For what started out as a tractor repair business and has turned into one of New England’s premiere Chrysler/Jeep®/Dodge/Ram dealers, Tom Bolles has not rested on his laurels. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always had grease on my hands. Especially when I started racing, I’ve always been one to get down and dirty on anything.”
Taking from his father’s work ethic, Tom’s first job came in the form of repairing farm equipment for his father. Soon thereafter, his father bought a racecar and began competing at Stafford Motor Speedway in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. “The number 76 came from my father, who chose 76 because he started racing in 1976. It also became an American pride symbol for the bicentennial of the country. Helping him on the racecar gave me the bug to get into it, and I got my first street stock racecar, competing at Stafford and Thompson, Connecticut.”
The 1980s saw a big change for the entire Bolles family, in business and in racing. “A gas station down the street from us went out of business, and we saw that as an opportunity to get into the automotive market,” stated Bolles. “Once we got the hang of that, we looked at getting into the new car business.”
Once the family business was solidified, a move to racing was next in order. Bolles moved into the Busch North Series and NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, where he had multiple impressive showings between both series throughout the 1990s. These included two NASCAR Busch North Wins and a win on the Modified Tour; additionally, he narrowly missed out on the rookie of the year honors in Busch North. “I apply The Bolles Brother philosophy not only to the business, but my lifestyle. ‘Outworkin’ the other guys every day and every way.’”