David Gravel Bio
David Gravel (born June 23, 1992) is an American professional racing driver. He competes full-time in the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, driving the No. 2 Maxim for Big Game Motorsports. Gravel is a two-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Champion, having claimed the title in 2024 and 2025, and he is also a Knoxville Nationals winner.
Early Life and Background
David Gravel was born on June 23, 1992, in Watertown, Connecticut. He grew up in the Northeastern United States, where grassroots short-track racing has long been a popular stepping stone for young drivers. From an early age, he was drawn to competitive motorsports, eventually finding his path into the sport through local quarter midget events.
Gravel began his racing career in quarter midgets, which gave him his first taste of open-wheel-style competition on small ovals. He later moved into Legends cars on asphalt, learning the basics of stock-car-style machinery and pack racing. Eventually, the young driver transitioned to dirt micro-sprints, where he discovered the discipline that would define his professional career.
Path to NASCAR
Gravel’s sprint car career began in earnest in 2008, when he competed full-time with the United Racing Club. That same year, he became the youngest winner in the history of the series, a remarkable achievement for a driver still in his mid-teens. The early success signaled that he was ready to move into bigger and more competitive touring series.
For the next four years, Gravel raced in the All Star Circuit of Champions, where he scored three top-three points finishes. Those results helped him earn national attention and prepared him for a full-time shot at the World of Outlaws level. His pavement-racing opportunity came in January 2020, when he announced a six-race slate in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series with GMS Racing, a program that included a planned run at Eldora Speedway’s dirt race and an ARCA Menards Series opener at Daytona International Speedway with KBR Development.
David Gravel Career
Early Career (2008–2012)
During his teenage years, Gravel quickly became one of the most promising young open-wheel talents in the Northeast. His 2008 United Racing Club campaign ended with a historic win that made him the youngest victor in series history, and the result earned him wider recognition on the national dirt-racing scene.
From 2009 through 2012, he continued his development in the All Star Circuit of Champions. Although he did not capture a series title during that span, his three top-three points finishes demonstrated consistent improvement and established him as a legitimate contender week in and week out.
World of Outlaws Breakthrough (2013–2018)
Gravel began making sporadic World of Outlaws appearances in 2008, but it was in 2013 that he put together a full rookie campaign and won the series’ Rookie of the Year award. The honor confirmed his arrival as a full-time national touring driver.
Over the next several seasons, he moved between premier teams, running for Roth Motorsports in 2014 and Destiny Motorsports in 2015, before joining CJB Motorsports from 2016 to 2018. Each stop helped him build relationships and refine the race craft needed to compete at the highest level of sprint car racing.
Jason Johnson Racing Era (2019–2023)
In 2019, Gravel signed with Jason Johnson Racing, driving the team’s No. 41 car. That season proved to be his breakthrough on the biggest stage, as he finished third in the season-long point standings and captured the prestigious Knoxville Nationals, along with the Jason Johnson Classic. He also made his Chili Bowl Midget Nationals A-Main appearance that year.
Gravel returned to Jason Johnson Racing in 2020, though the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted both the schedule and his plans. When the World of Outlaws tour resumed, he won the first race back, held without fans at Knoxville Raceway on May 8. He also added a premier All Star Circuit of Champions win at Eldora Speedway and, in his 600th World of Outlaws start, won the Williams Grove Speedway National Open preliminary. He later made his USAC Silver Crown debut on the dirt at the Springfield Mile, starting last and finishing second behind Kyle Larson.
Big Game Motorsports Era (2024–Present)
Gravel’s move to Big Game Motorsports ushered in the most successful stretch of his career. Behind the wheel of the No. 2 Maxim, he captured the 2024 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Championship, his first national title at the top level of dirt open-wheel racing. The victory cemented his status as one of the premier drivers in the sport.
He followed that championship with a second consecutive title in 2025, becoming a back-to-back World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Champion. His partnership with Big Game Motorsports has produced consistent feature wins, strong qualifying efforts, and the kind of late-season momentum that defines championship-caliber teams.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gravel is known for his smooth, calculated driving style on slick and heavy dirt tracks, where throttle control and tire management are critical. He excels on historic ovals such as Knoxville Raceway, Williams Grove Speedway, and Eldora Speedway, and he has built a strong rapport with his Big Game Motorsports crew that has translated into steady run-after-run performance.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among his career-defining moments are becoming the youngest winner in United Racing Club history in 2008, winning the 2019 Knoxville Nationals, capturing the first World of Outlaws race back from the pandemic shutdown at Knoxville in 2020, and winning in his 600th World of Outlaws start at the Williams Grove National Open. His back-to-back series titles in 2024 and 2025 stand as the crowning achievements of his career so far.
David Gravel Career Wins
David Gravel has built a deep and varied resume across sprint car racing’s most demanding series. His career highlights include a Knoxville Nationals victory, two World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Championships, and a World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year award.
World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Highlights
Gravel won the World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year award in 2013, the same season he established himself as a full-time national touring driver. He added his first Knoxville Nationals title in 2019 with Jason Johnson Racing, one of the most prestigious single-event wins in all of dirt racing. His biggest career accomplishments came in 2024 and 2025, when he captured back-to-back World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Championships driving the No. 2 Maxim for Big Game Motorsports.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the World of Outlaws, Gravel has posted three top-three points finishes in the All Star Circuit of Champions and a victory in a premier All Star Circuit of Champions event at Eldora Speedway. He also made his USAC Silver Crown debut on the dirt at the Springfield Mile, finishing an impressive second behind Kyle Larson after starting last.
David Gravel Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
David Gravel grew up in Watertown, Connecticut, where his early exposure to quarter midgets and Legends cars helped launch his racing career. His progression from quarter midgets to dirt micro-sprints reflects a family and regional support system that nurtured his development as a young driver.
Personal Life
Gravel continues to focus on his full-time sprint car career, competing across the country in one of the most demanding touring schedules in motorsports. He remains based in the United States, where he is recognized as one of the premier talents in dirt open-wheel racing.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season has been a defining campaign for David Gravel and Big Game Motorsports. Building on the foundation of his 2024 championship, Gravel entered the year as the defending series champion and quickly established himself as the driver to beat in the No. 2 Maxim.
Consistent feature wins, strong qualifying runs, and a deep understanding of race craft allowed Gravel to maintain his place at the top of the standings throughout the season. His continued success at marquee venues, including Knoxville Raceway, Williams Grove Speedway, and Eldora Speedway, highlighted his versatility on a wide range of track shapes and surfaces.
By capturing the 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series Championship, Gravel cemented his legacy as a back-to-back national champion. With his partnership with Big Game Motorsports firing on all cylinders, he heads into future seasons as a clear favorite whenever the World of Outlaws tour rolls into town.