Few voices in motorsports are as iconic as Johnny Gibson’s. As the long-time announcer for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, he’s been the soundtrack of Sprint Car racing for decades. But beyond the microphone, he’s a die-hard fan who turned his passion into a career.
In this exclusive interview for our Be An Outlaw Blog, Johnny takes us back to where it all started—from his first memories at Latrobe Speedway to his once-in-a-lifetime experiences behind the wheel of a Sprint Car. He shares his thoughts on the 2025 season kickoff at Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals, the rising rookie class, and what keeps him coming back to the track night after night.
Whether you’re a lifelong World of Outlaws fan or new to the sport, Johnny’s insights and enthusiasm will pull you right into the heart of Sprint Car racing. Let’s dive in!
Question: Where are you from?
Johnny: I grew up in southwestern Pennsylvania about 50 miles south of Pittsburgh.
Question: What got you into racing?
Johnny: My dad was a race fan, and I started doing the races with him and pretty much fell in love with the sport. So, as long as I can remember, I've been going to races. My earliest memories are at a racetrack somewhere.
Question: Do you remember the first racetrack you went to?
Johnny: My first memory of being at a racetrack is Latrobe Speedway in Pennsylvania. It’s a Saturday night stock car track, wasn't even Sprint Cars, but I would've been probably 6 or 7 years old maybe.
Question: Have you ever driven a race car?
Johnny: I've driven a Sprint Car on three different occasions. I've never raced. It's just been me on a track by myself or with one other car. There was a Sprint Car school in the Pacific Northwest. A guy named Ron Fauver ran it, and I got to drive a Sprint Car twice at Cottage Grove (Speedway) in Oregon as part of his school. And then Dave Blaney also had a Sprint Car driving school for a while, and I got to drive the Dave Blaney school car at Texas Motor Speedway (dirt track). The first two times were awesome. The third time not so much.
Question: Did you ever want to drive a car or was it always that you wanted to be a fan?
Johnny: I pretty much just wanted to be a fan. I didn't really know anybody involved in that side of the sport; like I didn't know any drivers or anybody that raced or anything like that. As a kid, it was always just race fans.
Question: You’ve been doing this a while now, so what keeps you around?
Johnny: Just the fact that I'm still a sprint Car fan. I say this all the time. I'm sure people read it in interviews or heard me say it thousands of times before, but I am literally the luckiest Sprint Car fan in the world. I get to see the best Sprint Car drivers do their thing night in and night out and I get paid to talk about it. So, that's what keeps me around. I'm so obsessed that obviously I'm driving three and a half hours out of the way to go to a Sprint Car race Sunday night before I drive back to Florida.
Question: Give me a recap from your perspective on everything DIRTcar Nationals.
Johnny: A very successful start to the 2025 season. I think we've got a lot of storylines coming into the Bike Week Jamboree and I think it set the stage for another fantastic year with the Greatest Show on Dirt.
Defending champion David Gravel has proven once again he is the man to beat with the World of Outlaws. But, Carson Macedo, who was a close second last year, coming back from an off-track injury slip during the off-season in Australia picking up a win and showing that he's going to be in contention. A stat that sticks out to me is Carson is 60 points better after DIRTcar Nationals this year than he was last year, so that could make a huge difference at the end of the season.
Logan Schuchart (had a) big turnaround. They struggled mightily in 2024, certainly not the season that Shark Racing was hoping or accustomed to and to run so strongly to start off 2025, I think that that's a good sign for the 1S. I think they're going to be a champion contender this season. And of course, the 10-time champion Donny Schatz passed the most cars out of anyone during DIRTcar Nationals. Just Donny being Donny and doing what he does.
Question: Looking at the rookies, what is your take away from them? It's a bigger class than we've had at least for the past few seasons. What excited you about them?
Johnny: So, the largest rookie contenders in World of Outlaw history with six drivers battling for the Kevin Gobrecht award. Right now, the one that stands out to me after DIRTcar Nationals: Garrett Williamson. I think that they were very impressive. I think they are right now the leading contender, but there's still a long way to go.
Some guys had some struggles. Chris Windham teaming up with Sides Motorsports, they had some mechanical issues as did Skyler Gee and the number 99, so I think it's gonna be a wait-and-see approach.
Now speaking of rookies, I want to go back just a second to one of the guys who was a rookie contender last year, Bill Balog. He had a really strong start at DIRTcar Nationals as well until the accident on the final night ended up being transported to the hospital, but no broken bones. I talked to Bill actually just last week and he seems to be coming along very nicely and says he'll be back with no issues for the Bike Week Jamboree. So, Bill Balog very impressive to start his 2025 season – a sophomore season with the World of Outlaws.
The Passion That Fuels the Sport: Johnny Gibson’s love for Sprint Car racing is undeniable. From his earliest days as a young fan in Pennsylvania to becoming the voice of the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, his journey is a testament to the power of passion and dedication. As the 2025 season unfolds, his insights remind us why this sport captivates so many—the speed, the rivalries, and the relentless drive of every competitor on the track.
Whether it’s veteran champions, rising rookies, or die-hard fans in the stands, Sprint Car racing continues to thrive because of people like Johnny—those who live and breathe the sport every single day. One thing is certain, if there are races to call, Johnny will be there, bringing excitement to fans everywhere.