Hilaire agreed with Keen and continues to appreciate the fact that their two families continue to build on positive relationships on both the business and personal sides of the industry.
“We’re a family-run operation, just like Keen Parts and CorvetteParts.net, and that’s something that’s important to us,” said Hilaire. “When you’re down here on the other end of the garage, as we call it, it’s good to have partners that are just as much friends as supporters of the team. We hooked up with these guys four or five years ago and they’re just one big family. They get involved in the team, do a lot of stuff … send gifts on the holidays, we send gifts back and we just really enjoy those aspects.”
“On the marketing side, people wouldn’t be talking to us about this deal if CorvetteParts.net was on a Chevrolet, so I think it’s unique and that it’s worked well for both sides. We look forward to continuing it because it’s a fun time. They’re great people and we love working with them.”
The Keens’ motorsports interests have grown far beyond just working with Hilaire and DiBenedetto, who joined Go Fas Racing prior to the start of the 2017 season, in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
They have grown Keen Parts’ support in the racing industry to include work with Virginia late model driver Mark Wertz, Michigan short track racer Nate Jenkins and Street Outlaws star Shannon Poole.
The Keens are also long-running sponsors of Carson and Caden Kvapil, the sons of 2003 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion Travis Kvapil.
Older brother Carson, 14, and younger brother Caden, 11, both race mini-outlaw karts at Millbridge (N.C.) Speedway and Carson Kvapil has begun to race asphalt late models during the last year.
Keen said he and his wife are big believers in the two brothers and their potential in racing.
“I think everyone that knows Carson and Caden and the family know what those two kids have done at such a young age. The way I look at them, I tell people all the time that I view them as the next Kyle and Kurt Busch. It’s just a matter of their interest (in racing) continuing and them hopefully getting up to that level.
“It’s neat to watch both of them as they’ve grown in racing. We’ve adopted the kids, they’ve adopted us … it’s just a great situation all around.”
At the end of the day, the Keens’ passion for racing shines through, no matter if they’re at Bristol Motor Speedway, back home in Cincinatti or at a local short track – and that’s something that always brings a smile to Keen’s face.
“We’re into the motorsports industry in almost every form or fashion nowadays … almost up to our eyeballs honestly,” Keen quipped. “We love it though and wouldn’t have it any other way.”
