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By Counterman
Sunday, May 4, 2025, officially marks the 100th anniversary of NAPA and a century of service in the automotive industry. This automotive industry milestone highlights NAPA’s commitment to supporting drivers and repair shops nationwide. To commemorate the occasion,
link hidden, please login to view is debuting a celebratory paint scheme on all four of its race team cars. In a rare event, three of these teams will hit the track from May 1-4 at the Texas Motor Speedway. NAPA 100 Paint Scheme Honors Automotive Industry Milestone
The company said the NAPA 100 paint scheme is the perfect way to honor NAPA’s history and impact.
The rapid adoption of automobiles meant people across the country needed reliable repair shops to maintain their cars.
link hidden, please login to viewstepped up to meet that need. Today, as the automotive aftermarket industry evolves faster than ever, NAPA embraces new technologies and advancements to keep drivers on the road. link hidden, please login to view Design Details Celebrate a Century of Excellence
NAPA describes the paint scheme as a champagne gold that is sure to stand out from the pack.
Thoughtfully designed, the gilded look features NAPA’s unique 100-year logo and a matching driver fire suit. The design symbolizes celebration and NAPA’s impressive legacy, the company said.
NAPA’s Racing Community Joins the Celebration
As a decades-long sponsor of motorsports, NAPA said it was important to honor this milestone with its racing community. NAPA is a sponsor of NASCAR driver Chase Elliott, American NHRA Funny Car racer Ron Capps, NASCAR trucks driver Daniel Hemric and sprint car racer Brad Sweet.
link hidden, please login to view 100 Celebration Weekend – NAPA Race Team Schedule:
Series: Kubota High Limit Racing
Team: Kasey Kahne Racing
Car: #49 Sprint Car
Driver: Brad Sweet
Owner: Kasey Kahne
Dates: 5/1 & 5/3 (2-night event)
Race: Stockyard Stampede at The Dirt Track at Texas Motor Speedway
Series: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Team: McAnally-Hilgemann Racing
Car: No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Daniel Hemric
Owner: Bill McAnally
Date: Friday, May 2
Race: SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Team:
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Car: No.9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet
Driver: Chase Elliott
Owner: Rick Hendrick
Date: Sunday, May 4
Race: WÜRTH 400 NASCAR Cup Series
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By Counterman
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)
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By Counterman
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
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By Counterman
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.
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By Counterman
link hidden, please login to view N.A announced the expansion of its aftermarket portfolio with 13 new belt drive SKUs that offer application coverage for over 5.2 million vehicles in operation (VIO). A news release from
link hidden, please login to view said the latest product expansion “brings innovative solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of modern vehicles and repair technicians. The upgraded components enhance efficiency, simplify installation and reduce inventory complexity for distributors and shops.” The company’s new product lineup features:
Three pulleys covering over 2.1 million VIO. Seven overrunning alternator decouplers (OAD) spanning over 860,000 VIO. Three belt tensioners covering over 2.2 million VIO, now featuring advanced engineering upgrades for improved performance and ease of use. “It is essential that shops have access to reliable, OE-equivalent aftermarket parts as vehicles become more advanced. With 11 of the 13 new SKUs being first-to-market and OE-engineered, we’re giving technicians access to solutions that weren’t previously available,” said Ana Maria Lopez, product application manager at Litens Aftermarket N.A. “This is about staying ahead of industry complexity and ensuring shops have the right parts when they need them.”
All new SKUs are available now through
link hidden, please login to view distribution network, with additional product expansions planned throughout 2025, the company said.
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