With each season that comes up in the Ontario short tracks, there is always a list of drivers that everyone is keeping an eye on with each other division, wondering how they’re going to perform.

When the fans and fellow competitors were asked about the Pure Stock class, there were ultimately 61 names that came up throughout the discussions – bringing us to this point. Each of those drivers have been ranked, with their final position on the list being determined based on a combination of 40% fan vote and 60% expert – the fellow competitors – vote.

As always, be sure to comment with your thoughts – whether positive or negative, and enjoy getting to know these competitors a little more.

Click here to read Part 1   ///  Click here to read Part 2

40. Kassy Howard

Plans: To be within the top-five in points by the end of the season.
Goals: Get a few feature wins under my belt, try out some more tracks on a regular basis and overall just continue to be competitive and improve as a driver.
What makes the Pure Stocks one of the most fun classes? Simply – the chaos and adrenaline of putting 25+ cars on the track all with different levels of racing experience just for entertainment purposes. Its also fun because since its an ‘entry-level’ division, it’s fun to be in the midst of drivers who are just learning the sport and then having the ‘veterans’ to still learn from.
Drivers to Watch: I feel like the people who are the ones to watch out of my peers are: Gillian Hills, Nicole Stewart, and Kris Lawrence because:

• Gillian: She was super competitive at the Flamboro races last season which makes it super fun to watch her make her way through traffic to the front of the pack.
• Nicole: it’ll be her first season and after coordinating the Flamboro races, its her turn to experience the fun of bone/pure stock racing.
• Kris: this reasoning is simple, he’s always entertaining to watch, he never fails to put on a show for the crowd and is always up for a challenge. And he’s put together so many cars that are hopefully going to be on the track this season, one of which will be Nicole’s car, so it’ll be cool to see him compete against his own builds and see his hard work paid off.

Kassy Howard may not be a name many of have heard of, but that’s something which may change moving forward. She has slowly been improving with each season behind the wheel at Delaware Speedway, and got her first taste of traveling in 2020 to Flamboro Speedway.

39. Chris Tubman

Plans: No concrete plans this year as everything is up in the air, but we have a new mini stock car in the shop that we are building so I might make the jump to mini stock. So I guess this list might not be for me, we will see still have the bone stock in the shop; we might race it in some bigger races
Drivers to Watch: Sean Kennedy – he’s fun to race with enjoy racing him. Phil Givens is fast and legal lol. Few shockers to watch might be Jake Kelly and Shawn Solomon; they have big motor cars going to be interesting.

Chris Tubman knows a thing or two about what it takes to be fast – hence a runner-up in the 2019 standings to Corey Strawn.

38. Andy Wheller

A regular at Flamboro Speedway, Andy Wheller has proven himself to be a threat inside the top-five no matter the night, or competition on hand to challenge. While he scored a pair of finishes outside the top-20 to start off 2020, he was able to turn it around with a sixth for the third event. Combined with seven top-five’s and 14 top-10’s the year prior, the statistics tell the tale.

37. Michael Kenny

Drivers to Watch: Leonardo Labarbera is going to be one to watch for – Megan Mitchell and Reece Bourgeois will be ones for rookie of the year – Gillian Hils is always quick; she will definitely be one to be watching = Kyle Lucas will be a quick one.

While focus has been put on Michael Kenny’s upcoming Canadian Vintage Modified program, you cannot ignore his ability to get it done in a four-cylinder division – as evident with success at the Mini Stock level. It’s why hearing he will partake in the Pure Stocks brings forth hope for success.

36. Mike Ebert

Plans: To complete in a full season at Delaware and travel to Flamboro for a few big races.
Goals: Finish in the top 4, or better in points overall, and to get a couple feature wins. Its been a while lol.
What makes Pure Stocks so much fun? The people you meet. The drivers make the division a lot of fun.
Drivers to Watch: Brent Pelley #77, Jordan Williams #92, and Kassy Howard #59.

35. Chase Mitchell

2021 Plans: Just get back out on the track after having 2020 off because of COVID.
Goals and Expectations: To have my pure stock run as well as it can. It’s already handling great and I’ve become more comfortable in it. My goal is to get it to be a top-runner.
What makes Pure Stocks one of the most fun classes? It’s the cheapest class you can get into at Flamboro which makes it easier and a lot more fun for young drivers like me who are still finishing school and working their first job.
Drivers to watch: My sister is a rookie to watch out for. She has a lot of determination. Kyle Lucas was the previous Rookie of the Year and really earned it with his wins; everyone should be watching him. I think he’s able to win a championship and I’m excited to see him up front again.

Although he was only able to lock down three starts in his young racing career. Chase Mitchell is already showing potential with a pair of top-10 finishes. It begins to make you wonder what will be possible with more seat time.

34. Eric Stewart

Plans : Race the nights I’m not at another track spotting for Shawn Chenoweth
Goals: Finish in the top 10 in at least five races
What makes Pure Stocks most of the most fun classes? The car count. You look at the car count we’ve had in the last 5 years; no other class comes close.
Drivers to Watch: Jordan Morris, Kris Lawrence, Scott McGregor. These guys have won the big races, and I can see them winning more big races years to come.

Although he only got a handful of starts himself behind the wheel in 2019, Eric Stewart showed potential with a top-10 finish at Flamboro Speedway. Considering the knowledge he is surrounded by and absorbing from, some more time behind the wheel could bring forth more success.

33. Allan Larkin

32. Jo Lawrence

Plans: I will be focusing on the APC series this year and hopefully run a show or two in the Bone Stocks for fun when I have an off night!
Goals: I haven’t won a bone stock race in a while so when I do race, winning will be the goal
What makes Pure Stocks a lot of fun? The fact that it is cheap and a fun more relaxing atmosphere compared to higher divisions
Drivers to Watch: Gillian hill, Jordan Morris, Kris Lawrence, and Don Yorke (if he would stop cheating lol)

2020 APC United Late Model Series Champion is all that needs to be said to understand the talent behind the wheel. He showcased the speed last season in the Pure Stock, with a pair of top-10’s including a fifth to start off the season.

31. Craig Cole

2020 Frostoberfest Champion. Need we say more about the frequent Delaware Speedway competitor?

Stay tuned for the next part of the list.