Local Cars: Voice of the World of Outlaws reaches microphone milestone
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He's not a World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series driver, but Johnny Gibson is one of the most recognized voices in dirt track racing. The native of Marianna, Washington County, Gibson, the circuit's track announcer, recently eclipsed the 1,100 consecutive race plateau with the WoO.
Gibson was selling race programs with the World of Outlaws in 1995 when he was approached by Carlton Reimer, the series competition director, about trying his hand at announcing. The California University of Pennsylvania graduate was playing guitar in a band but was willing to give announcing a try at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
"I kind of saw a talent in him," Reimer said. "He knew sprint car racing and he had a gift of gab, so I asked him [Gibson] if he had ever announced before and he said no. We let him announce the heat race and I called Ted Johnson, who owned the WoO at the time, and said we found our announcer and we don't have to pay him a lot of money."
For Gibson, sprint car racing is a passion. The soon-to-be 40-year-old doesn't plan on changing his profession any time soon. "Every time the Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws are on the track, I plan to be there," Gibson said Wednesday night in Lima, Ohio.
Area fans will be able to hear Gibson's trademark call of the WoO sprint cars Tuesday at Lernerville Speedway for the Don Martin Memorial, $40,000 to-win 40-lap feature.
WoO Don Martin preview
Donny Schatz, two-time and defending Don Martin Memorial Silver Cup winner has won 10 WoO features going into tonight's King's Royal weekend.
Schatz, the 2007 WoO Champion, tops the WoO points standings, with Craig Dollansky second. They are followed by Jason Meyers, who won the Commonwealth Clash in May at Lernerville and the Brad Doty Classic at Lima on Wednesday. Joey Saldana is fourth and Steve Kinser rounds out the top five.
Former Silver Cup winner Tim Shaffer from Aliquippa is now driving for an Ohio based sprint car team. Shaffer won his first two races in the car and subbed for Tony Stewart Tuesday at Eldora for the Ollie's Challenge.
Pro-Am and Nationals at PRP
Pittsburgh Raceway Park, the IHRA drag racing facility in New Alexandria, hosts a tripleheader this weekend with two pro-am events today and tomorrow and Sportsmans Nationals Sunday.
The Pittsburgh Thunder Nationals was awarded to PRP after the track was awarded the Nitro Jam National event for 2010. Log on to www.pittsburghracewaypark.com for more specific information on the Pittsburgh Thunder Nationals.
Lugnuts
Pittsburgh's Pa. Motor Speedway hosts the second annual Red Miley 53 Sunday. The UFo sanctioned late model event is named after former PPMS promoter, Red Miley who passed away in 2007.
First Published July 11, 2008 12:00 am
