Getting to know Greg Ives, race engineer on the No. 48 team

CONCORD, N.C.- Racing has been in Greg Ives' blood since he was five years old and steering a big wheel for a win in his home state of Michigan. Now an engineer with the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet, he is responsible for calculating fuel mileage among other tasks as the team pursues its sixth straight NASCAR Sprint Cup championship. Meet Greg:

Full name: Greg Stuart Ives
 
Nickname: Hansel (from “Zoolander”). I got it from the guys one night when I spiked up my hair.
 
Hometown: Bark River, Mich.

Education: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Team/job duties: Team engineer for the No. 48 Lowe’s team.

Time at current job:  Six years in this position; eight years overall at Hendrick Motorsports.

Years in racing: I’ve been racing since I was five, but I’ve been a part of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for seven years.

First racing job: I started out as a driver, and then I became a mechanic in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for the No. 24 team in 2004.

First job overall: I was a mechanic at Ives Truck Repair, which was a company owned by my family.

Best racing memory: The day I won my first race on a Big Wheel at Nickel Toss night in Escanaba, Mich. I was five years old at the time.

Favorite track: When I raced as a driver, it was Norway (Mich.) Speedway. Dover (Del.) International Speedway is my favorite track.
 
Favorite Hendrick Motorsports win: The next one. But I always think of my first race as the engineer on the No. 48 Lowe’s team at the 2006 Daytona 500 with driver Jimmie Johnson. 

Hobbies outside of racing: My family.
 
Favorite sport other than racing: Football. Go Green Bay Packers!

When I'm not at the track you can find me: Outside working in the yard or garage.

On an off-weekend you can find me: In the upper peninsula of Michigan, which is my hometown. 
 
Favorite vacation spot: Two miles east of Perronville, Mich.

Pets: I have two cats -- Oreo and Reese’s -- and one dog -- Hannah, a Shar-Pei and Lab mix.
 
Favorite movie: The Bourne Series -- Identity, Supremacy and Ultimatum.

Favorite book: The Bible.

Favorite TV show: "Myth Busters."

Favorite music: Country.

Best concert you’ve ever been to: Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood.

My current car is: 2006 Chevy Silverado.

Dream car: Brand-new Super Late Model.

What you’ll find on my iPod: I don’t have one, but if I did it would be Russ Taff.

Favorite phone app: Maps.

If I could meet anyone, I’d meet: My grandkids.

Favorite food: Spaghetti with meatballs.

If I ran NASCAR, I’d: Have heat races.

One thing people don’t know about me is:  I can juggle.

Before the race, I always: Tell Pete (Michel, shock specialist on the No. 48 Lowe’s team) “You know what to do.”

During a pit stop, I’m thinking: If we have enough fuel to make it.

Best part of your job: Doing what I love.

Favorite Hendrick Motorsports paint scheme: The No. 48 Lowe’s/ Jimmie Johnson Foundation Chevrolet that Jimmie Johnson drove at Auto Club Speedway in 2007.