Kraco Enterprises

Last updated
Kraco Enterprises
TypePrivate
Industry Automobile
Founded1954
FounderMaurice H. Kraines
Headquarters505 E. Euclid Avenue, Compton, CA 90224, USA
ProductsAutomotive Aftermarket
Revenue200 million USD
Number of employees
250
Parent Sun Capital Partners
Website Kraco.com
A Kraco Super Deluxe CB transmitter Kraco Enterprises stereo.jpg
A Kraco Super Deluxe CB transmitter

Kraco Enterprises, LLC, is an American private company. It primarily manufactures fabricated rubber products for a wide variety of purposes and applications. While they mainly produce floormats, they have also been a supplier for the automotive industry producing tire walls and even audio equipment including car speakers, stereos, and CB radios. Kraco was founded in 1954 in Compton, California. [1] Their first product was "Snap-on" white walls to create temporary white-walled tires. They moved into making rubber, vinyl and soon thereafter, carpet floormats as the business expanded.

Contents

Bobby Rahal's Kraco-sponsored IndyCar from 1989 18 LolaCosworth - Rahal's 1989 Indy Car.jpg
Bobby Rahal's Kraco-sponsored IndyCar from 1989

During the 1980s and 1990s, Kraco sponsored Indy Car racing with drivers Michael Andretti, Bobby Rahal and Al Unser Jr., winning the Indianapolis 500 in 1992.

Sun Capital Partners, an American investment firm, acquired Kraco in August 2008. [2] In 2010, Kraco Enterprises purchased Auto Expressions, a provider of automobile accessories, [3] which resulted in Kraco tripling its revenue. [4]

In the U.K., Kraco products are distributed by its subsidiary Kraco Car Care International Limited [5] (Shell Car Care International Limited until October 1, 2010), [6] which also inherited the distribution of Rain-X products in the U.K. [7]

On October 21, 2015, Kraco Enterprises has acquired Who-Rae, a manufacturer and distributor of automotive aftermarket accessories. [8]

Race Results

PPG CART Indycar World Series

(key)

YearChassisEngineDriversNo.1234567891011121314151617Pts PosPos
1981 PHXMILATLMCHRIVMILMCHWGLMXCPHX
Penske PC-7/79 Cosworth DFX Flag of the United States.svg Larry Cannon 991511201230th10
Flag of the United States.svg Dick Ferguson 18610724th20
1982 PHXATLMILCLEMCHMILPOCRIVROAMCHPHX
Penske PC-9B/81 Cosworth DFX Flag of the United States.svg Bill Vukovich Jr. 181141st2
Flag of the United States.svg Dick Ferguson 17DNS47th1
March 82C Flag of the United States.svg Mike Mosley 871671219th37
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Vern Schuppan 99730th18
Penske PC-9B/812724
1983 ATL INDY MILCLEMCHROAPOCRIVMDOMCHCPLLAGPHX
March 83C Cosworth DFX Flag of the United States.svg Mike Mosley 181313541725424DNQ112414th36
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Brabham 201621st13
991812
Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti (R)1924927th4
1984 LBHPHX INDY MILPORMEACLEMCHROAPOCMDOSANMCHPHXLAGCPL
March 84C Cosworth DFX Flag of Australia (converted).svg Geoff Brabham 182163317238951421151116558th87
Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti 991035412133201623163733247th102
1985 LBH INDY MILPORMEACLEMCHROAPOCMDOSANMCHLAGPHXMIA
March 85C Cosworth DFX Flag of the United States.svg Kevin Cogan 1823111657972517219417222414th44
Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti 991981928472721314192595259th53
1986 PHXLBH INDY MILPORMEACLETORMCHPOCMDOSANMCHROALAGPHXMIA
March 86C Cosworth DFX Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti 1815*1*61*2*202191111*1062*2*31*182nd171
1987 LBHPHX INDY MILPORMEACLETORMCHPOCROAMDONAZLAGMIA
March 87C Cosworth DFX Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti 184429125651*816131*221*2nd158
1988 PHXLBH INDY MILPORCLETORMEAMCHPOCMDOROANAZLAGMIA
March 88C Cosworth DFX Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti 1837471114366th119
Lola T88/003252652217
1989 PHXLBH INDY MILDETPORCLEMEATORMCHPOCMDOROANAZLAG
Lola T89/00 Cosworth DFS Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Rahal 1818426131823119962228769th88
Galles-Kraco Racing
1990 PHXLBH INDY MILDETPORCLEMEATORMCHDENVANMDOROANAZLAG
Lola T90/00 Chevrolet 265A V8 t Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Jr. 531*4127315*111*11*1*341621st210
Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Rahal 18212242112252223867354th153
1991 SFR LBHPHX INDY MILDETPORCLEMEATORMCHDENVANMDOROANAZLAG
Lola T91/00 Chevrolet 265A V8 t Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Jr. 116*1*641944422331*352423rd197
Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Rahal 182221942331*311202342242nd200
1992 SFR PHXLBH INDY DETPORMILNHA TOR MCHCLEROAVANMDONAZLAG
Galmer G92 Chevrolet 265A V8 t Flag of the United States.svg Al Unser Jr. 3454*193787432231193rd169
Flag of the United States.svg Danny Sullivan 185121551212938207781777th99

