CARQUEST Auto Parts Forum

The Automotive Parts Services Group (The Group) will hold its 2025 membership conference April 28- May 1. The event will take place at the Gaylord National Harbor in National Harbor, Maryland. “This year’s conference promises to be a very productive meeting between members of The Group, supplier partners and associates. It gives us the opportunity to interact, collaborate and build growth initiatives that benefit all,” said Jeff Koviak, CEO of The Group. “We look forward to visiting our nation’s capital, learning how history influences our industry and joining forces to set a win-win course for the future.” 2025 Membership Conference: Four Days of Engagement and Strategy The 2025 membership conference will run for four days and include many informative sessions. Topics will cover tariffs, inventory management, sales training and Right to Repair legislation. The event will also feature a vendor expo and scheduled one-on-one meetings. These meetings will bring together members of link hidden, please login to view and supplier partners. Breakout Sessions to Support Brands The agenda will also include breakout sessions focused on each banner-marketing brand. These sessions will help teams align their goals and strategies, according to The Group. “By coming together as ‘ link hidden, please login to view,’ we can harness our combined strength, share our ideas and innovations, develop plans for mutual success and profitability, and take collective action to achieve our common goals,” said Koviak. The post link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view. link hidden, please login to view

As the 2025 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series heats up, Advance Auto Parts and NASCAR announced a new collaboration. The Advance NASCAR partnership will support local short track racing through “Advance Auto Parts Night at the Races” in 17 markets. The program aims to boost support for local tracks, drivers and their communities throughout the season. During select race weeks, fans from Colorado National Speedway to Seekonk Speedway will experience special events. These will happen both at the tracks and at Advance Auto Parts retail stores nearby. Advance NASCAR Partnership Fuels Local Track Engagement “ link hidden, please login to view has been a tremendous partner in raising the profile of short track racing across the country for the past several years, and this is an exciting next step in working together to grow motorsports on the local level,” said Joseph Dennewitz, managing director of NASCAR Regional. “This is a great opportunity for NASCAR and Advance Auto Parts to show appreciation to our race fans who cheer on their favorite drivers at local short tracks each week, as well as support some of the best venues and racing in NASCAR.” Dominion Raceway in Woodford, Virginia and South Boston Speedway will launch the new program in April. Grandview Speedway in Pennsylvania will close the season in September. Advance Stores Host Fans and Drivers Each “Advance Auto Parts Night at the Races” will include activities at a local Advance Auto Parts store. Stores will host driver autograph signings, giveaways, and other fan-friendly experiences. “As NASCAR’s Official Auto Parts Retailer, we’re thrilled to further enhance fans’ experience and ignite their excitement both at our stores and at local tracks where people are passionate about racing,” said Jason Hand, senior vice president of U.S. Stores. “Advance Auto Parts is all about being your community store, so we’re excited to support local tracks, dedicated NASCAR fans, and our customers in their own backyard.” Visit the link hidden, please login to view to find fan events and race dates near you. Full Schedule of 2025 Advance Auto Parts Night at the Races: April 19 – Dominion Raceway (Virginia) 26 – South Boston Speedway (Virginia) May 10 – Bowman Gray Stadium (North Carolina) 17 – Seekonk Speedway (Massachusetts) 24 – Berlin Raceway (Michigan) 31 – Jennerstown Speedway Complex (Pennsylvania) June 7 – Elko Speedway (Minnesota) 13 – Wake County Speedway (North Carolina) 13 – Limaland Motorsports Park (Ohio) 21 – Langley Speedway (Virginia) July 26 – Riverhead Raceway (New York) 30 – Hawkeye Downs Speedway (Iowa) August 9 – Salina Highbanks Speedway (Oklahoma) 9 – Colorado National Speedway (Colorado) 15 – Lee USA Speedway (New Hampshire) 30 – New Smyrna Speedway (Florida) September 6 – Grandview Speedway (Pennsylvania) The post link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view. link hidden, please login to view

