Ryan Bader, son-in-law of Hal Earnhardt, recently won the Mixed Martial Arts Bellator World Title. The Earnhardt family is proud of Bader and his accomplishments!
Bader is champion in both the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight divisions, and he currently competes with Bellator Mixed Martial Arts. Nicknamed “Darth Bader,” he is ranked as the number two Light Heavyweight and the number eight pound-for-pound fighter in the world by MMAJunkie.com.
Before signing with Bellator, Bader achieved success as a top 5 Light Heavyweight contender with a UFC record of 15-5. Bader wrestled in high school in Reno, Nevada, ranking as high as fourth in the country. He attended Arizona State University and was a three-time Pac-10 Champion, winning titles in 2003-2004 and 2006. Bader began training at Arizona Combat Sports in early 2007.
Bader joined the Earnhardt family with his marriage to Daisy, Hal Earnhardt’s daughter and Tex Earnhardt’s granddaughter. Bader and his wife live in Chandler and have three children.
The Earnhardt team believes in treating their customers like family. With 21 locations in Arizona and Nevada representing 17 brands, Earnhardt Auto Centers is one of the most recognizable automobile dealerships in the Southwest.
Earnhardt patriarch Tex Earnhardt started his first Ford dealership in Chandler at the age of 21. As business grew, Tex gained fame as the straight-shooting cowboy in the “No Bull” commercials. Over the years, Tex’s children and grandchildren joined him in the business.
While the Earnhardt’s have seen great success, they remember the values that helped to build their business. Tex and his family believe in treating everyone like family. As Tex Earnhardt says, “Treat everyone the way you would treat your mama!”
The Earnhardt’s are proud of family member Ryan Bader’s awards, and they congratulate him for his achievements!
Carolyn SostromCarolyn Sostrom is a long-time Arizona resident who loves desert sunsets, warm weather, Zumba, and the Western lifestyle. She attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and then Arizona State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Similarly to the protagonist in *The Devil Wears Prada*, Carolyn moved to New York City right after college. She started working for the fashion magazine company Conde Nast but never transitioned to the dark side. After a few years, she left New York in the rearview mirror and returned to her home state, taking a reporter job at the *Apache Junction Independent*. With over 30 years of freelance writing experience, Carolyn especially enjoys writing about community events and profiling individuals who are making a difference in their communities. She had the pleasure of interviewing a variety of cowboy personalities for an article she wrote for the *Scottsdale Independent* about the history of DC Ranch and its roots as a working ranch. Now, her Western adventures with CLN have her diving into the rugged automotive scene, exploring the trucks and rigs cowboys rely on for work, home, and play, a niche where grit meets horsepower. She works at Raising Special Kids, a nonprofit resource center for families of children with disabilities and special healthcare needs. Carolyn also volunteers with the Autism Society of Greater Phoenix. Carolyn believes that everyone has a story, and she loves connecting with others to hear their stories. She’s dedicated to ethical journalism and accurate reporting, which shines through in her storytelling.
