NAPA Marks Automotive Industry Milestone With Racing Tribute
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view was recognized by Hahn Automotive with the 2025 Outstanding Logistics Support Award at the annual Hahn Automotive National Sales Conference. Held last month in Rochester, N.Y., the conference prepares staff for the upcoming spring selling season and honors companies for their support and dedication to Hahn Automotive. WIX Filters Support for Hahn Automotive
link hidden, please login to view was honored for its service levels and order fill rates last year. The company has partnered with Hahn Automotive for nearly 30 years, providing a full line of filters. “Hahn Automotive stresses that service makes all the difference, emphasizing their commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction,” said David Barraco, trade marketing manager at WIX Filters. “WIX Filters has supported Hahn Automotive and its customers for almost three decades, and this award demonstrates our exemplary drive to provide on-time deliveries of the highest quality filters on the market.”
Hahn Automotive Warehouses and Auto Parts
Hahn Automotive owns nine full-service warehouses and 28 pickup warehouses that distribute auto parts throughout the Midwest, New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. The company operates Advantage Auto Stores, Car Parts/Motor Supply, Genuine Auto Parts, Norwood Auto Parts, Nu-Way Auto Parts and Speedway Auto Parts.
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By Counterman
NAPA announced the promotions of
link hidden, please login to view to Vice President, Procurement & Sourcing, link hidden, please login to view to Vice President, Commercial Products, and link hidden, please login to view to Senior Vice President of Pricing and Procurement. These leaders will take on expanded responsibilities across the NAPA merchandising organization, reinforcing the company’s commitment to building deep internal talent and strengthening its product and supplier strategy. Pérez brings two decades of experience leading P&Ls across the automotive aftermarket, retail and consumer products industries. She most recently served as Senior Director of Category Management at NAPA, where she led a portfolio spanning brakes, undercar and heavy duty, driving growth through sourcing strategy and supplier partnerships. Prior to NAPA, she held merchandising leadership roles at HD Supply, SPANX and The Home Depot.
“Cristina has played a pivotal role in transforming category management and sourcing at NAPA Auto Parts. Her strategic mindset, deep merchandising expertise, and ability to build high-performing teams have strengthened our capabilities and positioned us for continued growth. This promotion recognizes both her leadership and the meaningful impact she has made across our organization,” said Danny Huffaker, SVP, Product & Marketing,
link hidden, please login to view. Griffiths has been with NAPA for four years, growing from Director of Category Management to Senior Director, Underhood, where she onboarded strategic brands to diversify the NAPA portfolio. In her new role, she will lead the category team responsible for Hard Parts and Applied Parts, including Brakes and Undercar. Prior to NAPA, she held senior category management roles at White Cap.
“Laura is an exceptional leader who has played a critical role in advancing our category management capabilities at NAPA Auto Parts. Through strong cross-functional collaboration and trusted supplier partnerships, she has helped build a more strategic and customer-focused organization. This promotion recognizes her leadership, her results, and the meaningful impact she continues to have across our business,” said Huffaker.
Portera joined GPC nearly four years ago as Vice President of Finance before moving over to NAPA where he has spent the last three years, first as Vice President of Corporate Development and then as Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis. He most recently served as the Vice President of Pricing and Procurement. His recent outstanding achievements include successfully navigating the First Brands bankruptcy and launching the new direct import program for NAPA rotors, the company said. Prior to GPC and NAPA, he had a successful 10-year career at FedEx, which included roles in SEC reporting, FP&A, Treasury and an international expat leadership assignment.
“Will has been a steady and trusted leader within our organization, bringing clarity, discipline and strategic thinking to some of our most complex challenges,” said Jamie Walton, EVP, Merchandise & Stores, NAPA. “This promotion reflects the significant impact Will has made at NAPA and our confidence in his continued ability to drive value for our customers and supplier partners.”
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By OReilly Auto Parts
SPRINGFIELD, Mo., April 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (the “Company” or “O’Reilly”) (Nasdaq: ORLY), a leading retailer in the automotive aftermarket industry, today announced record revenue and earnings for its first quarter ended March 31, 2026.
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view concluded its 2026 Business and Training Conference this weekend in Rogers, Arkansas, bringing together more than 700 automotive aftermarket professionals for three days of focused training, strategic insights, and industry collaboration. The event welcomed a broad cross-section of the aftermarket, including store managers, outside sales representatives, territory, regional, and district managers, independent owners and vendor partners—reinforcing Bumper to Bumper’s commitment to strengthening its network through education and shared success.
