Over the past 10 years in Ontario, we have witnessed some absolute amazing racing across the province, with a variety of stars young and old securing championships and checkered flags. But who has stood out the most?
A panel of nine people – varying in experience, age, and home track – got together and discussed the accomplishments of several drivers through the years. Although over 40 names came up in the discussions, they managed to narrow it down to just 28 competitors, followed by ranking them in order from one through 28.
In a three-part series, we will reveal the full list, starting from 28th to pole on the grid. In the process, we encourage race fans to comment on the article, or via the Ontario Mini Stock Facebook Page, about your thoughts in the order, whom you believe should be number one, and whom you believe we missed.
28. Kevin Paupst – #54/#52
Tracks ran: Grand Bend, Peterborough, Sunset, Varney, Flamboro, Sauble, Barrie
Championship: 1 – Sauble 2013
27. Mike Gettliffe – #77
Tracks run in a mini: Barrie, sunset , Peterborough, sauble, varney. Kawartha .
Championships: 2013 Barrie
Years active: 2001-2002; 2012-2015
Biggest Wins: had 9 feature wins, biggest wins were my two heat races for the final points night at Barrie in 2013. It got me to within 2 points of (Doug) Butler. Finished 2nd in the feature 3 spots ahead of him to win by a point.
Best Racer in your opinion pick: Tough… had a few good races with (Brandon) Crumbie, always clean, Butler and I battled hard and fair for 2 seasons for titles.
Other notables: 2nd in points @ Barrie 2014, 4th at first Reynolds special at Barrie.
Racing Plans moving forward: none ; washed up
If we could somehow make an invite only race would you be able to get a car for it? Unsure. I’d try my best .
26. Ben Melenhoust – #26
Tracks run in a mini: sunset, Barrie, Sauble, Varney, Peterborough
Championships: 2009 Barrie
Specials: Sunset Frosty Special, Barrie Wednesday night specials x2 in same year, Varney invitational, Sauble invitational
Years active: 11
Biggest Wins: Sunset Frosty Special. BSW win on Pintys series night.
Best mini Stock Racer in your opinion pick 1: Rick Spencer-Walt at the time
Other notables: Approx 20 feature wins between 4 fun and mini stock between 4 different tracks.
Racing Plans moving forward: enjoy watching the big show at Jukasa
25. Kyle Baker – #82
Tracks Run: Capital City Speedway for points, then traveled to Peterborough Speedway, Sunset Speedway, and Barrie Speedway for specials
Championships: 2011 at Capital City
Crown Jewels: None
Specials: Capital City 50 Lap Summer Slam in 2011
Years Racing: 8
Biggest Win: My first win in 2009, and the second 50 lap Summer Lap
Other Notables: 9 Feature wins, with heat wins at Peterborough, Barrie, and Sunset
Plans Moving Forward: None, retired.
24. Craig Kamrath – #51
Tracks run in a mini: Sauble/ sunset/ varney/ Jukasa/ Peterborough/ flamboro
Championships: 1
Years active: 10 years
Biggest Wins: Sauble championship
Best Racer in your opinion pick 1: The Mayor Warren Paxton
Other notables: 3rd in the first Great Lakes, 5th at ACC
Racing Plans moving forward: specials only. My son is starting, so scaling back.
If we could somehow make an invite only race would you be able to get a car for it? Always.
23. Nolan Gould – #28
Tracks Run: Capital city 6 years full time, Peterborough 2 years full time, Kawartha with feature and heat wins, Sunset with top 5 finishes and Jukasa once with 8th place finish.
Championships: 2019 Peterborough championship, lots for runner ups and 3rd over all at Capital City, Kawartha and Peterborough.
Years Active: 9 year in mini stock with a couple years doing legends.
Other Notables: 2nd at ACC in 2019. 2018 winner at Peterborough 50 lap invitational
Best mini stock driver would have to be Andy Kamrath. He wins everywhere he goes.
Next plan for our team is to have a feature win at every track in Ontario
22. Casey Cavanagh – #49
Tracks Run in Ontario: Capital City Speedway, Kawartha Speedway, Peterborough Speedway
Championships: Capital City Speedway, 2013 champion
Crown Jewels: 1st place Autumn Colours B main 2015, third-place A main Autumn Colours 2007
Specials: 1st place 50 Lapper Kawartha 2006
Years Involved: Mini stock 10+ years raced every other class at Capital city speedway. Haven’t raced much since track closed after 2014 season.
Other Notables: Driver of the year 2011, 2nd place 2011 and 2012, started racing 2000 king of the hill won in a automatic sunfire, won two heat races in PEI and they wrecked me in the feature
Plans Moving Forward: Hopefully filing in for Mike Nelson at Peterbourough this 2020 season.
21. Chris Ruigrok
Tracks Run: Sauble Speedway, Sunset Speedway, Peterborough , Varney once
Championships: 2010 & 2012 at Sauble Speedway
Specials: Lots of top-five’s, always a bridesmaid
Years Active: 9
Other Notables: 2011 was my rookie year, finished second in 2012. I campaigned one car in 2014 with Kevin Paupst driving and won, wrote off my main car at home and home at Sunset Speedway
Best Mini Stock Racer: Billy Schwartzenburg
Plans moving forward: More road racing and talk of me running Craig Kamrath’s desol in a bunch of the major specials this year if they were to happen
20. Ryan Babin – #89
Tracks run in a mini: Mosport, Kawartha, Peterborough, Sunset, Flamboro
Championships: 2014 Peterborough
Crown Jewel wins: 2013 Autumn Colours Classic
Years active: 2013-14 full time
Biggest Wins: 7 feature wins in the two years of mini
Best Racer in your opinion pick: Favourite to race against was Billy Schwartzenburg
Other notables: 2nd place, Frequent Flyer
Racing Plans moving forward: none at this point
If we could somehow make an invite only race would you be able to get a car for it? Yes
19. Scott Mast – #75
Tracks Run in Ontario: Flamboro Speedway, Barrie Speedway, Varney International Speedway
Championships: Flammy 2002 ,2003 championships
Crown Jewels: 2nd at Octoberfest twice, 2nd at Nationals,
Other Notables: 2nd in points twice at Varney, won Barrie fall classic, most feature wins at varney 2016 and 2017 – 9 each year
Years active: 115 wins in 19 years
Biggest win: 2002 against Bob Phinnemore at Flammy. Bob started first, I started 24th and passed Bob in turn 4 of last lap for win. Bob came to tech to congratulate on the win, classy guy said he had a lot more $ in his car
Plans Moving Forward: Will run FTMS, Grand Bend and Flammy if possible this year.
Categories: Mini Stock Top-10
Chris Ruigrok won Sauble Championships in 2010&2012
LikeLike
I’ll update the article accordingly. I was just going by what was sent to me.
LikeLike