Tony Bruce Jr. began
his racing career in 1996 at the age of 12. Racing a limited schedule in
the Junior Sprint division, Tony posted 6 top-fives, including 3 wins,
in Amarillo, Texas. Tony’s success continued into 1997 when his 7 wins
and 18 top-three finishes won him the Airport Raceway Championship in
Garden City, Kansas.
After winning his track championship, Tony
decided it was time to move into the 125cc Micro Sprint division. In
1998, the final year of his 125cc Micro Sprint career, Tony had 18
top-ten and 10 top-five finishes. Tony’s aspirations brought him to the
600cc A-Class Division in 1999, where he placed 6th in season ending
points, earning him the Rookie of the Year Title.
In 2000, Tony
decided to add a second car and pull double duty at the Airport Raceway.
At 16 years old, Tony was driving in the 600cc A-Class Division and the
Multi Division. He captured 15 top-tens, 6 top-fives, and 3 wins in the
combined divisions. His outstanding finishes placed him 5th and 3rd in
season ending points. Tony also won his second Rookie of the Year Title
in the Multi Division. Tony continued double duty through the 2001
season when he finished 2nd in season ending points for both divisions.
After
six years of racing, Tony Bruce Jr. decided in 2002 it was time for
more power. Running a limited schedule in the 360 Sprintcar, Tony
impressed many spectators at the Jetmore Motorplex in Jetmore, KS, with 2
feature victories and 10 top-ten finishes. When Tony graduated from
high school in 2003, he decided he was ready to travel. Running select
ASCS Sooner and National events, Tony posted 16 top-ten finishes.
After
testing the ASCS waters, Tony chased the ASCS Sooner Region in 2004,
ultimately winding up in a tie for third in points. And when the ASCS
Sooner Region was idle, Tony was running in enough ASCS National Tour
events to climb into twelfth in season ending points and earned Comp
Cams Newcomer of the Year honors.
In 2005, Tony decided to pursue
the ASCS National Tour full time. That year, Tony received a well-needed
education in full-time racing, but he was also very successful, posting
20 top-tens and 7 top-fives for the season. The hard work paid off, as
Tony found himself 4th in points at season’s end, with his third Rookie
of the Year title and the honorary Sportsmanship Award.
Tony’s
2006 season was unpredictable; he ran in ASCS National Tour events, NCRA
360 events and, most notably, the World of Outlaws. He excelled in ASCS
National Tour action with 17 top-tens, 11 top-fives, and 2 victories
for the Liberal, KS, native. When the ASCS National Tour came to a
closure, Tony finished 10th in ASCS National Tour season points. He was
also named the Knoxville Nationals Rookie of the Year. As the winter of
2006 approached, 22-year old Tony Bruce Jr. signed with The World of
Outlaws for the 2007 season.
In his first full season with The
World of Outlaws, Tony added 2 top-fives and 3 top-tens to his already
impressive resume, including his World of Outlaws series career best 3rd
place finish in the spring race at The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor
Speedway in Concord, NC.
Tony's sophomore season with the Outlaws
has proven to be just as remarkbale as his freshman season. He earned
his first career World of Outlaws win on July 30, 2008 at 34 Raceway. In
the series' inaugural visit to 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, he
led all 35 laps and picked up the win over 20-time series champion Steve
Kinser. He also won the opening night of the 35th Annual Spring
Nationals on March 15, 2008 at Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite, Texas.
Tony's added a total of four wins to his resume this year.