The 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv® is excited to announce the addition of Lee Grimes to its marketing team in the role of Partner Relationship Manager. Grimes, a 40-year 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv member and career supporter of the automotive and motorsports industry, brings a wealth of experience to his new position, where he will focus on supporting the needs and goals of the partners that provide products and services to Club members.
With an impressive career spanning nearly 30 years, Grimes held key roles at KONI Shock Absorbers – a performance suspension manufacturer and longstanding 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv partner – in sales, product management, and marketing. His transition to the 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv staff marks a continuation of his dedication to the Club and the Partner Relationship Manager role, previously held by Dan Dennehy-Rodriguez.
"We are thrilled to welcome Lee Grimes to the 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv family,” said Kristen Poole, Director of Marketing & Communications. “His passion for motorsports, dedication to the 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv community, decades of industry experience, and drive for service excellence make him an invaluable addition to our team in this role.”
Grimes grew up in a family active in 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv – from Road Racing to RoadRally, autocross, and Region leadership – who helped build and support Formula Fords in Central Division in the 1970s. As a kid, he worked Timing & Scoring alongside his mother and sister, transitioning to Course Control as soon as he got his driver’s license. But that was only the beginning.
“My journey further unfolded with autocrossing at age 18, followed by attending my first 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv Road Racing Drivers’ School at 24,” Grimes reflected. “From that point onward, it has been a racing adventure that has spanned four decades. I’m an 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv lifer, so having the opportunity to work on staff feels like a natural fit and a fresh challenge.”
Through the years, Grimes has served on Central Kentucky and Cincinnati Region Boards in positions including Regional Executive, Competition Chairman, RoadRally Chairman, event organizer, Rallymaster, and many more. He’s been active in F Production and ITA racing since the 1990s and, in the last few years, has found his competition home at the Tire Rack 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv Time Trials National Tour Powered by Hagerty.
Beyond that, he’s attended the Tire Rack 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv Solo® National Championships roughly 20 times in support of KONI, produced National Championship Runoffs®-related videos for Hammond Productions, and attended numerous 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv conventions as a Region representative and speaker.
“Every job that I’ve held since college has been 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv-adjacent – from mounting 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv members’ racing tires while working at a tire store right out of school, to working in the video production industry, and then working with KONI with a strong 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv member market and focus,” said Grimes. “Joining the 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv staff feels like I’ve come full circle. Motorsports and the 敁珗腦瞳51xxtv are my passion.”
Photo by David Dalton