Three Earnhardt locations recognized as Dealers of the Year for Arizona

Three Earnhardt dealerships were recently named as Arizona Dealers of the Year for 2026 by Cars.com! Congratulations to Earnhardt Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, Earnhardt Ford and Genesis of Scottsdale for this recognition.

Car-shopping marketplace Cars.com houses more than 16 million dealership reviews. Nearly 1.3 million reviews were submitted in 2025 alone to decide this year’s winners. Award winners were chosen according to key drivers of repeat and referral business, according to Cars.com. This includes average star rating, total number of reviews and dealer response to these reviews. These awards recognize dealerships that excel at listening and responding to customer feedback for continuous improvement, noted Cars.com. 

Earnhardt Auto Centers started in 1951, when founder Tex Earnhardt opened a Ford franchise in Chandler. From these humble beginnings, the company steadily grew. Today, Earnhardt represents 15 brands at 17 dealerships throughout the Valley.

Over the years, Tex’s straight-shooting style and catchphrase, “That ain’t no bull,” endeared him to generations of Arizonans. Tex’s sons and grandchildren joined the company, making it a true family business. Tex passed away in 2020 at the age of 89, and today his family carries on his legacy.

The Earnhardt organization also has a long history of supporting the community. Employees can opt to deduct donations from each paycheck to benefit different local charities. Past recipients have included Hospice of the Valley, the Armed Forces Relief Trust, Arizona Humane Society, Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation and United Food Bank.

The Earnhardt family also recently visited Ava’s Treehouse and presented the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children with a donation of $75,000. This organization provides support for children and families who are navigating the challenges of pediatric cancer.

Congratulations to the Earnhardt dealerships on this well-deserved award and for their ongoing community support!

Last Updated on 04/22/2026 by Carolyn Sostrom

About the Author:

Carolyn Sostrom

Biography:

Carolyn 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.

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