JOLIET, Ill. — New England Patriots’ tight end Rob Gronkowski often resembles a tornado. He can blow through defenders on the field, and is known to wreak havoc in his off-the-field pursuits.

Once you meet his family, you see where this tendency comes from.

The entire Gronkowski clan is at Chicagoland Speedway for the NASCAR Xfinity series stop, and the experience is Gronk times five. Everyone talks at once, and with enthusiasm. Rob is serving as a grand marshal and meeting with families from the Bear Necessities pediatric cancer foundation, and the whole group accompanied him to his press conference.

Rob said it’s rare for the entire family to get together, so they make the most of weekends like these.

“We have a blast. Whatever is going on in life, we have so much fun. We never get together for holidays, so this is like a holiday for us,” Rob said.

There were few answers in the press conference that weren’t punctuated with laughter and jokes between the six men on the dais. Glenn, the youngest and a fullback for Kansas State, launched into a WWE-esque tirade when talking about his father’s role in his life.

“Growing up, it was hard, because I was the youngest. I had the smallest piece. My dad was there the whole way. He got me a college scholarship to K-State. Arizona would not offer me!” Glenn said. “Even though my two brothers went there! I would have went there and killed it! But you know what, I went to K-State. I’m Big 12 first team now. What ya gonna say about that?”

“I hope Coach Snyder sees that,” Rob quipped, but then noted that his brother is also an academic All-American.

Gordon Gronkowski is their father, and is clearly still in charge of his boys, though the youngest is college-aged. He cajoled his three sons who walked in late to the press conference, but still beamed as he sat among them, calling them “knuckleheads” in the most dad-fashion possible.”

“We’re never together that much, and it’s so special to have my five sons with me. Just to have all five of us together is phenomenal for me,” Gordon said.

They are a tight group, and will not spill the goods on their NFL star brother. Even when given the perfect chance to tell an embarrassing story about Rob, the brothers Gronk wouldn’t spill. Finally, Rob told one about how Glenn managed to win all of the fights as kids.

“My little brother Glenn, he’s four years younger than me. He has a move he does to me. It tickles and it hurts at the same time. It’s called the treatment. I don’t know how you do it, Glenn. He always won,” Rob said.

The Gronkowskis are athletic. In addition to Rob and Glenn’s accomplishments, Dan played for two seasons in the NFL. Chris was in the Los Angeles Angels’ organization. Rob said that one of the reasons his family is so successful is that they always had what they needed growing up. The GronkNation Foundation works to make sure all kids have the necessities to play.

“I was fortunate enough to have my brothers around me growing up. I had access to everything I needed to be successful. Fields, equipment, basketball courts, football, whatever it was,” Gronkowski said. “We decided as a family to start a foundation to give back to kids so they can be in the same position I was in as a kid.”

They are spread out across the country, but stay in constant contact with calls and texts. When asked if we could see the group texts, they all warned we wouldn’t want to see those.

“We’re all best friends, and we all act the same,” said Dan.

He glanced over at his younger brothers.

“Well, not always.”