David Gravel
Racing is David Gravel’s profession, and as a result, he takes his work very seriously. In large part because of that business-like approach, the Watertown, Connecticut driver has risen through the ranks of Sprint Car racing to the point that he is considered among the favorites every time his Big Game Motorsports team unloads their No. 2 machine at a World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series event.
But just because he appears to always be stoic and matter-of-fact at the track does not mean their isn’t another side to Gravel’s personality.
“Yeah, I would say people probably think I look pissed off all the time but that’s just kind of the look on my face,” the 30-year-old driver said in a recent World of Outlaws media availability. “I feel like I’m pretty funny and outgoing. I’m monotoned and I look serious a lot and I squint all the time when I’m outside so it looks like I’m angry. At the end of the day, I’m just focused on what I’m doing. I’m pretty chill and I feel like most of the time my heartrate is pretty low, and when it’s not, I’m probably in the work area mad at another driver. I feel like I’m pretty level headed whether I’m at the track and away from the track as well.”
That serious demeanor at the track has served Gravel well. As a matter of fact, the 2013 World of Outlaws Rookie of the Year has won a total of 82 feature races placing him 12th on the all-time series win list. Gravel currently finds himself in the midst of a tight points battle as he sits second only 10 points behind four-time champion Brad Sweet and just ahead of Carson Macedo. He leads the series in feature wins with six.
Despite describing himself as “pretty chill” most of the time, Gravel can also be thought of as a fierce competitor when on the track.
“I hope so,” he stated. “I don’t think you win the amount of races I have not being fierce. If you’re just a passive guy you’re going to get bullied out there. I feel like you have to be a fierce competitor to win at the World of Outlaws level or you’re going to get pushed around. So I would say yes, I’m a fierce competitor.”
Ferocity aside, Gravel also realizes that every lap can’t be run at an all-or-nothing pace. The driver who has finished second in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series standings in each of the past two seasons knows that sometimes a solid finish is better than crashing out of the race trying to win in a car that isn’t capable.
“I feel like, for me, I always try to finish the race safe at my age now,” Gravel explained. “Maybe these younger guys now might not think about that much or maybe some might be of the mindset of I’m either winning or putting it in a basket. No matter if it’s a points race or not, I don’t want to crash. I’m going to give it my best effort to where my ability is or where I could potentially junk it. That’s just the way I’ve always raced. Sometimes that might be a good thing and sometimes that might be a bad thing. Maybe some people will go to a place where I won’t but if I’m feeling comfortable and confident and I’m running second with a chance to win $250,000 I’m going to do pretty much whatever I can except wreck the guy, at least not on purpose.”
David Gravel in the Big Game Motorsports No. 2
In the end, it is the love of the sport that drives the 2019 Knoxville Nationals winner to do what he does. At the same time, he understands that a driver and team cannot dwell on those times that didn’t go well.
“I would say the love for racing. I’m very lucky to do what I do for a job. We race so many times and you know you’re going to win, or you don’t know you’re going to win, but you’re obviously going to lose more than you do win so if you dwell on the times you lost and get depressed about it, you know, it should be a motivator. You should cherish when you do win because you never know when your next one is going to be.”
David Gravel and the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will race this coming weekend at Huset’s Speedway in the Billion Auto High Banks Nationals which will feature a trio $20,000-to-win races on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday leading into a $250,000-to-win finale on Saturday. That Brandon, South Dakota track, where Gravel has won multiple features, is owned by his car owner Tod Quiring.
Please consider also reading:
Spencer Hughes enjoying the challenge of pitting himself against the best
Respond to this post on Twitter by following @RichardAllenIDR and @MichaelRMoats or by liking the InsideDirtRacing.com Facebook page.
Also, NASCAR and pavement racing fans can check out InsideCircleTrack.com
