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 over 70 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 fan votes, fellow competitor votes, and last year’s success.

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 /// Click here to read Part 3 /// Click here to read Part 4 /// Click here to Read Part 5 /// Click here to Read Part 6 /// Click here to Read Part 7

8. Craig Cole
2021 Ranking: 31st

2022 Plans: We’re running Delaware on Friday night and as many invitational as we can find – also most enduros
2022 Goals: To have fun and give the top runners at each track a challenge
Drivers to Watch: Chris Allard, Calvin Reeser, Curtis Young, Tyler Wheal, Jason Lovie
Most Memorable Moment: Winning the Big money enduros and championships at Delaware, I suppose also a few bone stock track records for lap time

After completing the 2020 season in victory lane by winning Frostoberfest, Craig Cole has not let off the gas pedal. He showed speed across the province last season with checkered flags at the different venues, and nothing has changed this year. He has been a consistent front runner at Delaware Speedway, and impressed at Sunset Speedway’s Spring Velocity.

7. Kyle Novis
2021 Ranking: N/A

2022 Plans: Race at my home track of Peterborough speedway but also to travel and try other tracks as well. I have raced at Flamboro before but I would really like to try Sunset. The track looks like it would be a riot and the atmosphere there in the bone stock division seems top notch.
2022 Goals: I never have expectations when it comes to racing because I feel like when you do that there is a chance you set yourself up for failure. My goals are to win a feature this year and to always load the car on the trailer at the end of the night in once piece.
Drivers to Watch: Angelo Novis, Keith Parkes, Sean Kennedy, Connor Ellis, Jacob Kelly
Biggest Moment: Being voted most sportsman like driver in 2019 for the Bone Stocks at Peterborough Speedway.

With a trip to feature victory lane last season at Peterborough Speedway alongside two more top-five’s, it certainly put Kyle Novis’ on everybody’s radar in the weeks that followed.

6. Connor Ellis
2021 Ranking: 43rd

2022 Plans: Race at Delaware in the pure stocks and race in the OSCAAR Hot Rod Division on the Saturdays
2022 Goals: I want to get a top 5 in the championship at Delaware
Drivers to Watch: Alex Stewart in his new car, Reece Bourgeois, Craig Cole, Jay Cox and I am going to keep a close eye on Kris Lawrence
Biggest Moment: Getting third in my rookie year at Autumn Colors

Although the third-place finish at the end of the 2021 campaign marked his biggest personal moment, you cannot ignore the rest of the season. No matter what track he unloaded, it seemed he got faster with each lap that was put down, allowing him to become a solid front runner.

5. Phil Givens
2021 Ranking: 4th

2022 Plans: I am teaming up with BT Racing(Kris Lawrence)and running a full season at Delaware speedway, as well as having my No. 0 at the big invitationals across the province.
2022 Goals: To be competitive right off the start in the BT racing No. 50. There looks to be around 40 cars at Delaware this season so being consistent will be key. As for the Caldecott Millwright Services No. 0, we are just hoping to build of the success of 2021.
Drivers to Watch: There is so many talented drivers in this division, but I’d have to say, Kris Lawrence is fast anywhere he shows up. Nicole Stewart has made gains in her car every week she has hit the track. Eric Stewart will be strong coming off his Autumn Colours heat win. Connor Ellis proved he can run at the front in multiple events. And Reese Bourgeois was fast throughout 2021. I could list 50 people in this as the division is so deep with talent.
Most Memorable Moment: I’ve had a ton of great moments throughout the years, but top one would be a tie between the night I swept heats and feature at Sunset and winning autumn colours this past year. The night at Sunset meant a lot to me because our team partners Cory and Jenny from Caldecott Millwright Services were there, being able to give their little guy the trophy and have them there to celebrate was amazing! Of course have to say Autumn Colours, as I’ve chased that trophy for 6 years in this car, and had a lot of emotional weight I was carrying from losing my grandmother that week. It was nice to finally get the maple leaf trophy!

Not every driver can say they have a checkered flag at each track across the province. It’s even harder for someone to say that was done in a single season. Phil Givens became the man on a mission last year in earning victories at Peterborough Speedway, Flamboro Speedway, Sunset Speedway, and Full Throttle Motor Speedway throughout 2021. It’s a trend he has continued in 2022 as he’s currently ranked fourth in points at Delaware Speedway, and won a feature at Sunset.

4. Reece Bourgeois
2021 Ranking: 27th

2022 Plans: They have not yet been set for 2022, I am hoping to run at multiple tracks, but it would be awesome to run for Pure Stock Championship too. That’s a tough decision to make and hope we set something soon.
2022 Goals: To get to know more awesome drivers at the different tracks and to make progress every time I get out to race. Having fun is always a priority.
Drivers to Watch: That’s a tough one as there are so many amazing drivers our there that I love watching and learning from, so I’d say if I have to choose only five this year they would be, Roland Goodfellow, Cameron Thompson, Nicole Stewart, Spencer Riddell and of course Leo Labarbera #doitforleo.
Most Memorable Moment: Championship night 2021 at Flamboro Speedway. After some rough features. Emotions were all over the place. The moment Doug told me I won Rookie of the year and second overall in points it hit me that all my hard work, going trying new tracks and taking advise from those veteran drivers to better my on track racing finally paid off.

Throughout the season, Reece Bourgeois gained confidence on a weekly basis and it showed in 2021 with a couple trips to victory lane. She has carried that through to 2022 in repeating the feat a couple more times, and currently leading the Flamboro Speedway standings.

Stay tuned to meet our 2022 podium drivers.