know if you're going to make it out. That's not how I work. I know that if I tear that car up on Saturday night, I need to spend the entire week getting it ready for the next week.

Me: I imagine other drivers in the late model are grateful that you don't full-send it into a corner, treating it like a 35 lap feature, too.

Tanton: Exactly, and that's what I was leading into. My driving style has made me struggle a bit in the Legend cars, but it's going to pay off I think in the Late Models. I take a lot of pride in being able to give good feedback to the crew, and make adjustments. I don't care where I am on lap 7, or lap 50, or lap 100. It's about that lap 125 to 150 [150 lap race], that's when it's go time, and that's when you've got to be good. I try to take a lot of pride in being able to save myself, and being able to keep the car clean.

That 25 laps at the end, and then being able to go out and run hard.

Me: I think that is a smart approach, and I think it is pretty close to the model that Ashton Tucker races by.

Tanton: Yeah, and that's kind of what I've gone off of. I've gotten to watch him a tone throughout the last 6 or 7 years. When you have so much success like that, it's obviously drawn my eyes to watch him on the race track. And throughout the course of the winter I've watched hours upon hours of video and he was always the guy that I felt like I related to the most with the way that I drive the car, and the way that I try to maintain throughout a race. I studied a lot off of him over the last winter, and it paid off.

Me: I respect how clean Ashton is. I've seen him lose some races because of a late bump and run moving him up a couple of grooves. But I've seen him a little bit more sometimes, pay back the favour a little bit if he has to. But I've never seen him initiate that kind of energy.

Tanton: Yeah, I haven't maybe been the best in the past at returning receipts or favours. But running down in Florida, and I guess growing up a little bit, the way I race now is that if you run me clean, I will run you clean as well. But if you go in and use me up the race track, I am not afraid to do that as well. But yeah, if you don't have to initiate it, then definitely try to go out and try to pass the guy clean.

[2025 plans]

We're taking it week-by-week, the main focus is the 6 SLMS races, and trying not to jeopardize that. We usually try to go to the Mike Stevens, and go and support that event. It's really well done, and done for all of the right reasons. I'd love to be able to do the 660 250, but it's kind of a day-by-day basis. The legend car: we've kind of scaled back on that. There is a series going on at Oyster Bed, that I'm trying to run if it lines up with the Pro Stock schedule. The only legend car dates that we have set in stone for sure would be the Friday night at the IWK 250. We've ran really well there in the past and had a chance to win the race, but just didn't quite get it. We're going back and bringing all of the force to try and snag that one before our days are done. If we aren't able to run the Pro Stock race, I think we're going to try to do the Legend race for the 250 weekend there.

[about how Petty races]

It races really good. Usually all day you're parked right down on the curb, and whenever it cools off and you start fading, and guys start fighting stagger or air pressure - just how the car falls off, it usually fluctuates to the top. You see most guys go up there, and it's whoever is strong enough to still go down low usually prevails.