In an effort to expand our blogging platform, for the next few months I will be conducting power rankings for all of the classes in Stock Outboard. An idea started by John Peeters a few years back with his “Region 10 CSH Power Rankings” that swept the nation, I figured it would be cool to expand to a national level for more classes than just CSH. I have been able to attend races all around the country and have a multitude of correspondents spread all across the continental United States making it possible to make these rankings. Each class will have a top 10 with the possibility of a few honorable mentions. The goal is to keep updating these lists periodically as races start up again in the Spring of 2020 to reflect the trends of early season results.
In no particular order, besides how the classes are listed on the APBA.org website, the first class being ranked will be the highly contested A Stock Runabout.
1. Nate Mitchell
You can’t deny that Nate has taken the crown from Peter Lauer and has had a stranglehohld on ASR over the past two seasons. With back to back National Championships and the 2019 National High Points, he is an undisputed #1 going into the 2020 season.
2. Kelsey Bennett
2019 was a breakout year for the St. Augustine resident in ASR. After spending the last few seasons having great success in AXR, Bennett cemented herself as one of the favorites in ASR at any race she attends. A third place at the Summer Nationals in Wakefield, MI and strong finishes at Dayton and Tabor city puts Kelsey at #2.
3. Peter Lauer
The man himself. As long as Peter still has his black 24-M Bennett boat he can't be left out of the top three in any ASR conversation. With that said, the field has caught up to Peter quite a bit, so a summer full of testing will be needed to return to his Championship winning ways.
4. Josh Toccalino
A huge season in both ASH and ASR has shown that Toccalino and co. have figured out their Sidewinder program and are ready to start stacking National Championships. One of the better young drivers, Josh is primed to take his yellow 50-M to the podium and potentially the winner's circle.
5. Pete Nichols
New wood at the end of the 2019 season vaults Pete into the top 5 in my preseason ASR power rankings. The driver who accumulated the greatest number of points in the class during the 2019 season is more than capable of running out front any race.
6. Bruce Nichols
The Pembroke, MA crowd favorite is ready to continue his success from 2019 in the 2020 season. I'm expecting some great races between all of the Nichols.
7. Kierra Marquard
The lone left coaster on our list, Kierra has her sights on taking down Nate Mitchell at the 2020 Springfield Nationals. Kierra and her brother Trey have had great success in a variety of classes so I have every expectation that they have the 150-R ready to compete come mid July.
8. Johnny Wlodarski
Will Wlodarski attend enough Stock Outboard races in 2020 to make waves in ASR or will he be living out of his van in Walmart parking lots following the Dead and Co.?
9. Laura Wheeler
The 2016 AXR National Champion had a strong finish to the season that gives me every reason to believe 2020 will be no different. The fall Grass Lake race was a good indicator that Laura has the speed and ability to run out front any weekend.
10. Becky Nichols
APBA's Director of Operations is also one of the best drivers we have on our Stock Outboard circuit. Expect Becky to be running out front consistently.
Honorable mentions:
Jay Fox- If Fox decides to attend Springfield, he will be near impossible to beat.
Billy Simmons- Race availability is the only things keeping the 16-J out of the top ten.
Max Acierno- Rumors of a return does not bode well for ASR hopefuls.
Jared Pavlick- The five time National Champion is more than capable to mix it up in ASR, if he so chooses.
-MP
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