The two K&N Pro Series West teams he fields race Ford Fusions with bodies similar to those in the NASCAR Cup. "A lot of our cars were purchased from NASCAR [Cup] teams and we build a lot of the cars in-house. We are continually trying to find ways to make them go faster and handle better," Bruncati says.
The teams have a few sponsors, including Lucas Oil and Braille Battery, but that only begins to cover the cost, Bruncati says. Bruncati has to pay for four race cars, shop employees, crew members and a crew chief. Then there's the NASCAR hauler used to take cars and equipment to and from the races.
Tires are $1,000 per set and the teams go through three or four a weekend.
The teams have won races but the average first-place finish only brings in between $6,000 to $7,000 "and that barely covers expenses for the crew," Bruncati says.
"Racing costs money. How fast you want to go depends on how much money you put into the cars. I am lucky to have 14 guys that love racing and what I pay them is nowhere what they should be paid. We have members who have their own businesses. Some work for engineers and some are technicians," he says.
With all the time, effort and expense, why does Bruncati do it?
"The competition and the speed," he says. "We love it and we have a good time."