Matt Mead
Monday through Friday, Matt Mead can be found working for a good friend Bill Fenton at the Fenton Family Dealerships, but come the weekend Matt wheels the Ron Townson owned Chartreuse Neon Lime Green number 77 in the Valenti Modified Racing Series.
Like most race drivers, Matt was bitten by the race bug early but never knew how to get started until he met Bill Fenton. Fenton himself raced more than 30 years in the Grand Am Cup Series and in the SCCA.
Matt soon found himself working his way up through the classes, starting with Enduros, Late Models, and then the mighty Modifieds. Matt has also tried his hand at Road Course Racing with the SCCA.
Kirk Alexander, Todd Patnode and Rob Goodenough all helped and inspired Matt with his modified career. Eddie Brehio along with the Brehio family helped with his Late Model years. “I wouldn’t have learned as quickly as I did without their help,” says Matt.
Coming off a respectable 2013 season, the team finished 14th in driver points and 12th in owner points in 15 starts. They finished eighth in laps completed at 96%, lead 55 laps and were +33 in positions gained.
Now in their second full season with the VMRS, Matt will be making his 29th start at Seekonk Speedway on May 11. Having fun and being competitive are his goals in racing, but winning in the VMRS would be nice too.
Name: Matthew Mead
Age: 37
Hometown: Richmond, NH
Wife: Kathleen
Favorite Food: Brooklyn Burger from The Stage in Keene, NH
Favorite Music: All kinds, from Tool to Johnny Cash
Favorite Movie: The Fugitive
Favorite sport other than racing: Competing in Half Pipe Snow Boarding
Matt Mead in Racing
Car: #77
Years Racing: 17
Best Finish with VMRS: 7
Favorite Tracks: Monadnock, Canaan. Watkins Glen Road Course
Car Owner: Ron Townson
Crew: Dennis Mead, Joe Jemiolo, Cary Welch, Jill Townson, Dick Lord, Jerry Hamel
Sponsors: Fenton Family Dealerships Keene NH, Industrial Technical Services
Sources: Jim Snape/YankeeRacer.com