The Scoop
KIM BROWN – MEET THE ‘FLYIN’ GRANDMA’ OF EAGLE RIVER SPEEDWAY
Posted on: Friday August 9, 2024
Kim Brown poses next to her No. 15 street stock she races at Eagle River Speedway on Tuesday nights.
Kim Brown is not your typical grandmother.
The longtime Eagle River Raceway fan and now driver has a ‘need for speed’ and she gets that fix on Tuesday nights at her hometown track.
Dubbed ‘The Flying Grandma’, Brown is continuing on a racing tradition at her hometown track that began decades ago for her as a young child. Brown competes weekly in the Zdroik Well Drilling street stock class at the northwoods third-mile, clay oval. “When I was a kid I was the official ‘dent pounder’ for my dad Bill Leveille when he raced at Eagle River Speedway,” Kim joked. “Racing’s always been in our families blood and that is still going on.”
Kim and Ryan Brown pose with Ryan’s son Levi in the pit area at Eagle River Speedway.
Kim’s brother Joe Leveille raced the car that Kim currently drives but Joe gave up his seat and assists track promoter Pat Zdroik with track prep these days. Brown is in her second full season of racing. Although the wins haven’t come just yet Brown continues to show steady improvement from week to week.
“We always have a lot of fun and that’s what this sport is supposed to be about,” Kim explained. “I’m a grandmother who owns her own dog grooming business so I don’t have a whole lot of time to work on these cars during the week. That’s why I’m thankful for our family members who chip in and work on this car in the shop.”
Kim’s son Ryan Brown is in his second year of racing in the track’s Chef Rene B modified division. In July Brown picked up his first career feature win. “Ryan always wanted to race and it was about six or seven years ago he went out and bought a $700 race car and we decided to go racing,” Kim said. “Our family put that car together and that’s how things got started.”
Ryan Brown poses next to his B mod.
Kim would eventually race that car and it still races to this day. The car was sold to Brandon Romenesko who continues to wheel it in the street stock division. “That car all three of drove at one point – myself, brother Joe and Ryan,” Kim pointed out. Kim’s husband Mike supports her racing and her brother Joe and dad Bill usually turn wrenches on her No. 15 machine.
Kim’s son Ryan is tasked with juggling a new baby at home, working full time for a dock and boat lift company and maintaining his race car. “We’re gaining more confidence week by week,” Ryan said. “It’s cool to be racing here where I watched my Grandpa race when I was little.” Ryan’s old street stock also remains in service as it’s raced often by Nick Allard of Three Lakes. “It’s a great atmosphere on Tuesdays and I’ve met a lot of great people here myself through the races.”
Kim Brown continues to pick up speed each week at Eagle River Speedway. (flintography.com)
Kim Brown’s team marketing partners include Boone’s Building Supply, The Heid Out Bar and Grill, Asana Suka, Eagle River Cabinets, Meier Electric, Dependability D & S Service, Legacy Floors, A B & T’s Specialized Ink Transfer, Nicole’s Pet Sitting & Dog Walking, Pine Ridge Equestrian Center.
On Ryan Brown’s 25 machine additional sponsors that are different than on mom’s 15 car include Badger Truck Repair, Honey Bear Bar & Grill, Kenny’s Elite Auto Detailing, Superior Electrical Systems, Cloverland Service Center LLC and Works Dock and Lift.