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.

8. Nicole Givens
2022 Ranking: 27th
2021 Ranking: 12th

2023 Plans / Goals: I’m excited to start this season! Last year I went into the season just wanting to have fun and gain more seat time and ended coming out of it with 2 feature wins and a b feature win at Frostoberfest! This year I hope to carry the momentum into the season as well as continuing to have fun, build my confidence up more and build friendships.
2023 Plans: Still up in the air but there has been talks about running for points or continuing travelling.
Drivers to Watch: I always hate only picking 5 cause there is so much talented drivers to pick from. Kassy Howard & Miss Penny (Sarah Penny) both showed great improvements this past year, excited to see them both grow. Jessy Howard getting behind the wheel is going amazing; can’t wait to see what she can do in her rookie year. Brady Cox is another rookie who will have my eye, I think he shocked everyone coming out in Frostoberfest and won’t be one to miss once he gets more seat time. Spencer Riddell is another driver as well. He showed great improvement this past short season. Then biasedly Phil Givens, Eric Stewart and Alex Stewart.

Being able to win a race is pretty special. To be able to do so on two occasions solidifies you as someone to watch. Nicole Givens did that this past season at Flamboro Speedway, scoring two wins, three top-five’s and seven top-10 finishes after running about half the schedule.

7. Nathan Dettweiler
2022 Ranking: 12th

6. Aundrea Lusk
2022 Ranking: 59th
2021 Ranking: 14th

Consistently running up front on a weekly basis, combined with a couple checkered flags – including a memorable victory on her birthday, easily has you understanding why Aundrea Lusk has moved her way into the top-10 of the rankings for 2023. Last season at Sunset Speedway, she captured three wins, 10 top-five’s, and 14 top-10’s.

5. Cameron Thomson
2022 Ranking: 30th

2023 Thoughts: My thoughts going into this season is go out have fun and win in the pure stock at least. I’ve shown that the driver and car can win; now I just gotta keep doing it. My thoughts going into my crate sprint rookie season are just bring the car home in one piece as much as possible with learning as much as I possibly can.
2023 Plans: Run my home track Flamboro as much as possible but also travel to Sunset, Sauble and Peterborough at the end of the year. I’ve proven that I can win at Flamboro and I want to prove that I can at other tracks. My plans for the crate sprint are to run Ohsweken every Friday and possibly venture out for the Action Sprint Tour races at ether Merritville Speedway or Humberstone Speedway.
2023 Goals: Stay consistent everywhere I go and maybe add a championship to the resume as well. My crate sprint goal are to make it the whole season at Ohsweken for my rookie year.
Drivers to Watch: Wayde Thorne, Mark Thorne, Eric Stewart, Alex Stewart, Brady Cox

If there was a driver that had a break-out campaign in Pure / Bone Stock competition, Cameron Thomson would be one of those that you’d highly recommend for the award. After all, he found victory lane on a multiple occasions at Flamboro Speedway, doing so on seven occasions. He also captured 16 top-five’s and 26 top-10’s, ending the year with an average finish of 5.5484.

4. Alex Stewart
2022 Ranking: 38th

2023 Thoughts: Hopefully I’ll have a good season with some good luck finally
2023 Plans: The same as last year – Flamboro will be my “home track” but most the season will be traveling to every track
2023 Goals: Hopefully get a win and get mostly top 5s would be ideal
Drivers to Watch: Cam Thomson, Spencer Riddel, Brady Cox, Austin Etsell and Leo Labarbera

If it wasn’t for wrecks and mechanical issues, the checkered flag would be something held in the air more often than not by Alex Stewart. That said, he still put together a pretty stellar campaign in 2022 with two wins, 10 top-five’s, 18 top-10’s, and an average finish of 7.9231 in competition at Flamboro Speedway.

3. Jacob Booth
2022 Ranking: 62nd

2023 Thoughts: Having fun and a good time
2023 Plans: To have fun
2023 Goals: Get more feature wins
Drivers to Watch: Calvin Reesor, Andrew Shilling, Aundrea Lusk

When you are a rookie coming into a class, everyone hopes to see you have success, but is skeptical as to what may happen. That was the case when you consider where Jacob Booth was ranked last year, and how everything played out. He surpassed the expectations several people had for him, securing the 2022 Sunset Speedway Bone Stock Championship with two wins and only a single finish outside the top-five all year, which was a seventh.

2. Mark Merritt
2022 Ranking: 1st
2021 Ranking: 22nd

To become a champion on a single occasion is special. To be able to do it a second season in a row, that backs up the talent you have behind the wheel. That’s why 2022 Full Throttle Motor Speedway Champion Mark Merritt makes an appearance inside the top-three once again.

1. Reece Bourgeois
2022 Ranking: 4th
2021 Ranking: 27th

Flamboro Speedway has become known as one of the tracks having one of the steepest Bone / Pure Stock divisions in the province across the board – whether weekly competitors, or those who show up once and awhile for a chance to secure a checkered flag. So when you are able to beat everyone and come out on top, that easily puts you high on any list. Reece Bourgeois was the queen last year there, securing the track championship with three wins, 18 top-five’s, 31 top-10’s, and an average finish of 4.5357. She gets bonus points for having one of the best rising stocks in the province over the past couple years.