Niterra North America will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its Sissonville, West Virginia, campus on May 9, 2025. The celebration also marks the grand opening of the Niterra Distribution Center, a major expansion to the site. The company said the milestone represents three decades of growth, innovation, and support for the West Virginia community. link hidden, please login to viewsaid the new facility adds 75,000 square feet to the Sissonville campus and creates approximately 30 new jobs. Sustainability and Efficiency Define Niterra Distribution Center According to the company, the Niterra Distribution Center features cutting-edge technology and eco-conscious design. Automated storage and retrieval systems improve inventory accuracy and operational efficiency. Energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems help reduce environmental impact and cut operational costs. Enhanced security systems safeguard products and personnel at every stage of the distribution process. Expandable capacity allows the company to scale as customer demand increases, link hidden, please login to view said. Commitment to Community and Long-Term Growth “We are incredibly proud to reach this 30-year milestone,” said Michael Schwab, president and CEO of Niterra North America, Inc. “Our success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our employees, the loyalty of our customers, and the support of the Sissonville community. The opening of our new distribution center is a significant step forward in our journey, expanding operational capacity and improving logistics efficiency. We look forward to many more years of success.” The grand opening event will be at the Sissonville campus on May 9, starting at 11 a.m. It will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a tour of the new facility. The post link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view. link hidden, please login to view

Standard Motor Products (SMP) announced new additions to its electronic parking brake actuator program. The company said the parking brake actuator is one of the fastest-growing categories in the automotive aftermarket. Standard offers coverage for both import and domestic vehicles. Automakers now use electronic parking brake actuators on almost all new vehicles. These have replaced manually operated cable parking brakes. The new parking brake actuator plays a critical role in vehicle safety systems, according to SMP. SMP: Quality Engineering in Every Parking Brake Actuator Standard said its parking brake actuators are always 100% new and never remanufactured. They are engineered to match OE performance. These actuators integrate seamlessly with electronic safety systems. The plug-and-play design simplifies installation. Technicians do not need additional programming. Many actuators also include the correct O-ring and hardware for a complete repair. New Applications Cover Ford, Jeep, Subaru and More link hidden, please login to view has introduced new applications for millions of late-model vehicles. Coverage now includes Ford models like the 2023–22 Escape, Bronco Sport, and Maverick. SMP also added the 2024–23 Super Duty trucks. Other new applications include the 2024–22 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ram ProMaster. Mercedes-Benz vehicles through 2023 and Subaru models through 2024 are now covered. SMP expanded its program to include additional Mazda, Audi, Volkswagen and General Motors vehicles. SMP Supports Distributors with Training and Tools “Standard’s parking brake actuator program is the most comprehensive in the industry,” said John Herc, vice president of vehicle control marketing at link hidden, please login to view. “In addition to industry-leading coverage, we are providing our distribution partners with training, marketing materials and key category insights to help them capitalize on the growth of this category.” Actuator Catalog Available Online Standard lists all parking brake actuators in its online catalog at link hidden, please login to view. The company also supplies listings through electronic catalog providers. The post link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view. link hidden, please login to view

