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The entire stock car world is focused on Florida and the INEX Bandolero and Legends divisions are no different. Entries from all over North America are scheduled to race this coming week at Auburndale Speedway.

Chris Woods Racing is ready to field an international field of drivers. The team will see 5 drivers in the Outlaw division including Amherst, Nova Scotia's Ryan Mackintosh.

 Part of the Chris Woods Racing fleet being prepared for INEX Winter Nationals

The entire Chris Woods Racing team is putting in long hours in preparation for INEX Winter Nationals.

The team will field 4 cars in the Outlaw Division. Canadian drivers Ryan Mackintosh and Cole Boudreau will join Joe Graf and Mikey Policastro. Graf and Policastro are regulars on the North East Bandolero circuit calling Bethel Motor Speedway their hometrack.

"Looking forward to running with Cole, Joe and Mikey." commented Mackintosh from Kannapolis. "I haven't raced with Cole since we were both racing karts back in New Brunswick, Canada."

Winter Nationals  takes place over 6 days. It is brings together competitors from all over the U.S. and Canada.  The schedule is very challenging with 5 days straight racing but it is also a great time for drivers from different regions to race each other and spend time enjoying off-track social events during the week.

Ryan Mackintosh and Reid Wilson raced tight at the front of the field for 8 laps. Both the #03 Scotia Hyundai Bandolero and #92 took turns leading before a motor problem took Wilson out of the race.

Mackintosh was able to convert the pole position into a win on the CMS road course. His second win in the last three races on the 6/10th mile course.

"I am not sure what the details are but I feel bad Coty Hartson wasn't able to run today. I am sure he would have been right there as well", stated Mackintosh following the race. "Reid was good today, it was fun running with him."

Chris Woods Racing driver Brodie MacQuarrie brought the #1 home in thrid place. MacQuarrie has had a good showing in the INEX Winter Heat Series.

The final points and placing will be released later this weekend.

The Winter Heat Series comes to an end on Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  The final race takes place on the CMS road course.

Series leader, Coty Harson, has a healthy lead heading into the final round and is positioned well to capture the Winter Heat championship.

Canadians Ryan Mackintosh and Brodie MacQuarrie are positioned in the top 5 and should have a good opportunity to take a top 3 points finish after the series "drops" are calculated.

The series showcases INEX divisions and the Outlaw division has seen some great racing. Walker Yates and Austin Cindric have been near the front of every race and with a little luck would be challenging for the championship.

Qualifying starts at 10 with the racing starting at 11.  There is no charge at the gate. 

A wild first lap saw multiple cars pile up after the pole sitter made contact with a car in row # 2 and turned sideways infront of the field. Ryan Mackintosh, driving the #03 Scotia Hyundai Bandolero, got caught up in the mess and had major damage to his car.

"The spindles were bent in, A-frames, rear horns, bumpers and every body panel were destroyed", stated team co-owner Woody Woods in a post race interview.

Mackintosh brought the car into the pits and some fast work by Woods and from other teams and drivers allowed Mackintosh to get his damaged car back on the track for the restart. Mackintosh started 9th in the much smaller field.

The Amherst, NS driver was able to work the car back through the field and grab 3rd.

"The car was junk and almost impossible to drive but we pushed to get all we could", commented Mackintosh post race. "I was glad for Brodie (MacQuarrie), he missed the mess and was able to grab 2nd and congrats to Reid on the win."

Major pile up in turns 1 and 2 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (John Davison Photo)

The Speedway Club,at Charlotte Motor Speedway, was the scene of the INEX United State National Banquet. Hardware for all INEX divisions from both the United States and Canada were awarded to the points champions in each country.

Amherst, Nova Scotia's Ryan Mackintosh enjoyed the banquet as wonderful ending to a great day. Mackintosh won Round # 6 of the Winter Heat Series on the CMS Road Course on Saturday afternoon. At the INEX Banquet Mackintosh picked up three pieces of hardware for his efforts in 2010.

Mackintosh won his third Canadian National Championship trophy in the INEX Bandolero Outlaws Division. The 14 year old picked up the Eastern Canadian Championship trophy.  A trophy for 5th place in the United States ended the evening and officially closed out the 2010 racing season.

Mackintosh wanted to thank everyone who has supported him during the past season.  Mackintosh thanked the entire Chris Woods Racing family for everything. He also wanted to thank Scotia Hyundai and the Casey family of companies for their continued support in 2010.  Ryan Mackintosh also thanked his family for their supporting his racing efforts.

Round #6 of the Charlotte Motor Speedway Winter Heat Series took place in Charlotte, NC on Saturday.  The weekend will see two high profile races take place with the INEX United States National Banquet taking place Saturday night at the Speedway Club at CMS.

Ryan Mackintosh practiced well and then qualified his #03 Scotia Hyundai Bandolero on the pole.

The #03 Scotia Hyundai Bandolero started the race well and was clear of the pack in the first two corners when an agressive move caused a chain reaction wreck taking out 4 cars, including series point leader Coty Hartson.

The next 9 laps saw tight action as the #4 car of John Holleman pursued Mackintosh around the 6/10 mile road course. Mackintosh could only open up a 4 car lead at any time.

On the final lap the two cars ran nose to tail on the back stretch heading for the chicane.

"Darrel Krentz was all over the Race-ceiver telling the #4 car not to try anything in the chicane. He was told that all officials were watching and not to do anything", quoted Mackintosh in a post race interview. "He just drove straight through the chicane. I don't know what he expected would happen."

