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By Counterman
The
link hidden, please login to view (AACF) announced that more than $70,000 was raised during the Independent Midas Dealers Association (IMDA) Convention & Trade Show 2026, held April 19 to 21 in Savannah, Georgia, as Midas celebrated its 70th anniversary. This marked the second consecutive year AACF was the event’s official charity. Support from Midas and IMDA members highlights the commitment within the aftermarket industry to care for its own.
Midas and IMDA Support for AACF
“We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from Midas and the IMDA community in welcoming AACF back for a second year,” said John Kairys, executive director of AACF. “The opportunity to be part of this event and connect directly with franchisees, leadership and partners is invaluable. It speaks volumes about the culture of this organization and the genuine commitment to supporting one another across the industry.”
AACF Booth, Donations and Prize Drawings
Throughout the event, IMDA members, franchisees, suppliers and corporate partners visited the AACF booth to learn more about the foundation’s mission, contribute donations, and participate in prize drawings. The event also provided a platform for AACF leadership to connect directly with those who make up the Midas network.
Kairys joined Jeff Genuario, incoming IMDA president, and Adam Stranik, outgoing IMDA president, on stage to share the foundation’s impact and highlight real stories of individuals and families supported through AACF. “As we celebrate 70 years of Midas, it’s important to recognize the people behind our success,” said Genuario. “Supporting AACF allows us to extend that commitment beyond the shop and into the lives of our teammates and their families when they need it most.”
Stranik added, “The automotive aftermarket is built on strong relationships, and
link hidden, please login to view plays a critical role in supporting those within our industry facing unexpected hardship. We’re proud to continue this partnership and to see the incredible generosity of IMDA members make a real difference.” Funds to Support Aftermarket Professionals and Families
The funds raised during the event will directly support aftermarket professionals and their families facing life-changing challenges such as medical emergencies, natural disasters and catastrophic events.
“The generosity shown throughout this event speaks volumes about the character of this industry, and partnering with AACF allows us to extend that support beyond the shop and into the lives of those who need it most,” said Lenny Valentino Jr., Midas president and COO. “Our commitment doesn’t end here,” he continued. “We’ll continue supporting AACF and the people who depend on it today and always.”
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view announced the launch of ARGOS, a new private-label oil and fluids brand developed for both professional installers and do-it-yourself customers. The company said the line is designed to address demand for value-focused maintenance products across its aftermarket distribution network.
Product Development and Customer Input
In developing ARGOS,
link hidden, please login to view conducted customer surveys, market analysis and field testing with DIY and professional customers. Both groups cited affordability, reliability and strength as priorities, the company said. “Affordability, reliability and strength are the three clear priorities we hear from our customers when it comes to quality automotive products,” said Bruce Starnes, executive vice president, chief merchant at Advance Auto Parts. “ARGOS delivers on those qualities. It’s a product line built for today’s drivers, DIYers, and professional technicians. We’re excited to help our customers’ cars last longer, for an affordable price.”
Market Context
The average age of vehicles on U.S. roads has reached just under 13 years, increasing demand for maintenance and repair.
link hidden, please login to view said ARGOS is intended to meet this demand at a price point aimed at cost-sensitive DIYers and professional shops. The company said ARGOS provides engine protection and performance comparable to national brands.
Product Launch and Distribution Strategy
ARGOS will be distributed exclusively through all Advance and Carquest locations in the United States and via Advance’s e-commerce channels. The retailer’s Carquest network includes both company-owned and independently owned stores served by Advance’s supply chain.
Initial products will include synthetic blend and full synthetic heavy-duty motor oil in mid-February, followed by passenger car motor oil in various blends in early March. A broader portfolio will roll out by May.
Product Portfolio and Timing
By May, 2026, the ARGOS line is slated to include:
Automatic transmission fluid Bulk fluids for service facilities Gear oil Small engine oil Performance chemicals Advance said the phased launch is intended to align inventory, pricing and merchandising across its store and online channels.
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By Advance Auto Parts
ARGOS will be available in all Advance and Carquest U.S. locations and online by early 2026
RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America that serves both professional installers and do-it-yourself customers, today announced the launch of ARGOS, its new owned oil and fluids brand designed to meet growing consumer demand for high-quality, affordable auto care products.
In developing ARGOS, Advance conducted extensive customer surveys, market analysis and field testing with both do-it-yourself enthusiasts and professional customers. Both groups said that they need a product that is affordable, reliable and strong. Their feedback played a role in shaping the final product lineup, reinforcing Advance’s commitment to listening to its customers.
“Affordability, reliability and strength are the three clear priorities we hear from our customers when it comes to quality automotive products,” said Bruce Starnes, executive vice president, chief merchant at Advance Auto Parts. “ARGOS delivers on those qualities. It’s a product line built for today’s drivers, DIYers, and professional technicians. We’re excited to help our customers’ cars last longer, for an affordable price.”
The average age of vehicles on U.S. roads has reached an
link hidden, please login to view of just under 13 years, creating increased demand for maintenance and repair products that are both reliable and affordable. ARGOS meets those needs by offering engine protection and performance comparable to national brands, but at a price that provides meaningful savings for both DIYers and professional customers. ARGOS will be available exclusively in all Advance and Carquest locations in the U.S. and online, starting with synthetic blend and full synthetic heavy-duty motor oil in mid-February, followed by passenger car motor oil in a variety of blends in early March. A full portfolio will become available by May, including automatic transmission fluid, bulk fluids, gear oil, small engine oil and performance chemicals.