March 31, 2025, marked a milestone in engine oil development—the first license date for the link hidden, please login to view. While that might sound like just another specification in a long line of upgrades, for professional parts counter pros selling to independent repair shops, it’s a moment that carries real-world impact. Understanding what’s new—and how to help shop owners explain it to their customers—could be the difference between a routine oil sale and a value-driven recommendation.  First, What Is GF-7?  GF-7 builds on the progress of the GF-6 specification introduced in 2020. Like its predecessor, GF-7 is split into two categories: GF-7A for most modern gasoline engines and GF-7B for low-viscosity formulations like 0W-16, commonly used in vehicles from Japanese OEMs like Toyota. The key takeaway? GF-7 oils are fully backward compatible. If a customer’s vehicle previously called for GF-6, GF-5, or even GF-4, a GF-7A product can safely be used. For 0W-16 applications, GF-7B covers those needs—just make sure the shop isn’t using a 0W-16 oil in an engine not designed for it.  “When they developed the GF categories almost 30-plus years ago, the idea was that it’s an evergreen category, so they’re all backward compatible,” Dr. Michael Warholic, global technology director, link hidden, please login to view. “The caveat is that GF-7B category. Some engines don’t like thin oil because they’re just not made to operate that way. You have to be careful about misapplication.   “The OEMs identified that and developed a shield icon with 0W-16 label to make it easy to identify it versus 0W-20 or heavier oil,” he said.  How to Identify GF-7 on the Shelf  Paying attention to the API designation and symbols on the bottle is key. Counter pros should be looking for the API “donut” and the Starburst or Shield symbols:  • The Starburst still signals general GF-category oils (GF-7A).  • A Shield symbol identifies 0W-16 oils under the GF-7B track.  • Look for API donut to know it’s GF-7.  “It boils down to: if you see the Starburst, it’s a qualified GF oil. If you see the donut on the back, it has the API credentials on it,” Warholic explained.  There’s a one-year transition period where GF-6 oils will still be in circulation, but by March 2026, GF-7 will be the standard.   “Model Year 2026 is when we expect the OEMs will start to notice GF-7 oils in the owner’s manual,” added Karl Kocher, director of light duty product strategy, Valvoline.  Why Should Your Shop Customers Care?  Not all oils are created equal, and consumers are becoming more selective. GF-7 brings improvements in durability, fuel economy, wear protection and emissions performance. This includes:  • Deposit control: GF-7 increases limits on piston cleanliness to limit deposits, helping prevent buildup that can lead to costly repairs like ring sticking.  • Wear resistance: Chain wear limits are tighter to protect timing systems and avoid check-engine lights.  • Cold start protection: Improved low-temp viscosity performance means oil flows better when the engine is most vulnerable—at startup.  • LSPI protection over time: GF-7 includes a new test for aged oil’s ability to resist Low-Speed Pre-Ignition, protecting direct-injected turbo engines long after the oil change.  • Ash limit: For the first time, GF-7 introduces an ash cap to help reduce emissions—a nod to the increasing regulatory pressure on internal combustion engines.  Selling the Upgrade  In addition to standard GF-7 products, some oil suppliers are offering “above and beyond” formulations. Valvoline’s Restore & Protect, for example, is a fully synthetic motor oil that aims at both older, high-mileage vehicles (restore) and new vehicles (protect). While the oil sports a proprietary formulation, Valvoline has noted two proprietary technologies–Active Clean, which removes deposits, and Liqui-Shield, which prevents deposit formation.  “The active technology behind the Restore and Protect products is the same in our GF-6 and our GF-7 products,” Warholic confirmed. “For GF-7, it’s built on a slightly different platform to meet the requirements. The Restore and Protect technology is above and beyond even the deposit performance required for GF-7. It exceeds that performance and does something that no other oil does or that’s actually required by GF-7. It is our own proprietary technology.”  That’s especially valuable in older engines that were exposed to less advanced oils under earlier standards like GF-4 or GF-5. With Restore and Protect, your shop customers can offer a tiered service—a standard GF-7 oil for maintenance, or R&P for vehicles showing signs of engine wear or for customers wanting the best protection available.  Bottom Line for Counter Pros  • Understand the labeling: Starburst = GF-7A; Shield = GF-7B; look for API SQ on the donut.  • Ask about the vehicle: Year, model, and what oil is currently being used.  • Explain backward compatibility: GF-7 oils replace earlier categories in most cases.   • Be proactive: As model year 2026 approaches, shops will need help identifying the right oils—GF-7A or GF-7B—and transitioning their inventory.  GF-7 isn’t just a new acronym—it’s the new baseline. The counter pros who get ahead of it now will be the ones their shop customers rely on tomorrow.  The post link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view. link hidden, please login to view