Brian Till’s racing journey began with childhood dreams fueled by legends. Growing up in Houston, Texas, he was captivated by A.J. Foyt and the Indianapolis 500, inspired by the idea that one of IndyCar’s greatest icons lived just a few miles from home. That early fascination with racing planted the foundation for a career that would span over professional competition, decades of driver education, and progressed through television broadcasting.
Before ever turning a competitive lap, Till’s earliest “racing” took place on his family’s farm outside Houston, where he mowed makeshift racetracks through the pasture complete with unpredictable “hazards” courtesy of the resident cattle. His first true competition came years later while attending Baylor University, where he raced 100cc karts at Heart of Texas Kartway in Waco, Texas. From there, his path forward became clear.
Influenced by icons A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti, Till advanced quickly through the ranks. His first year of automobile racing in 1985 coincided with a defining personal moment: the passing of his father shortly before the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Though circumstances nearly kept him from competing, his mother encouraged him to race, believing it was what his father would have wanted. That experience both humbling and motivating, solidified Till’s resolve to pursue racing professionally, determined never to look back wondering “what if.”
That leap of faith paid immediate dividends. In 1986, Till competed in the inaugural Barber/SAAB Pro Series season and won the opening round during a CART event at the Meadowlands making it his first professional race and his first professional victory. From that moment on, he kept his foot on the gas and never looked back.
Over the course of his career, Till competed across a wide range of premier racing series, included Toyota Atlantic, Indy Lights, IndyCar, Trans-Am, and IMSA competition. His accomplishments include SCCA Southwest Division Rookie of the Year honors in 1985, Toyota Atlantic East Rookie of the Year in 1990, and the 1990 Toyota Atlantic East Championship. He also made his sole Indianapolis 500 appearance in 1994, finishing an impressive 12th. Remarkably, Till recorded podium finishes in every series he competed in except the IndyCar Series.
Beyond competition, Brian Till has left a mark on motorsports education. He became an instructor at the very first The Mid-Ohio School in 1993 and has remained a cornerstone of the program ever since. Introduced to the concept by original school visionary Chris Kniefel, Till helped shape the program from its earliest days and is now entering his 34th season as an instructor. His love for Mid-Ohio is rooted in both its rich history and its technical challenge. Once a circuit he admired from television broadcasts, later a track he came to respect and master firsthand.
He has also become known as one of the most versatile motorsports broadcasters in the business. He has worked in the roles of play-by-play, pit lane reporter and expert commentator for hundreds of motorsports events including IMSA, IndyCar and Formula 1 on networks such as NBC, FOX Sports, ABC, CBS, ESPN, TNT, TNN and SPEED.
“I was fortunate enough to instruct at the first ever Mid-Ohio School in 1993 and have been there ever since,” said Brian Till. “Sharing the nuances of driving and motorsports is still a passion of mine, and even though this will be my 34th season at the school, it truly never gets old.”
While Till enjoys teaching all of The Mid-Ohio School programs, he holds a special passion for the Teen Defensive Driving programs. He believes strongly that the skills learned on track translate directly to safer driving habits on the street, and nowhere is that impact more meaningful than with young drivers. The opportunity to instill good habits early and to know that those lessons have genuinely saved lives remains one of the most rewarding aspects of his career.
“I say in any of the programs that we teach that everything learned at the track can/should be utilized to make you a better, safer driver on the street,” said Brian Till. “But that is the specific goal of the Teen School, and I know that it works and I know that we've saved lives. And that is pretty special.”
From professional racing victories to decades of shaping safer, more skilled drivers, Brian Till’s journey is defined by passion, perseverance, and a deep commitment to motorsports. It is a career that began with childhood dreams of the Indy 500 and continues today through the countless lives influenced at The Mid-Ohio School.
