Bruno Massel Wiki, Bio, Wife, Age, Net Worth, Accident, Family, Facts.

Bruno Massel’s life reads like the blueprint for a gear‑head’s dream — equal parts horsepower, hustle, and heart. From the roar of the drag strip to the bright lights of television studios, he’s built a career that blends speed with storytelling. A four‑time NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Competition class world champion, respected motorsports broadcaster, and co‑host of MotorTrend’s Garage Squad, Bruno has worn more hats than just a racing helmet. His early years were steeped in the scent of gasoline and the hum of engines, thanks to a father who raced and a household where cars were more than machines — they were a way of life. Off‑camera, Bruno is just as driven, whether he’s coaching his sons’ teams, marking milestones with his wife Dayna, or celebrating family wins as enthusiastically as any finish‑line victory.

Wiki/Bio Facts

Name	Bruno Massel
Birth date	May 23, 1974
Age	50 years old
Birth place	Elmhurst, Illinois, USA
Nickname	The Gladiator
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Caucasian
Zodiac sign	Gemini
Gender	Male
Sexuality	Straight
Marital status	Married
Parents	Bruno Massel Sr. and Roz Massel
Siblings	Debi, Jackie, and Suzy Massel
Spouse	Dayna Purgatorio
Children	Bruno III and Anthony Massel
Education	York High School, University of Iowa
Occupation	Drag racer, TV host, former model
Net worth	Between $1.8 million and $3.2 million
TV shows	Garage Squad, Truck U, IHRA racing series
Drag racing classes	Competition Eliminator, Stock Eliminator
Drag racing car	Top Dragster
Drag racing achievements	Two NHRA world championships, Five divisional championships, three JEGS All-Stars wins

Early Life

Bruno Massel was born on May 23, 1974, in Elmhurst, Illinois, and grew up as the only son among four children, with sisters Debi, Jackie, and Suzy. His parents, Bruno Massel Sr. and Roz C. Massel, provided a strong family foundation. Bruno Sr., a decorated drag racer and inventor, won several competitions and developed a hybrid manual–torque converter transmission in the late 1980s, earning 14 patents for a design still capable of handling over 5,000 horsepower.

From a young age, Bruno was fascinated by cars and dreamed of becoming a professional race driver. Weekends were spent at the drag strip instead of traditional sports, immersing him in racing culture. He attended York High School in Elmhurst and later earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing from the University of Iowa (class of 1986). While in college, Massel played football, channeling his competitive drive into athletics before ultimately committing to motorsports.

In his own words, when he got his license at 18, he did a burnout in one of his father’s flip cars — and that single moment cemented his passion for the sport, creating a bond with his father that revolved around racing and working on cars together.

Professional Career

Early Post-Graduation and Modeling Career

After graduating with honors from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in finance and marketing, Bruno Massel had initially planned to pursue a career in law. However, those plans changed when a Chicago-area modeling agent discovered him. Signing with Ford Models in 1997, he worked internationally on assignments for major brands, including a campaign for Ralph Lauren, before fully shifting his focus toward motorsports.

Entry into Professional Racing

Bruno’s path into professional drag racing began when his father had to undergo surgery, leaving an open seat in the family’s racing program. Stepping in to take his father’s place, Bruno made his debut on the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) national tour, piloting his father’s six-second, 200-mph Top Dragster. His rookie season was a breakthrough—he narrowly missed the national championship while gaining recognition for his precision on the track. This early success marked the beginning of his long-standing career in competitive drag racing.

NHRA Achievements

Bruno Massel is a four-time NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Competition Eliminator world champion, securing titles in 2009, 2012, 2021, and 2023—making him the first driver in NHRA history to accomplish this milestone. His 2021 campaign was especially noteworthy, culminating in the NHRA National Dragster “Sportsman Driver of the Year” award, determined by fan vote. That season, Massel clinched the championship in dramatic fashion at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, driving his turbocharged Chevy Cobalt that he had raced since 2006. The car, powered by a six-cylinder engine built on a rock-solid Mazworx billet block and tuned with the help of Brad Personnet, delivered consistent performance all year.

The 2021 title run was a full-circle moment, as Massel had started working on that car’s rebuild in late 2019, finally bringing it to form in 2020. Alongside his father’s expert fabrication work, Bruno received critical support from Autogeek (a partner since 2011), Garrett Motion turbos, Mickey Thompson Tires, Hyperaktive Performance, and a dedicated crew who kept the car running flawlessly. Over the years, his arsenal has also included a factory-built COPO Camaro and a turbocharged four-cylinder dragster capable of low six-second passes at over 212 mph. His career highlights include multiple West Central Division championships, JEGS All-Stars wins, and back-to-back event victories at Brainerd International Raceway—solidifying his place as one of the most successful sportsman racers in NHRA history.

Notable Accidents

In 2010, during a race in Indianapolis, Bruno’s turbocharged dragster flipped multiple times before coming to rest. He walked away without serious injury, attributing his safety to the car’s design and protective gear.

In 2018, at Bowling Green, Kentucky, while driving his COPO Camaro, Bruno was knocked unconscious in a high-speed crash. He returned to racing after recovering, emphasizing the role of modern safety systems in his survival.