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By NAPA
Carlyle Tools, the private label hand tool brand of longtime Ron Capps Motorsports (RCM) partner
link hidden, please login to view, will back NHRA drag racer Maddi Gordon as she embarks on her rookie season competing in the sport’s professional Top Fuel ranks, it was announced today at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. In April, fourth-year NHRA team owner/driver Ron Capps confirmed that he would expand his single-car operation into a two-car team in 2026 and had selected Gordon as the driver of his organization’s first Top Fuel entry. Capps, a three-time Funny Car world champion and 31-year veteran of the sport, has enjoyed a nearly 19-year partnership with NAPA Auto Parts. On Tuesday at the SEMA show, Gordon revealed the black-and-venom-green Carlyle Tools Top Fuel dragster that she will pilot at all 20 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series events in 2026, starting with the series’ season-opener in March.
“This is definitely a pinch-me moment,” said Gordon, a third generation drag racer who grew up traveling the NHRA tour with her family’s Top Alcohol Funny Car operation and became the 100th woman in NHRA history to win a national event when she scored her first victory aboard the family entry. “I’m still wrapping my head around the fact that I get to drive a dragster for Ron next year, and to do that with such an innovative and dynamic brand like Carlyle Tools is a dream. My family and I started working with Carlyle earlier this season on our Alcohol car when Ron helped to set us up with a product agreement. It was so cool to be able to represent them on a smaller scale this year, but the fact that it has evolved beyond that, and I’ll get to be ‘the Carlyle driver’ competing in NHRA’s pro ranks, is not something I could have ever imagined.”
The partnership with Gordon reflects the recent Carlyle Tools brand transformation, which is geared toward reaching students and young technicians. At just 21 years old, Gordon is adept at both driving and wrenching on her family’s race car, perfectly embodying the demographic Carlyle Tools is hoping to attract.
“Maddi doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks the walk,” said Capps. “When we announced that Maddi would be joining RCM earlier this season, I had said that we were going about this a bit backwards, because normally you start out by securing funding and then you add the driver, but for me it was important to pay it forward and give an up-and-comer like Maddi, who both drives and works as a crew member, ‘the shot’ that Snake (Don Prudhomme, Capps’ former team owner) gave me. Maddi does the clutch; she can pull a cylinder head, she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty; she does it all. NAPA and Carlyle recognized those qualities in her, and I think the fans will too. She is the ultimate spokesperson for Carlyle Tools and will be an awesome ambassador for the brand.”
Katherine Wooten, NAPA Director of Partnerships Strategy and Activation shares Capps’ sentiment, also emphasizing Carlyle’s push to bring young men and women into the auto care space.
“Maddi represents everything we’re working toward with the Carlyle Tools transformation – she’s young, she’s incredibly talented, and she knows her way around an auto shop,” Wooten said. “When we reimagined the Carlyle brand, we had the next generation in mind, and we were looking for someone who could authentically connect with young technicians. Maddi doesn’t just drive the car, she understands the tools and knows what it takes to build something from the ground up. That’s exactly who we want to represent Carlyle. We’re thrilled to welcome Maddi to the NAPA family and can’t wait to watch her legacy unfold.”
After closing out the remainder of the 2025 season with her family, Gordon, who earned her Top Alcohol Funny Car license in 2023, will begin the licensing process to compete in NHRA’s premier class. She has three national event wins, four regional triumphs, and currently sits third in the points standings. Gordon will kick off her Rookie of the Year campaign aboard the Ron Capps Motorsports Carlyle Tools Top Fuel dragster when the 2026 season gets underway with the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla., March 6 – 8.
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By Counterman
Every shop owner knows that keeping up with technology is no longer optional. From ADAS calibrations to the latest diagnostics, change is constant. Training is how independent shops stay ahead. That’s why industry veterans like Kathleen Callahan, owner of
link hidden, please login to view in Englewood, Florida, and Bernard Tansey, co-founder and COO of link hidden, please login to view in Santa Clara, California, make AAPEX a must-attend event each year. Tansey says the return on investment from AAPEX training goes far beyond the classroom. “Every time you’re there, every year there’s something new,” he explains. “We always come back with these new golden nuggets and like, ‘Hey guys,this new system’s coming out or this new tool is coming out.’ It also amps the staff. They see that we care about what they’re doing. We want to make their lives easier.’”
For Callahan, the event is equally valuable on the management side. “I love the fact that we can go to
link hidden, please login to view and see the new technologies that are coming out,” she says. “Where else in the world can you go and talk to 15 20 or 30 different vendors? The amount of knowledge and the amount of different manufacturers and trainers and distributors in one place is unmatched in any other conference.” Tackling All of The Training
When it comes to training strategy, both Callahan and Tansey treat AAPEX like a classroom for the whole shop. “One of the things that I look at is if I’m bringing my staff, we might split up to divide and conquer,” Tansey says. “I’ll send these two to one class because they’re our A techs. My other team I might send to a different class. I might even jump into a class just so I have the content and we can all share this data together.”
Callahan approaches it with the same mindset, focusing on sessions that deliver real-world results. “You really have to have a return on your investment,” she says. “No matter what position you hold within the industry, there is something at AAPEX for you or that you can bring back to your shop that will benefit the entire team.”
Tansey agrees that the key is relevance. “Just because something may sound really cool, ask yourself: are you ever going to use that information?” he says. “There may be something where they’re talking about truck air brakes. That’s awesome, but we don’t work on them. Could your time be better useful in a course that you’re going to take back and actually make a positive change with?”
Both shop owners are looking forward to the
link hidden, please login to view, from customer service and employee engagement to mental health and leadership. As Callahan puts it, “Training keeps you sharp, your team engaged, and your business moving forward. That’s why AAPEX is such a valuable experience.” In today’s aftermarket, it’s not enough to train to keep up. You have to train to stay ahead. Watch the video for more
link hidden, please login to view training insight from Callahan and Tansey.
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