Barrie Speedway St. Onge Recreation Pure Stock Preview

With one week of racing action under their belt this season, the St. Onge Recreation Pure Stocks at Barrie Speedway will be certainly a group to watch all year. Looking over the division of drivers, there are already a list of drivers that will be in the group of drivers to watch this coming season in relation to the championship.

Defending series champion Mike Gettliffe is back this year in trying to make it two-in-a-row after scoring a feature win and 13 top-fives last season. Without a doubt, Gettliffe’s consistency could lead him to a second title.

Week one race winner Doug Butler should be strong all year as he finished second in points with five wins and 15 top-fives in the features. Butler is also a past champion of the division, having won the Sunset Speedway Mini Stock Championship in 2010. Butler’s dad Richard is also heading out this season as he gets back behind the wheel after competing in Sunset’s Super Stock division for a couple years. 

After finishing seventh in points last year, Jamie Cairns could surprise this year with the championship as he posted a third place finish on opening night.

A pair of drivers to watch that posted solid finishes on opening night are Ryan Hardy and Dean Curry. Both have shown speed throughout the years and won features. Without a doubt, they will be a pair to watch each week at the front of the field.

Ryan Toon continues to improve each year and that improvement should lead to a feature victory and top-five finish in points this year, possibly contending for the championship.

Josh Inglis had some struggles last year in his first year behind the wheel, but with experience on his side, the second generation driver should be one to watch as he looks for his first feature victory.

Past division champion Charlie Smith missed the beginning of the season due to mechanical issues, but will be a threat to win each weekend with winning a pair of features last year.

Justin Holmes had a strong season last year, but will miss the beginning of the season. Shawn Murray is set to pilot the car at the beginning of the year, as well as Justin’s father Jason. The car is a proven car, having won the Pure Stock Championship with Murray behind the wheel. Look for feature wins to come for the Hwy 400 Transmisson team.

This division is certainly one that I could go on and on about with the number of drivers to watch for a bunch of reasons. The competition level on week one certainly showed that and without a doubt will continue all year so be sure to head out and take in the action this year.