Willow Barberstock Returns to the Scene of Her Prime
By Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
She isn’t old enough to drive the family car to the corner store for a quart of milk, but that hasn’t kept Willow Barberstock from turning heads and impressing fans on the local racing circuit.
The 15 year-old from Stirling, Ontario – who attends Bayside Secondary School – started her motorsports career just a couple of years ago and in 2014, earned the track championship in the Battlefield Equipment Rental 4Fun division at Peterborough Speedway. This year, the talented teenager has moved into the more powerful, open wheeled Ontario Modifieds Racing Series and is taking her racing talents to new levels.
“I’ve had so many amazing things happen over the last couple of years and sometimes I feel like I’m dreaming,” admitted the young driver. “Racing was something I’d been around nearly all my life, but I never realized the level of success I’d be able to achieve once I got behind the wheel myself. In just a short period of time, I’ve made many new lifelong friends and they’ve all come from being around the racetrack.”
After a year participating with the OMRS/Peterborough Speedway driver development program, Willow Barberstock is a full-time competitor with the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series. Saturday, May 23rd, the tour made its first stop of 2015 at the venue known as Canada’s Toughest 3rd of a Mile Paved Oval. After finishing 11th in the final race rundown, the soft spoken adolescent knows that victory in the new division won’t be instantaneous, but says she’s willing to take things one race at a time.
“The modified is a bigger, faster racecar; but it’s actually easier to drive,” said Barberstock. “There are more adjustments you can make during the course of an event, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a steep learning curve to figure things out. I’m just looking for some consistent runs and the best finishes we’re able to log along the way.”
Unlike some programs, the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series – powered by Torque Builders Inc. – is about creating a competitive, yet affordable level playing field where any driver has a realistic chance at finding their way to victory lane. For the 2015 season, there are a handful of drivers – including Willow Barberstock – who are competing for the Rookie of the Year award. Barberstock’s grandfather, Randy Hollingsworth – who along with Richard Warnes and Bill Pickford – comprise the team of OMRS officials says the series is a great place to race.
“We’ve seen our numbers grow over the years and our recent show at Peterborough had 16 starters take the green flag,” said Hollingsworth. “The racing is strong and we’re looking to keep the costs in line and bring new teams into the fold.”
Fans can find full series details at
www.ontariomodifiedsracing.com or
www.facebook.com/OMRS Ontario Modifieds Racing Series powered by TORQUE BUILDERS Inc. The Ontario Modifieds Racing Series is supported by Clarke Motorsports Communications.
Photo attachment: Jim Clarke – Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
1) Willow Barberstock waits inside her #62w machine for the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series qualifying heat – Saturday, May 23rd – at Peterborough Speedway.
2) Rookie of the Year candidate Willow Barberstock (#62w) runs side-by-side with 2014 series champion Robert Warnes during Ontario Modifieds Racing Series action – Saturday, May 23rd – at Peterborough Speedway.
Prepared by: Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media
clarkemotorsports@hotmail.com
613.968.6410
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