Family still at center of Earnhardt business

Travel

by
Carolyn Sostrom
02/23/2018

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Tex Earnhardt with grandson Derby

Earnhardt Auto Centers, founder Tex Earnhardt and the slogan, “That ain’t no bull,” are iconic in Arizona. This year, Earnhardt Auto Centers celebrates its 66th anniversary, and it’s still a family business after all this time.
Tex Earnhardt grew up in southern Texas and started his career as a rodeo cowboy. In 1951, at age 20, Tex moved with his family to Arizona. Tex opened a gas station in Chandler and sold auto parts before he opened a Ford dealership at age 21.
Over the years, Earnhardt Auto Centers grew into what is now the Southwest’s largest automobile company. The organization now sells more than 48,000 vehicles annually. Earnhardt Auto Centers now has 24 dealerships located throughout the Valley and in Prescott Valley, and two locations in Las Vegas.

As Earnhardt Auto Centers grew, Tex Earnhardt needed a larger team. Tex’s sons Hal and Jim Babe joined him to help manage the business. As the years went by, Tex’s grandsons Dodge, Derby and Bull and granddaughter Nature also joined the family business.
Today, Earnhardt Auto Centers employs close to 1,500 people and is one of the most recognizable names in the Southwest. Despite their business size and success, the Earnhardts still run their company like a family business.

Inspired by the Earnhardt family, many employees participate in a company giving program called H.E.A.R.T. Employees opt for payroll deductions that are given to different charities each month.
When you visit any Earnhardt Auto Centers dealership, you will be treated as a family member — with the same courtesy and respect that has helped the organization grow and thrive. Tex started the business with these goals in mind, which carried on to his children and now his grandchildren. Come experience the difference in their “No Bull” approach!
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: Tex Earnhardt with grandson Derby

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Last Updated on 01/25/2019 by Carolyn Sostrom

Related TopicsEarnhardt Auto Centers Feature

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.