Summit Racing History
Summit Racing Equipment started from humble beginnings and grew into the world's largest mail order automotive performance equipment company. Headquartered in Tallmadge, Ohio, the company has three Retail Store and Distribution Centers: Tallmadge, Ohio; Sparks, Nevada; and McDonough, Georgia. Check out our history:
1968:
Summit Racing Equipment is founded as a part-time, one-person business in Stow, Ohio. But word of the company's great prices soon gets out and the little business rapidly expands into something bigger.
1969:
Summit Racing Equipment opens its first store to meet tremendous demand in the Akron, Ohio area. The company's early product line includes parts from Accel, Holley, Mallory, Hurst, Mickey Thompson, and other "big names".
1970:
Early in the decade, the company expands into mail order by placing small ads for Mickey Thompson ET Wheels in the back of Hot Rod and Car Craft magazines. Soon, Summit Racing Equipment is taking orders from across the country.
1976:
Summit Racing Equipment produces its first major catalog and adds a full-time sales and customer service staff to keep up with the huge response.
1978:
The business moves to a larger, four-building campus in Akron, Ohio; which has thousands of square feet of warehouse space to house more parts and more office space to accommodate a larger sales and customer service staff.
1987:
The Summit Racing catalog goes from a yearly buyers guide to a bi-monthly publication, allowing the company to offer the newest products, most up-to-date information, and lowest prices.
1992:
The Company outgrows its facility and moves into a three-story, high-tech office and distribution center with retail store at I-76 and Route 532 in Tallmadge, Ohio. Summit Racing Equipment broadens its product offering to include truck, SUV, and Jeep-specific parts.
1998:
Summit Racing Equipment opens a second Retail Store and Distribution Center in Sparks, Nevada. From the Sparks location, Summit Racing offers fast one- to two-day ground shipping to customers in the western United States.
1999:
The demand for automotive performance and styling parts has Summit Racing Equipment bursting at the seams, so the company doubles the size of its Tallmadge facility. The larger warehouse allows the company to stock millions of parts from hundreds of manufacturers.
2002:
The doors of Summit Racing Equipment's new 25,000 square foot Retail Super Store open in Tallmadge, Ohio. The store features thousands of parts on display, a knowledgeable, friendly staff, and legendary display vehicles like Don Garlits' Swamp Rat 32, plus outstanding customer-built vehicles.
2006:
Summit Racing Equipment opens its third Retail Store and Distribution Center in McDonough, Georgia. Conveniently located at I-75 and Route 155, the new store is easily accessible to customers from the southern United States and the distribution center allows Summit Racing to offer one- to two-day shipping to customers across the South.
2007:
Summit Racing Equipment acquires Genuine Hotrod Hardware, a direct mail company specializing in apparel, decor, gifts and other hot rod lifestyle products.