Broadcasting and Television Work

Bruno began broadcasting in 2001 as a color analyst for IHRA Drag Racing Series coverage. From 2003 to 2007, he served as a play-by-play and color analyst for ESPN’s NHRA Sport Compact Racing Series and hosted NHRA Stylefest. In 2005–2006, he hosted the pilot run of Top Gear USA. He then fronted Truck U on SPEED from 2007 to 2013, and in 2014, joined Discovery’s Velocity (now MotorTrend) as co-host of Garage Squad while continuing with Truck U. Since 2016, he has been an on-camera analyst, play-by-play host, and reporter for NHRA on FOX broadcasts. Garage Squad reached its 8th season in 2021, and in 2025, Truck U was greenlit for its 21st season. That same year, he was named host of the rebooted PINKS 2.0 for POWERfest 2025 on POWERtube TV and appeared as a guest announcer for NHRA’s in-venue broadcast team.

Sponsorship and Industry Roles

Bruno has been the national spokesman for Autogeek.net since 2011 and previously represented WyoTech technical schools, where he contributed to the creation of a “High Performance” curriculum. These roles have kept him active in the industry beyond competition, blending his on-track expertise with brand representation.

Present Day

In 2025, Bruno continues to race in NHRA events, contribute to national television broadcasts, and host multiple automotive shows, balancing championship-level driving with high-profile media work.

Net Worth

As of 2025, Bruno Massel’s net worth is estimated to be between $1.8 million and $3.2 million, with a midpoint of approximately $2.5 million. This conservative, data-driven estimate is based on industry benchmarks for NHRA Comp Eliminator racers, cable TV hosts, motorsports analysts, and long-term brand spokespeople.

Reasoned breakdown (lifetime gross → retained):

• TV hosting & presenting: $1.0–$2.0M gross
• Broadcast analyst/reporting: $0.4–$1.2M gross
• Sponsorships/endorsements/appearances: $0.7–$2.0M gross
• Racing winnings/bonuses: $0.15–$0.30M gross
• Early modeling & misc.: $0.20–$0.50M gross

Approx. lifetime gross: ~$2.45–$6.0M. After typical effective taxes and operating/living costs for a working racer/TV host, the retained wealth plausibly lands in the $1.8–$3.2M range.

Note: Actual net worth varies with personal spending, investments, and unpublicized deals. This is a conservative, data‑driven estimate—not a speculative headline number.

Personal Life: Wife & Children

Bruno’s life off the track is every bit as rich as his racing career. He’s married to his high‑school sweetheart, Dayna Purgatorio Massel — the two met as teenagers and spent nearly a decade together before marrying on December 28, 2002. On their 20th anniversary, Bruno shared how Dayna had “walked into [his] life” more than two decades earlier and that it had been “an amazing run ever since,” signing off with a warm “love u.” In previous anniversary post, he’s joked about their changing sense of style over the years while noting they’ve always found a way to navigate life’s changes together, blending affection with humor.

The couple has two sons: their eldest, nicknamed “Little B” (born March 9, 2007), and their youngest, Anthony (born May 5, 2009). Bruno has been deeply involved in their upbringing, coaching both boys in youth football and baseball for a decade. In November 2022, when Anthony’s 13U football team lost in the state semifinals, he described those coaching years as an “absolute blessing” and time he would never regret. By July 2023, he shared a “last practice” selfie with Anthony’s 14U team, knowing it would be his final season coaching him before high school.

Little B’s football journey reached a major highlight in 2024, when he made his first trip to the state championship with #yorkdukesfootball — a moment Bruno called “an incredible ride,” filled with pride and gratitude toward his son’s coaches. In May 2025, Little B’s high school graduation was celebrated with a lively going‑away and grad party, adding another cherished milestone to the family’s story.

Physical Traits

Physical trait	Description
Height	6 ft 1in (185 cm) (approx.)
Weight	185-207 lbs or 84-94 kg
Body type	Athletic and muscular
Eye color	Blue
Hair color	Brown
Hair style	Short and spiky
Facial hair	None
Skin tone	Fair and tan
Face shape	Oval
Nose shape	Straight
Lip shape	Thin and curved
Ear shape	Small and flat
Eyebrow shape	Arched and thick
Jawline shape	Strong and defined
Chin shape	Pointed and prominent
Scars	He does not have any visible scars on his body. He may have some minor scars from his drag racing accidents, but they are not noticeable or prominent.
Tattoos	None visible
Piercing	None visible

FAQs

Question	Answer
Is Bruno Massel an American?	Yes
Is Bruno Massel a TV host?	Yes
Is Bruno Massel a former model?	Yes
Is Bruno Massel married?	Yes
Is Bruno Massel a father of two sons?	Yes
Is Bruno Massel a lawyer?	No
Does Bruno Massel have a nickname?	Yes, The Gladiator (after his father’s car)
Does Bruno Massel have a degree in finance and marketing?	Yes, from the University of Iowa
Does Bruno Massel host Garage Squad and Truck U?	Yes
Does Bruno Massel drive a Top Dragster?	Yes
What is the name of Bruno Massel’s father’s car?	The Gladiator