Carquest Auto Parts is a chain of auto-supply stores. There are over 3,400 Carquest Auto Parts locations in North America. The company is a supplier to National Account customers like Goodyear, Firestone,
CarMaxCarMax is the United States' largest used-car retailer and a Fortune 500 company. The first CarMax used car auto superstore was opened in September 1993. In the fiscal year ending February 28, 2009, more than 350,000 cars were sold; as of March 2009 the company has 100 locations.- Concept :The...
, Meineke, Midas, American Tire Dealers. Carquest merged with Straus-Frank Company in February 2004.
General Parts International Inc. is the largest member of Carquest with over 1,400 locations.
Carquest Auto Parts is a chain of auto-supply stores. There are over 3,400 Carquest Auto Parts locations in North America. The company is a supplier to National Account customers like Goodyear, Firestone,
CarMaxCarMax is the United States' largest used-car retailer and a Fortune 500 company. The first CarMax used car auto superstore was opened in September 1993. In the fiscal year ending February 28, 2009, more than 350,000 cars were sold; as of March 2009 the company has 100 locations.- Concept :The...
, Meineke, Midas, American Tire Dealers. Carquest merged with Straus-Frank Company in February 2004.
General Parts International Inc. is the largest member of Carquest with over 1,400 locations. GPI acquired
Worldpac (World Wide Parts And Accessories Corporation) in September 2004. Worldpac is the leading supplier in North America to independent import repair specialists.
Sponsorships
Kellogg's and Carquest Auto Parts announced on May 26, 2006 a unique three-year agreement with
Hendrick MotorsportsHendrick Motorsports is a stock car racing team that currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The team is principally owned by Rick Hendrick, but Jeff Gordon and Mary Hendrick are listed as the owners of the #48 and #5 respectively...
that secures the two companies as co-primary sponsors of the No. 5 Chevrolets driven by
Kyle BuschKyle Thomas Busch is an American race car driver. He drives the #18 Mars/Interstate Batteries/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Sprint Cup Series, the #18 Z-Line Designs/NOS Energy Drink Toyota Camry for Gibbs in the Nationwide Series, and the #51 Miccosukee Resorts Toyota...
in the
NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
NEXTEL Cup Series.
On September 9, 2007, the two companies announced
Casey MearsCasey James Mears is the driver of the #07 Jack Daniel's Chevrolet Impala SS in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing...
will drive the No. 5 Kellogg's/Carquest Chevrolets for Hendrick Motorsports in the 2008
NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Sprint Cup Series, joining a team that secured its second consecutive Chase for the Championship berth Sunday, September 2, 2007 at California Speedway.
In 2008, Hendrick Motorsports announced that
Mark MartinMark Martin may refer to:* Mark Martin , American racecar driver* Mark Martin , American cartoonist* Mark Martin , American judge* Mark Martin , British murderer...
, a seasoned veteran would be driving the car in 2009.
Carquest Auto Parts joined
Hendrick MotorsportsHendrick Motorsports is a stock car racing team that currently competes in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The team is principally owned by Rick Hendrick, but Jeff Gordon and Mary Hendrick are listed as the owners of the #48 and #5 respectively...
in 2002 as an associate sponsor of Chevrolets driven by the late
Ricky HendrickJoseph Riddick Hendrick IV, , born in Charlotte, North Carolina, was a NASCAR driver and owner affiliated with his father Rick Hendrick's Hendrick Motorsports team. He died on a team flight to the race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Virginia along with his uncle, 2 cousins and six others...
in the NASCAR Busch Series. The relationship carried over to the following season, resulting in a
NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Busch Series championship with driver
Brian VickersBrian Lee Vickers is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver. Vickers was the 2003 Nationwide Series champion, and at age 20, the youngest champion in any of NASCAR's three top-tier series. He currently drives the #83 Red Bull Toyota Camry for the Red Bull Racing Team.-Early years:Vickers...
, and has since transitioned into the
NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
NEXTEL Cup Series.
Carquest also sponsors the
Carquest Auto Parts 300The Carquest Auto Parts 300 is a NASCAR Nationwide Series race that takes place at Lowe's Motor Speedway. It is held the day before the Coca-Cola 600 on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend...
NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Busch SeriesThe NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit , and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big league" circuit, the Sprint Cup...
race, held at
Lowe's Motor SpeedwayLowe's Motor Speedway is a speedway in Concord, North Carolina, north of Charlotte. It features a long quad-oval track that seats 167,000 people, with room for 50,000 more spectators in the infield...
and the
NHRAThe National Hot Rod Association is a drag racing governing body, which sets rules in drag racing and host events all over the United States and Canada...
Winternationals in Pomona, California.
The company sponsored the Carquest Bowl (now Champs Sports Bowl) from 1994-1997, 3-time
IHRAThe International Hot Rod Association, also known as IHRA, is the 2nd largest drag racing sanctioning body after the NHRA.-The Carrier Era:The IHRA was formed in November 1970 by businessman Larry Carrier. Throughout this period the organization was operated primarily in the south-eastern United...
Drag Racing Top Fuel Champion Paul Romine from 1997-2004 and from 2001-2004 was associated with the No. 2 Team
ASE- Institutions :*Academia de Studii Economice in Bucharest, Romania* Accelerated Solutions Environment, a Capgemini consulting services offering*Admiralty Signal Establishment, a defense research organization in the UK...
NASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947-48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Craftsman Truck driven by
Scott RiggsRussell Scott Riggs is a NASCAR driver. Riggs is currently a free agent. He most recently drove the #36 Toyota Camry for Tommy Baldwin Racing in the Sprint Cup Series.-Early career:...
and
Jason LefflerJason Leffler is a NASCAR driver from Long Beach, California. Leffler began racing in the open-wheel ranks before moving to NASCAR's three major series...
.
Ownership
Carquest is a marketing umbrella for various Warehouse Distributors to better market their brand. Over the years one WD has acquired the majority of operations - General Parts of Raleigh NC ( GPI ). Recent acquisitions include the WD's covering California and Texas. Other warehouse members are BWP from New York, and smaller operations in Nevada, Idaho & Hawaii. Carquest as a group also run a shared warehouse in New Castle IN that services all member Distribution Centers (DC's) for lines that are too small to source directly and published a Service Line Catalog to cover most of these products.
Canada
Carquest covers most of Canada with 15 warehouses across the country: Toronto ON, Mississauga ON, Montreal PQ, St. John NB, three locations in the Vancouver Lower Mainland, Victoria BC, Winnipeg MB, and Edmonton AB.
External links