Meet Thunder Road Late Model Driver Chip Grenier
Meet Thunder Road Late Model Driver Chip Grenier
#9VT Grenier Motorsports Toyota Camry
Hometown: Graniteville, VT
Date of Birth: October 26, 1977
Chip lives with his wife Larissa and their two cats. He works as a foundation mason during the summer and a racecar
fabricator during the winter.
2009 Season: Chip competed on the ACT Tour full-time for the first time during the 2009 season. He earned four top tens in his 12 starts and earned ninth place in the final point standings. He also finished tenth in the 47th Annual Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl. At the 2009 ACT Banquet of Champions he received the 2009 ACT Tour Sportsmanship Award. Chip could also be seen every Thursday night at Thunder Road as the crew chief for Rich Lowrey.
Did you know Chip’s…..
….favorite off-season activity is racing R/C cars, which he has been doing for the past 15 years.
….favorite music is alternative rock.
…..favorite team sport is football and his favorite team is the Indianapolis Colts.
….favorite food is homemade stuffed mushrooms.
….favorite vacation spot is a cruise ship to Mexico because he likes the gambling.
….favorite TV show is Sponge Bob. He thinks it’s crazy for a man his age, but he finds it entertaining and relaxing.
….favorite movie is the old version of Death Race 2000 with Sylvester Stallone.
….favorite racetrack is Thunder Road, because its home and his loyal fans are there.
….favorite book is Get Fuzzy.
….most admired racer is Dave Whitcomb.
….favorite racing memory is winning the first Subway 100 in the Tiger Sportsman in 2001 and winning his very first heat race in a Late Model.
If Chip had to put any other driver in his car it would be Ray Stearns because “He’s the man!”
Chip first began racing in 1996. He and a buddy from school built and raced a Street Stock at Thunder Road.
The most meaningful career statistic for Chip is that he has two wins as a crew chief (with Rich Lowrey in 2009) and two sportsmanship awards.
Chip enjoys the traveling aspect of the Tour and the way the drivers race.
Chip doesn’t have a racing memory he would like to forget because he learned from all his mistakes.
When asked who he turns to for racing advice, he answered Pete Duto because Pete doesn’t sugar coat anything.
Chip’s advice to someone trying to get into racing is don’t be afraid to try. Go for it and generally you will find that it’s not as difficult and costly as you thought.
2010 Plans: Chip’s driving plans are still up in the air at the moment. He would like to qualify for the Oxford 250. He does know he will be back at Thunder Road crew chiefing for Rich Lowrey who will be aiming for the title.
Sources: ACT PR