Unbuckled: Getting to Know Kevin Streeter

Hometown: Waitsfield, VT

Division: Allen Lumber Street Stocks

Car: Streeter Concrete #67 Ford Mustang

2017 Season: Finished 5th in Street Stock points; 4 feature wins

What are your favorite non-racing hobbies?

I coach high school wrestling in the winter at Harwood Union High School. My son Kyle used to wrestle there. I also like riding motorcycles. I try to go out every Sunday during the summer if there’s not a Thunder Road race. And occasionally I go to a casino and play cards.

What do you do for work?

I’ve been self-employed for 20 years running my own concrete business. We mainly put house foundations in, but we also do town sidewalks and other projects. Really, we do anything that has to do with concrete.

What are your current racing plans for 2018? Do you have any goals?

My current plan is to run full-time in the Tigers. We’re going to run for Rookie of the Year and let the points fall where they may. Where I end up isn’t a big deal. My goal would be to win a couple races and hopefully be in contention.

What was the highlight of the 2017 season for you?

Winning four races was a really good season. We didn’t finish quite as high up in the standings as we were hoping; we had a few problems with the motor early in the season. But other than that, it was an outstanding season. I couldn’t have asked for a better season. The car was consistently fast, and it was fun racing with everyone else in the division.

How did you get started in racing?

Chip Grenier works for me, and I helped him years ago at the track. So he built me an Enduro car probably 15 years ago, and I just kind of got hooked from there.

You took several years off from racing before coming back a few years ago. What was it that got you back into it?

I just wanted to race with my kids. My kids were into it, and I just wanted to have a chance to say that I could race with them. Not too many fathers get to race with their children, and I think it’s actually a blast.

And now you get to race against Kyle again this year in the Tigers.

I’m looking forward to racing with him and everyone else in that division. We’re actually going to have a few fathers and kids in the Tigers this year. They ought to make a little series for them – best father-kid combination. Maybe have a little trophy at the end of the year.

Do you have anyone that you consider a role model or that you take after?

Not any one person in particular. There’s a lot of people that have inspired me in my life. You just try to take a little bit from each person and try to make yourself the best man that you can possibly be.

What is your biggest life accomplishment so far?

Owning my own business for 20 years and having it be successful. I was working one day for somebody else, and I wasn’t really going anywhere, and I felt I knew everything I needed to know. So I decided to give it a try, and it’s been going well ever since.

Can you tell me more about your family?

I’ve been divorced for quite a few years and raised my two boys. Travis lives in Florida now, and Kyle works for me. Hopefully someday, if he’s up to it, he can take over the family business.

What’s your dream vacation?

I’d want to go to Las Vegas with an unlimited amount of cash, go gamble, and catch a Las Vegas NASCAR race. And then I’d head to Hawaii to either celebrate or commiserate depending on how Vegas went.

If someone turned on the radio/media player in your car, what would they most likely be listening to?

Country music on WOKO. I’m just a general country fan; there’s no particular artists I prefer. I’ll listen to anything but rap though.

If you were asked to appear on a TV show or in a movie, which one would you want it to be?

I would say a comedy show. I sometimes find myself making people laugh just out of the blue for some strange reason, so I’d want to be a star in a comedy movie and make people laugh there.

What sports do you follow or play?

I used to race motocross years ago. That’s actually what got me hooked into racing in the first place. But in your mid-20s to late-30s, it’s probably not a good idea to get on a motocross bike. I also watch all kinds of sports. I watch basketball, football, baseball…and major professional sport.

How do you get into motocross?

My best friend years ago raced it. He’s the one who got me hooked into motocross back in high school, and we rode together a lot. He ended up passing away 20 years ago, and after that, the biking thing kind of dissolved, and I ended up going to Thunder Road more. I actually found out that he passed away when I was at Thunder Road. Motocross for me was mainly just a thing to do three nights a week, riding motorcycles with my friend.

Who is your biggest supporter at the track?

I would say my son Kyle and all the people around him. They actually help me out a lot if I need a hand or anything. We have a good corner in the pits where we all get along, and if anybody needs anything, people are there to help.

Who or what has had the greatest influence on your racing career?

Oh God, there’s a lot of people. I’ve always taught Kyle to be competitive, so he kind of leans back on me in that regards. I learned a lot from Chip Grenier and Alain Grenier helping them out and watching them race. My parents have always pushed me to push myself to my limits and try to do the best I can. Sometimes you need influences from a lot of different people.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Never quit. Never quit on anything. It’s never over ‘till it’s over. I’ve lost races on one corner, and I’ve won them on the last corner. Always keep digging and always keep fighting, and you’ll always end up better off.

Where do you hope to see yourself in five years?

It’s hard to tell. Hopefully I’ll have more money in the bank, and hopefully I can win a track championship at some point. I’ve put enough time into it. (Laughs)

What would you do if you won the lottery?

How much are we talking?

Let’s say you never had to worry about money again.

Let’s see here. If I never had to worry about money again, I would never worry about work again. I’d buy myself a motor home and I would just drive across the country and enjoy life. I’d also stock a motorcycle on the back, and I’d take a cruise whenever I wanted to.