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RaceTrac's History

THROUGH
the-years

RaceTrac's history began as Carl Bolch Trackside Stations in Missouri in 1934. Carl’s son, Carl Bolch Jr., succeeded as chief executive officer in 1967, and, after pioneering the concept of self-service gasoline in Alabama, Florida and Georgia, the company relocated its headquarters in 1976 to Atlanta and adopted the RaceTrac brand.

1934

Company founder Carl Bolch Sr. opens Carl Bolch Trackside Stations in St. Louis.

The old original Bolch Trackside Station in St. Louis
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1959

Carl Bolch Sr. purchases Oil Well Company and relocates the company’s headquarters to Montgomery, Alabama while expanding locations to Florida and Georgia.

Carl Bolch Sr. purchases Oil Well Company and relocates the company’s headquarters to Montgomery, Alabama while expanding locations to Florida and Georgia.
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1967

Carl Bolch Jr. joins the family business.

Carol Bolch Jr
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1970s

Talk about speedy service! The Bolch family introduces its first self-service gas stations throughout Georgia and Alabama.

Original bolch gas station
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1975

The company expands to the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

Downtown Fort Worth in 1975
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1976

Welcome to the Peach State! The Bolch family relocates its company headquarters to Atlanta, Georgia.

Employees from when we moved
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1979

All company-operated stores get a new name: RaceTrac! The RaceWay brand is born for all contractor-operated stores.

All company-operated stores get a new name: RaceTrac! The RaceWay brand is born for all contractor-operated stores.
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1996

Metroplex Energy begins. Metroplex Energy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RaceTrac, Inc. and a wholesale fuel supplying company that secures bulk fuel to supply RaceTrac and RaceWay stores and other third-party companies by rail, pipeline, truck, barge and vessel.

Metroplex Energy begins.
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1998

Energy Dispatch is created • Energy Dispatch is the transportation company that hauls fuel for RaceTrac, Inc.

Energy Dispatch is created
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2004

Guests don’t have to sacrifice quality for convenience! RaceTrac introduces its fresh food offering with a variety of sandwiches, wraps, salads, fruit and more.

Guests don’t have to sacrifice quality for convenience! RaceTrac introduces its fresh food offering with a variety of sandwiches, wraps, salads, fruit and more.
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2012

RaceTrac debuts the RT6K model: a 6,000 square foot, state-of-the-art store showcasing the company’s legacy of innovation with features like Swirl World frozen yogurt, an expanded coffee bar and indoor and outdoor seating. Convenience Store News names RaceTrac “Innovator of the Year.”

RaceTrac debuts the RT6K model
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2016

RaceTrac debuts the 5.5K store type – the latest innovation in store design with a more shoppable layout, ample seating, free Wi-Fi, and more lighting in the store and parking lot to deliver a better guest experience.

RaceTrac debuts the 5.5K store type
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2017

Remaining headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, RaceTrac moves to its new Store Support Center at 200 Galleria Parkway.

Remaining headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, RaceTrac moves to its new Store Support Center at 200 Galleria Parkway.
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2019

RaceTrac opens its first locations in Nashville, Tennessee.

RaceTrac opens its first locations in Nashville, Tennessee.
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2021

RaceTrac opens its first location in Kentucky

First Kentucky Location
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2023

RaceTrac enters the electric vehicle (EV) charging market with its first station in Oxford, Alabama. Over the coming months and years, RaceTrac will continue to expand its EV charging network, underscoring the commitment to meet our guests’ needs and deliver on the promise of making people’s lives simpler and more enjoyable.

First EV location
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2023

RaceTrac acquires Gulf Oil LLC, the largest acquisition in company history

Gulf logo
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