The #4 driving around the chicane barrier to make contact with the #03 (Legendsnation.com photo)

The aftermath of the #4 car driving around the chicane and t-boning Ryan Mackintosh (Legendsnation.com photo)

The contact from the #4 car put the Chris Woods Racing entry on two wheels. The T-Bone damaged the #03 but he was able to bring the car across the line.  The two leaders had enough of a lead that they were not caught by the "pack" during the incident.

Race Director and INEX Executive Director, Darell Krentz, immediately radioed and disqualified the #4 car. "#4 you are black flagged and there will be serious consequences for this." Mackintosh crossed the line ahead of the field and was given the win.

INEX has set the precedent for these types of events in the past month and has warned the Outlaw Division competitors that they will face serious penalties for incidents like the one on Saturday.

The Chris Woods Racing team grabbed another podium position on the track with Brodie MacQuarrie taking home 3rd place. 

"We were good all day", stated team Co-Owner Chris "Woody" Woods.

Visit www.legendsnation.com for photos and video from today's race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

There is still 3 rounds to go in the Charlotte Motor Speedway Winter Heat Series but the Chris Woods Racing Team is looking ahead.  You can't blame the team for dreaming of warmer weather in Winter Haven, Florida after several weeks of snow, ice and cold in the Carolinas.

"The warm weather and change of scenery will be good for us", stated "Woody" Woods from the team's race shop in Kannapolis.

The February trip to the Sunshine State has become an annual event for Woods and his drivers. "It is always a lot of fun", commented Woods.

Ryan Mackintosh will get a chance to reunite with some former Canadian karting competitors who have made the move to Bandolero and will be making the trip from Canada to compete in the week long Winter Nationals.

Mackintosh was pleased to hear that some Canadian teams would be making the trip. "It will be great to see everyone".

Round #5 of the Charlotte Motor Speedway Winter Heat took place in Charlotte on Saturday. Results for Canadian driver, Ryan Mackintosh, were exactly the same as round#4.

Mackintosh, for the second weekend in a row, took the lead early and after 5 laps battled with Coty Hartson for the lead. The two Outlaw drivers battled hard for 2 laps with Hartson able to take the lead at the end of lap 7. 

"Coty was fast going up the hill and and I knew if I was going to get back by him it had to be in the s-turns",stated Mackintosh. "I tried to go hard into 2 and get the jump on Coty but I just pushed it too hard".

Mackintosh was able to get back on the track but had lost all his momentum. The #12 and #4 car were able to close the gap and the three cars battled over the final two laps with Mackintosh grabbing 3rd on the day.

The #03 Scotia Hyundai Bandolero in the pit area on Saturday (Photo Credit: Stix Fx Entertainment / LegendsNation.com - Davison Photo)

Conditions at Charlotte Motor Speedway continue to improve and if the weather cooperates on Friday there is a good chance Saturday's schedule will take place.

The forecast for Saturday looks clear, sunny and cold (37 F) but should allow the large field of Bandoleros and Legends to take the track.

A look at CMS Friday morning where conditions continue to improve leading up to the Winter Heat event scheduled for Saturday.

"We are not sure if the weather will cooperate",commented team co-owner Chris "Woody" Woods regarding Saturday's schedule race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The Charlotte are has received approximately 6 inches of snow followed by freezing rain since Monday. Track conditions on the the CMS road course will have to improve as teams prepare to practice on Friday.

Charlotte Motor Speedway Wednesday morning. Ice and snow cover the garage area and infield of the 1/4 mile track. The upper right corner of the photo shows the CMS road course turn 1.

The Allison Legacy Touring Series has released their tentative schedule for 2011. The series has indicated that there is a strong likelihood that three additional events will be added in the coming weeks.

The Allison Legacy Touring Series Schedule is available here.

Ryan Mackintosh, Daniel Hemric and Brodie MacQuarrie at the Chris Woods Racing Shop. (Ken MacIsaac Photo)

The #03 Scotia Hyundai Bandolero was back in action Saturday on the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course. The Chris Woods Racing driver, Ryan Mackintosh, qualified the car in 2nd on time but was put on the pole after the series handicap redraw.

Ryan Mackintosh leading the field at Charlotte Motor Speedway (John Davidson Photo)

Mackintosh held the lead for the first 6 laps with he and Coty Hartson opening up a large lead over the rest of the field.

Hartson passed Mackintosh on lap 7 and the two battled for the final three laps. A final lap miscue by both drivers saw the two cars in the grass in turn 5.  Hartson was able to gather up the #1 quickly and return to the track ahead of Mackintosh.  The #03 was able to get back on track but not until he was passed for second.

"We ended up 3rd but we had a first place car. I was hoping to get one more shot at Coty in turn 7 but I ended up locking up and following him into the grass." commented Mackintosh from the pit area shortly after the race. 

The #03 Scotia Hyundai Bandolero will be practicing on the road course at Charlotte Motor Speedway Friday afternoon in preparation for Round#4 of the Winter Heat Series.

This is the first road course event in the series.

"Looking forward to running Chris Wood's Racing road course setup at Charlotte",commented driver Ryan Mackintosh in a phone interview late Thursday evening from Kannapolis, NC.

Chris Woods Racing Drivers Brodie MacQuarrie #1, Ryan Mackintosh #03 and Casey Hillenburg #08 practicing at Rockingham Speedway roadcourse in November. (Steve Hogue Photo)

Visit Checkers To Wreckers for Ken MacIsaac's interview and photo slide show. Click HERE.