Summer Jeep trip through some wildlife-heavy backroads — bumper upgrade worth it?
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By abenleulmi
Hey everyone,
With the summer heat hitting hard, I've seen way too many drivers—both everyday commuters and even some DIYers—making the exact same mistakes under the hood that end up completely wrecking their air conditioning systems.
Replacing an A/C compressor or a blown blower motor at a US dealership can easily cost you $1,200+ out of pocket. The worst part? Most of this damage is caused by simple, everyday habits we do without even realizing it.
Here are a few quick, costly traps you need to avoid right now if you want to save your compressor and save some cash at the pump:
Blasting the A/C on Max at Startup: Doing this the second you turn the key places a massive, sudden parasitic load on a cold engine and slips your serpentine belt. Let your RPMs stabilize first!
Cruising with Windows Half-Down: This creates a non-stop thermodynamic tug-of-war. Your cabin sensors will force the A/C clutch to stay engaged indefinitely, burning through your gas.
The Continuous Recirculation Trap: Leaving the recirculation button on for hours traps interior moisture and turns your evaporator core into a literal breeding ground for mold and that foul "gym-sock" smell.
I’ve put together a completely free, breakdown guide that covers the step-by-step pro mechanic method to cool down a scorching hot car cabin in under 60 seconds without straining your engine. It also includes a breakdown of real-world repair costs if these habits are ignored.
If you want to keep your ride icy cold and stop burning extra fuel this summer, check out the full guide here: 👉
<a href="https://autoskil.com/things-not-to-do-while-cars-ac-is-on" title="Read the full guide on things to avoid while driving" style="color: #1a73e8; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">5 Things Not to Do While Your Car’s AC is On</a> Would love to hear your thoughts or any under-the-hood hacks you guys use to beat the heat! Stay cool out there.
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view and link hidden, please login to view are gearing up for another season of excitement with the launch of the 2026 Perfect Stop® Powersports Summer Sweepstakes, kicking off this June and running through the end of July. This exclusive MyPlace4Parts promotion gives professional technicians opportunities to win big all summer long with every qualifying Perfect Stop® purchase. Throughout the promotion period, technicians will earn automatic entries with every qualifying purchase of Perfect Stop® products placed through MyPlace4Parts, including brake pads, rotors, calipers, sensors, shoes, brake cleaner, and brake fluid. Participants will have the chance to be one of six Grand Prize winners, each of whom will get to select a powersports vehicle of their choice. In addition, a total of $25,000 in gift cards will be awarded to 150 lucky winners, keeping the momentum going all summer long.
“Perfect Stop® is more than just individual components—it’s a complete brake job lineup built to deliver confidence from start to finish,” said Justin Hebert, vice president of category management for the
link hidden, please login to view “From pads and rotors to calipers, fluids, and even sensors, it’s a full-system solution that allows shops to perform complete, reliable, OEM-quality brake service every time. When technicians choose Perfect Stop®, they’re picking perfect—every time.” Built for reliability, coverage, and performance, the Perfect Stop® product line supports light, medium, and heavy-duty applications, giving professional technicians a trusted solution for comprehensive brake jobs across a wide range of vehicles. Like previous years, this promotion will run exclusively on MyPlace4Parts, the industry’s most robust B2B eCommerce solution designed specifically for professional service and repair shops.
“Combining the strength of the Perfect Stop® brand with the speed and simplicity of MyPlace4Parts makes this promotion especially impactful for professional shops,” added Hebert. “It’s about delivering a complete brake solution backed by a seamless ordering experience that helps technicians save time, stay focused on the job, and continue to service their customers with confidence.”
Professional technicians, don’t miss your chance to win big while stocking up on a complete brake solution built for performance and reliability. Get your entries in by the end of July and make this summer a Perfect Stop® summer.
For full promotion details and official rules, visit
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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
Mason Massey finished 12th in the ARCA Menards Series West 150 at Tucson Speedway after a strong overall day that saw him post the ninth-fastest time in practice and qualify third for the 150-lap event. He lined the No. 19
link hidden, please login to view Chevrolet up near the front of the field but immediately focused on tire management on a surface that produced heavy falloff throughout the run.
At the drop of the green flag, Massey gave up ground as the field quickly settled into long-run pace, focusing on managing tire wear on the abrasive surface. Much of the race was defined by heavy tire conservation, with large groups of cars running closely together while trying to preserve their equipment. The tightly packed field produced extended stretches of three-wide racing across multiple lanes, as drivers balanced saving tires with maintaining track position.
Throughout the race, Massey remained committed to a smooth, low-line approach while navigating traffic and the evolving pace of the field. As some of the leaders pushed harder to apply pressure, it forced drivers who were saving to pick up the pace and limited their ability to fully conserve tires.
In the closing stages, Massey got the caution he needed with 37 laps to go and set his sights on moving forward when the race went back green. He quickly worked his way back toward the top 10 before getting loose exiting Turn 4 and making hard contact with the outside wall. The contact resulted in handling issues over the final laps as he battled a tight feeling balance, and Massey ultimately brought the car NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet home in 12th.
“I thought we had a great plan going into the race with both us and Hailie (Deegan, teammate),” Massey said after the race. “My NAPA Auto Care team gave me a great car with speed and stability that gave me the ability to take care of the tires so well. I made the mistake coming off of turn four and hit the wall pretty good there. After that, the car wasn’t handling well. We didn’t have the balance and all I could do was limp it home. We’ll regroup and get after it again at Shasta.”
Start / Finish: 3 / 12
Points Standing / Total: 2nd / 118 pts. (-5)
Next Race: Saturday, May 2, Shasta Speedway
How to Watch or Listen: 11:30 p.m. ET on
link hidden, please login to view Mason Massey:
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By Counterman
Several
link hidden, please login to view members enjoyed a weekend of bass fishing and World of Outlaws racing as the winners in the Grote-Federated Co-Man “Bass ‘N’ Outlaws” promotion. The Federated members spent a day on a guided bass fishing trip on beautiful Lake Tohopekaliga near Orlando, Florida, and watched a night of World of Outlaws racing at the Federated DIRTcar Nationals at the Volusia Speedway Park in De Leon Springs, Florida. The promotion winners also received lodging on the St. John’s River with all meals included during the trip.
“Our members had a great day of fishing, a night of exciting racing and we even saw some alligators,” said John Marcum, director of marketing for Federated. “We want to thank our partners at Grote for an incredible trip and a highly successful promotion that rewarded Federated members for their continued growth and commitment to Grote. The winners enjoyed a once-in-a-lifetime experience thanks to our friends at Grote.”
To be eligible for the promotion,
link hidden, please login to view members were rewarded for their purchases of Grote Industries products for a three-month period through the Federated Co-Man warehouse. The winners were chosen based on the highest percentage of growth and highest dollar growth in Co-Man Grote purchases. In addition, members were al The post
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