About
About Thomas
The INEX series’ first Native American and Jewish race car driver, Thomas Poretsky is entering fifth grade. He loves his friends, his family, his pets (Snorlax the dog and Ginger and Marshmallow the cats), and playing Pokemon competitively. And, yes, he really loves driving fast!
He started out in Quarter Midget racing in the summer of 2022. Once the season ended, he spent that winter racing go-karts at ProKart Indoor Racing in Burnsville. Starting in the back of the pack, he worked his way up through the Kid’s League during the Winter/Spring season of 2022-23 for a strong finish on the podium in third place.
“The best thing about being a racer is the thought that I’m inspiring people.”
— Thomas Poretsky
About Bandos
Thomas’s race car, called a Bandolero, is purpose-built by America’s largest manufacturer of race cars, U.S. Legend Cars International. It features a 570 cc (0.57 liter) two-cylinder Briggs & Stratton Vanguard engine that has been modified to produce 30 horsepower in a car that weighs only 550 pounds (750 with fuel and Thomas).
On the quarter-mile inner asphalt track at Elko Speedway, Bandoleros hit speeds approaching 60 miles per hour. On longer tracks elsewhere in the country, they hit speeds approaching 80 mph. They have a centrifugal clutch, coil-over shocks, and a full tubular steel frame with a rollcage. Measuring almost 11 feet long, the only thing more exciting than watching these 5/8 scale racecars is driving them!
Bandoleros have been a stepping stone for many famous NASCAR drivers. Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney (to name a few) have all driven Bandos as part of their careers.
About #8
Thomas’ #8 bandolero car has one of the most distinctive designs on the track today. He chose the number out of respect for his favorite NASCAR Cup Series driver — Kyle Busch — and he asked for a bright green basecoat because it looked cool.
The designs on the car reflect Thomas’ unique dual heritage. The graphics on the bottom, the snake and the Thunderbird images on his car reflect his Native American heritage. The blue and white colors tap into the colors of the Israeli flag for his Jewish heritage, and the blue line which is both a snake and a river tie together his two heritages, both of which involve deserts and rivers. The Quechan Nation and Israeli flags by his name identify his dual identities and pay homage to rally drivers, even though he stays firmly planted on the asphalt (we hope!).
