Carquest

Carquest Auto Parts is an American automotive parts distribution network that is currently owned and operated by Advance Auto Parts, Inc. via independent retailers associated with the network. As of October 4, 2014 Advance operated 5,305 stores, 109 Worldpac branches, and served approximately 1,350 independently-owned Carquest branded stores in 49 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Canada. Advance Auto Parts and CARQUEST Auto Parts employs approximately 75,000 Team Members.

History

The CarQuest marketing alliance and distribution network was formed in 1974 by O. Temple Sloan of General Parts, Dan Bock of Bobro Products, and Joe Hughes of Indiana Parts Warehouse. In response to competition from high-volume retail stores, Sloan believed "that programmed distribution through a cooperative alliance would be the most effective means to remain competitive." According to a 1994 Bangor Daily News article, "CARQUEST is made up of 14 distributing companies operating 64 CARQUEST Auto Parts Stores throughout the United States" at that time.

South Boston Speedway

South Boston Speedway or "SoBo" is a short track located just outside South Boston, Virginia, U.S.A.. SoBo is located approximately sixty miles east of another area familiar to most NASCAR fans, Martinsville. It is owned by Mattco, Inc, the Mattioli family trust that owns Pocono Raceway, with longtime general manager Cathy Rice operating the track. NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series has not raced at the track since 1971; however, NASCAR's Busch Series (now Xfinity Series) raced here into the new millennium. After the NASCAR Busch Series left the schedule, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competed at SoBo for a couple years. The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and Whelen Southern Modified Tour now hold events here, and SoBo continues to play a part in the NASCAR family hosting Whelen All-American Series late model and CARS X1-R ProCup events. Some of the better known graduates of South Boston's Saturday night weekly events include Jeff Burton, Ward Burton, Elliott Sadler, Stacy Compton, and the Bodine brothers (Todd, Geoff and Brett). Danville, Virginia driver Wendell Scott, the first African-American driver to compete at NASCAR's highest level, also raced in Modified Division events here.

BellSouth Mobility 320

The BellSouth Mobility 320 was a NASCAR Busch Series stock car race held at Nashville Speedway USA, in Nashville, Tennessee. Debuting as a 200 lap race of 119.2 miles (191.8 km), it was originally held only during the 1984 season. The event returned the schedule in 1988, and again in 1989, after which it was removed a second time. The race returned to the Busch circuit yet again in 1995, this time the race distance being extended from 200 to 320 laps, now covering 190.7 miles (306.9 km) in distance. The race remained on the Busch Series schedule for the next six seasons, but was removed a third and final time following the 2000 season.

Two other short tracks, Myrtle Beach Speedway and South Boston Speedway, were also removed from the Busch Series schedule after the 2000 season. This extra room created on the schedule was used to help add new races at Chicagoland Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, and Kentucky Speedway starting in 2001.

Past winners

References