Stafford Veteran Bo Gunning Returning to SK Modified® Division for 2010 Season
Stafford Springs, CT — Bo Gunning, who has won more SK Modified® features at Stafford Motor Speedway than anyone not named Ted Christopher, will return to the track’s premier division for the 2010 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season. After a year away from the Connecticut half-mile, Gunning will return with a car owned by his brother Tom and attempt to win a fourth track championship in the SK Modified® division.
“We bought a Troyer chassis from John Jensen, and we’re just about done putting everything together on the car,” said Gunning. “I’ve learned over the years to never say never. I’ve butted heads with the track before, but Stafford is home for us and always has been home for us. After sitting out last year, we realized how much we missed racing and we’re looking forward to coming back this year and having some fun out there. All the guys on the crew were real keen on racing at Stafford this year.”
With the car and team combination in place, the only thing left for Gunning is to decide on an engine combination. Gunning and his team will be utilizing the Stafford Speedway SK Modified® Spec Engine option, something Gunning says that he wouldn’t have been able to return to the track without this season.
“We’re definitely going to have a spec engine in the car, right now we’re taking a look at the rules and the spec engine suppliers,” said Gunning. “The spec engine is a great thing; if it wasn’t for the spec engine option, we wouldn’t have been able to put a car on the track this season. That’s one thing I can say about Mark [Arute]; he always tries to act in the best interests of the competitors and keep the costs affordable.”
Gunning has 47 career victories at Stafford, which trails only Christopher, who has 91 career SK® wins. Gunning says adding to his career win total is his goal for the season and he feels like he has everything in place to do that.
“When I first started racing at Stafford, I always said I’d like to get 50 wins,” said Gunning. “I never thought I’d ever come close to that number, but now I’m only three wins away from that number. I think we have everything in place we need to be competitive this year and I think we can win some races this year. We have a good car, and all the guys on the crew are really excited about what we can accomplish this year. If we can find a good sponsor, that would really help put us over the top this season.”
During the 2009 season, Gunning and his crew helped out the #31 SK Light Modified team of Ted Cain, and they will once again work together as quasi-teammates for the 2010 season.
“Last year we helped out Teddy Cain with his car, and between the two teams we’re going to help each other out this year,” said Gunning. “We’re calling ourselves Team Effort Racing this year. It’s going to be a combination effort between our two teams, if we have a part that they need, or if we need a part that Ted’s team has, it’s one big team effort.”
The 2010 SK Modified® season at Stafford Motor Speedway begins on April 23-25 as part of the 39th Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Weekend. Tickets for 39th Annual Tech-Net Spring Sizzler Weekend are now on sale at the Stafford Motor Speedway box office. Tickets are priced at $35.00 for adult general admission tickets, $5.00 for children ages 6-14, $38.00 for reserved seats, and free for children ages 5 & under. Tickets are good for admission to the Saturday April 24, and Sunday, April 25 portions of the Tech-Net Spring Sizzler, with the Friday, April 23 practice session open to the public free of charge.
For more information, or to order Tech-Net Spring Sizzler tickets, please contact the Stafford Motor Speedway track office at 860-684-2783 or visit us on the web at www.staffordspeedway.com.
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford Motor Speedway PR