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Modern Tire Dealer names 23rd Tire Dealer of the Year

Ricky Benton of Black’s Tire Service Inc. wins the most coveted award for independent tire dealers

 

 

AKRON, Ohio (September 14, 2015) — Ricky Benton, owner and president of Black’s Tire Service Inc., is the recipient of Modern Tire Dealer magazine’s 2015 Tire Dealer of the Year Award.

Benton was chosen to receive the industry’s oldest and most prestigious award from more than 30,000 eligible independent tire dealers across North America.

Black’s Tire has grown significantly since Benton began working at the company’s lone store in Whiteville, N.C., in 1981. The company’s namesake, W. Crowell Black, hired Benton to help him expand the business. When Benton and his wife Dianne bought Black’s Tire in 1996 there were eight stores. Today there are 36 retail and commercial outlets in North and South Carolina, plus a wholesale tire operation with four warehouses, a tire retread shop in Clarkton, N.C., an equipment distribution division and a successful racing business, Ricky Benton Racing (RBR) Enterprises. Benton employs 525 people.

Black’s Tire is tied for 30th on the Modern Tire Dealer 100 list of top independent tire dealers in the U.S.

“Ricky is a hard-working man who cares about the future of the independent tire dealer,” says Greg Smith, publisher of Modern Tire Dealer. “He is incredibly successful and yet relentless in giving the credit for his success to the people in his organization. He takes care of his Black’s Tire family, and they in turn take care of Black’s Tire customers.”

A $10,500 donation from Modern Tire Dealer and the following participating suppliers will be made in Benton’s name to the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina Inc.: Advance Auto Parts Inc.; Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance Inc.; Alliance Tire Group; American Omni Trading Co.; Bartec USA LLC; Continental Tire the Americas LLC; Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.; Dilmar Oil Co.; Double Coin Holdings Ltd.; Falken Tire Corp.; Federal Corp.; Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.; Hankook Tire America Corp.; Hunter Engineering Co.; Michelin North America Inc.; Mohawk Rubber Sales Inc.; NAPA Auto Parts; Specialty Tires of America Inc.; Titan International Inc.; Tube & Solid Tire Ltd. and Wells Insurance.

The Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina serves neglected and abused children through a system of community-based and residential programs. The not-for-profit organization’s office, school and residential campus are located near the Black’s Tire headquarters, and the founder of Black’s Tire served on the charity’s inaugural board of directors. Gary Faircloth, CEO and president of the Boys and Girls Homes, says it has no greater partner than Benton and Black’s Tire. “The ambassadorship role that they play is invaluable.”

Modern Tire Dealer’s Tire Dealer of the Year is the highest honor given to any independent tire dealer. Nominees are evaluated on their business success, marketing and management skills, industry knowledge and community involvement. Winners are chosen by a panel of five independent judges.