Bo Gunning

TS HAULERS #09

My first exposure to auto racing was at 4 years old when i went to a fair and saw a quarter midget race. I said to my dad that I wanted to do that and I did, for the next 11 years I probably won 300 trophies

My Next effort was in 1978 at Plainville stadium in a sportsman car. I was the owner/driver. My dad would help out financially when he could. My best finish was 4th,This effort ended with a wrecked car. In 1979 I bought Bugs Stevens car and went to Danbury, We raced from 1979 to when they closed in 1981. I won a race in each season and at the time we didn't even know what stagger was ,but we raced and we learned.

Over the winter of 1981 we built our own car to race at Stafford speedway for the 1981 season. We probably ran six races that year. We ran out of money had no sponsors that year. In 1983 we joined forces and money with Steve Gleason, Tom Gunning, George Buffington and a car designed by Danny Civitello. We named our group Team Effort Racing and worked together to put out the best possible effort. We bought our first Bruneau motor and won 9 races that year, we had a terrific season .I won the stafford championship. And all becuse of a group of guys doing what they love to do, RACE and GO FAST.At the end of the season, I sold my championship car to a driver named Ted Christopher.I raced for Rick Bennett in a coupe for the 1984-85 seasons, which ended up being my two worst years in my racing career. John J Brennan Construction sponsored this effort and insisted on a checker or wrecker policy, My seat was always in jeopardy and so i did what they wanted .This would prove to be a grave mistake that would follow me for years to come.

This hurt my career, my popularity and was very difficult to personally deal with. Then in 1986 I came back with my own car again. I raced Stafford, Thompson and Waterford, Which was called a tri track series, We finished 5th overall that year. In 1987 we ran limited schedules, when budget permitted and had some good years. This effort ended in a severe lack of personal funds.

In 1981 Bill Flynn had me drive a Ford #1, a real pretty car, but once every two weeks we would blow a motor, anyway now were without a ride.

In 1989 we got a tour ride with Rich Sylvester we ran about 8 or 10 shows, again money was tight. But we won the pole for the Spring Sizzler at Stafford and finished 4th at Jennerstown. We ran well when we could run but didn't have the budget to run the whole season.

In 1990 I hooked up with a couple of guys from Portland they called themselves S&S Racing. This proved to be a positive move for my career. I ran with them for 9 years. The only time i missed with them was due to an injury that sidelined me for 1994.Along the way I won Most Popular Driver 3 years in a row. a feat I never imagined possible. It was a great honor to win because it comes from the Fans. The first race i ever ran for them I took the pole position in time trails.I also found myself a 3-peat winner and shared this conquest with the likes of Bugsy Stevens. we also won the Stafford 100 lapper.

In 1998 I took the Track Championship at Stafford. This was a conquest that was produced from again a team effort and only the reporters had counted us out. It was what we needed to pull all us guys together. At the end of the next race season I felt that technology had passes us by and thats when we need this relationship.

So with no ride until mid-season when Angie Shareese called me to drive the 5 car a few times, but this was not to be a lasting deal. After that Lance Conley asked me to drive his #38 car at a practice session and at that time introduced me to Ed Partridge who talked to me about piloting the 09 car on the tour. I had a limited schedule in 2000 and it proved to be a good move. I am looking forward to a bright and successful 2001 season.

Bo Gunning