Three Earnhardt sites recognized as Dealers of the Year for Arizona

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Earnhardt Auto Centers is proud to announce that Cars.com recognized three of its dealerships as 2024 Arizona Dealers of the Year. Earnhardt Lexus, Earnhardt Ford and Earnhardt Toyota each received this recognition.

Photo courtesy of Earnhardt Auto Centers Facebook

Car-shopping marketplace Cars.com hosts more than 13 million dealership reviews from sites around the United States and Canada. Dealer of The Year (DOTY) recipients were selected from more than 50,000 auto dealerships with profiles based on more than 1 million online customer reviews submitted throughout 2023. Winners were selected based on average star rating, total number of reviews and dealer response to those reviews. These are all key drivers of repeat and referral business, said Cars.com in a news release.

“Local dealerships are central to vehicle buying, and our DOTY Awards highlight the many local retailers who take pride in their reputation, striving each and every day to provide a five-star experience for their customers,” said Jamie Oldershaw, vice president of reputation at Cars.com, in the news release. “A consumer submits a dealership review every 27 seconds on Cars.com, providing dealers with valuable real-time feedback and shoppers with firsthand information about a dealership’s customer experience.”

This recognition is a testament to Earnhardt’s hard-working teams and loyal customers.

Earnhardt Auto Centers represents 15 brands at 17 dealerships located throughout the Valley. Founder Tex Earnhardt first started the company in 1951 with a Chandler-based Ford franchise. At age 21, he was the youngest-ever Ford franchise owner. His first Earnhardt dealership truly grew one vehicle at a time — Tex needed to sell one car before he could afford to purchase the next one to sell.

Over the years, the company expanded, opening more dealerships with Tex at the head. Tex’s straight-shooting style and catchphrase, “That ain’t no bull,” endeared him to generations of Arizonans.

Tex’s sons, Hal and Jim Babe, joined him in the business, and so did several of his grandchildren, making it a true family business. Tex passed away in 2020 at the age of 89, and his family continues his legacy with the company.

Congratulations to Earnhardt Lexus, Earnhardt Ford and Earnhardt Toyota!

Carolyn Sostrom

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.