General sessions were led by CEO Fletcher Lord III and COO Ben Butler, who outlined
link hidden, please login to view, key operational focus areas, and ongoing efforts to drive performance across the network. Attendees also heard from keynote speaker Houston Nutt, a two-time SEC Coach of the Year and former head football coach at the University of Arkansas and Ole Miss. Drawing on his 19-season coaching career and experience as a CBS Sports analyst, Nutt delivered a message focused on resilience, accountability, and team culture—principles that closely align with the values driving success across the aftermarket. A central focus of the conference was hands-on training and professional development. Attendees participated in 51 breakout sessions led by channel partners, designed to strengthen product knowledge, enhance sales effectiveness, and improve operational execution. The vendor expo featured 90 companies, 113 booths, and 273 sales representatives, giving attendees direct access to new products, emerging technologies, and practical aftermarket solutions.
“This year’s ‘Red, White and Revved Up’ theme aligned with the upcoming 250th anniversary of America while also reflecting our 107-year legacy of growth and evolution,” said Elizabeth Estes, director of training. “It’s a powerful reminder of where we’ve been—and the momentum we continue to build together as an organization, industry and country.”
“The strength of our business comes down to our people, our partnerships, and our ability to execute,” said Fletcher Lord III, president & CEO. “This conference is about equipping our teams and our customers with the tools, knowledge, and relationships they need to grow.”
In addition to educational programming, the conference created multiple opportunities for networking and relationship-building, including a themed vendor expo and evening events that connected distributors, suppliers, and independent owners in a more informal setting.
The event concluded with a formal awards banquet recognizing top-performing channel partners and industry leaders, highlighting excellence across the Bumper to Bumper network.
With attendees representing more than a dozen states, the 2026 conference reinforced the critical role of collaboration, training, and supplier alignment—and reflects Bumper to Bumper’s continued investment in the future of the automotive aftermarket.
Photos by Shann Swift with Swift Shots Photography.
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By NAPA
The Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing season returned to competition Saturday, April 18th, at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO. Kasey Kahne Racing’s
link hidden, please login to view No. 9 team arrived at the reconfigured 3/8‑mile “Diamond of Dirt Tracks” eager to get the car back in motion after a three‑week regroup, with progress to prove.
Teams of each of the 43 cars taking part in the ninth race of the season set sights on the win and the The Diamond Classic’s $12,000 payday.
No. 9 driver, Daison Pursley, showed early speed, posting a 13.275-second lap in Hot Laps, fourth‑quickest in practic, and running a 13.628-second qualifying lap for fifth in his group.
Pursley started P2 in the first Heat Race of the night and jumped to the lead during the first lap, coming out of turn 4 and down the front stretch to the flagstand. Pursley kept the lead throughout the 8-lap race. The win marked Pursley’s first Heat Race victory of the 2026 season and punched his ticket to the Dash. In the Dash, the NAPA Auto Parts No. 9 slipped from third to fourth, lining the team up to start outside the second row of the A-Main.
Fireworks and pyrotechnics signaled the start of the 30-lap Diamond Classic. Pursley raced into third position for the first six laps. After an early caution, Pursley chose his position back by way of the choose cone and was challenged into turn one by Sye Lynch (No. 42), ultimately being shuffled into fourth by the No. 42 and No. 13 of Tanner Holmes. The track’s renovation brought the track banking all the way to the wall, producing even more high‑banked, door‑to‑door racing. Pursley kept heavy pressure on P3 of Holmes, finishing less than a car length behind the No. 13 and just outside of the podium. Kerry Maddsen (No.55) started on the pole and dominated, leading every lap to claim his first High Limit Racing victory.
Pursley’s fourth-place finish left crew chief Jarrett Martin encouraged; he noted the team learned every time they were on the track and made the right adjustments from the Dash to the Diamond Classic.
Weather threatened nearby Lakeside Speedway in Kansas on Friday, forcing the cancellation of that program due to tornado warnings. That event will not be made up at this time. The next High Limit Racing event is Tuesday, April 21st, at Eagle Raceway in Eagle, Nebraska, and will be broadcast nationally on FS1.
Start / Finish: 4 / 4
Points Standing / Total: 8th / 456 pts. (-137)
Next Race: Tuesday, April 21, Eagle Raceway, Eagle, NE
How to Watch or Listen: 9:00 p.m. ET on FS1
NAPA:
link hidden, please login to viewDaison Pursley: link hidden, please login to view
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