IndyCar wins

#SeasonDateSanctionTrack / RaceNo.Winning DriverChassisEngineTireGridLaps Led
1 1986 April 13 CART Grand Prix of Long Beach (S)18 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti March 86C Cosworth DFX V8 t Goodyear 747
2June 8CART Milwaukee Mile (O)18 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti (2)March 86CCosworth DFX V8tGoodyearPole110
3August 29CART Phoenix International Raceway (O)18 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti (3)March 86CCosworth DFX V8tGoodyear4166
4 1987 May 31CARTMilwaukee Mile (O)18 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti (4)March 87CCosworth DFX V8tGoodyear452
5August 2CART Michigan 500 (O)18 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti (5)March 87CCosworth DFX V8tGoodyearPole129
6September 20CART Nazareth Speedway (O)18 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti (6)March 87CCosworth DFX V8tGoodyearPole150
7November 1CART Tamiami Park, Miami (S)18 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti (7)March 87CCosworth DFX V8tGoodyear288
NC 1988 November 5CART Tamiami Park, Miami (S)18 Flag of the United States.svg Michael Andretti Lola T88/00Cosworth DFX V8tGoodyear619
8 1989 July 16CART Meadowlands Street Circuit (S)18 Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Rahal Lola T89/00Cosworth DFS V8tGoodyear661

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Tire</span> Canadian retail company

Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited is a Canadian retail company which operates in the automotive, hardware, sports, leisure and housewares sectors. Its Canadian operations include: Canadian Tire, Mark's, FGL Sports, PartSource, and the Canadian operations of Party City. Canadian Tire acquired the Norwegian clothing and textile company Helly Hansen from the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridgestone</span> Japanese multinational auto and truck parts manufacturer

Bridgestone Corporation is a Japanese multinational auto and truck parts manufacturer founded in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi (1889–1976) in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of ishibashi, meaning 'stone bridge' in Japanese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pep Boys</span> American automotive aftermarket service chain

Pep Boys is an American automotive aftermarket service chain. Originally named Pep Auto Supply, the company was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1921 by Emanuel "Manny" Rosenfeld, Maurice "Moe" Strauss, W. Graham "Jack" Jackson, and Moe Radavitz. Pep Boys is headquartered in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Allegheny West.

Firestone Tire and Rubber Company is an American tire company founded by Harvey Firestone (1868–1938) in 1900 initially to supply solid rubber side-wire tires for fire apparatus, and later, pneumatic tires for wagons, buggies, and other forms of wheeled transportation common in the era. Firestone soon saw the huge potential for marketing tires for automobiles, and the company was a pioneer in the mass production of tires. Harvey Firestone had a personal friendship with Henry Ford, and used this to become the original equipment supplier of Ford Motor Company automobiles, and was also active in the replacement market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mopar</span> Parts, service and customer care organization within Stellantis

Mopar is the parts, service, and customer care division of the former Chrysler Corporation, now owned by Netherlands-based automobile manufacturer Stellantis. It serves as a primary OEM accessory seller for Stellantis brands under the Mopar brand. The name is a portmanteau of the words "MOtor" and "PARts". "Mopar" is also used as a nickname by enthusiasts of Chrysler-built products to refer to any product built by the company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Auto</span> Retailer of automotive parts

Western Auto Supply Company—known more widely as Western Auto—was a specialty retail chain of stores that supplied automobile parts and accessories. It operated approximately 1200 stores across the United States. It was started in 1909 in Kansas City, Missouri, by George Pepperdine and Don Abnor Davis. Pepperdine later founded Pepperdine University. Western Auto was bought by Beneficial Corporation in 1961; Western Auto's management led a leveraged buyout in 1985, leading three years later to a sale to Sears. Sears sold most of the company to Advance Auto Parts in 1998, and by 2003, the resulting merger had led to the end of the Western Auto brand and its product distribution network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Continental AG</span> German multinational company in the automotive component supplier industry

Continental AG, commonly known as Continental or colloquially as Conti, is a German multinational automotive parts manufacturing company specializing in brake systems, interior electronics, automotive safety, powertrain and chassis components, tachographs, tires and other parts for the automotive and transportation industries. Continental is structured into six divisions: Chassis and Safety, Powertrain, Interior, Tires, ContiTech, ADAS. It is headquartered in Hanover, Lower Saxony. Continental is the world's fourth-largest tire manufacturer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NAPA Auto Parts</span>

The National Automotive Parts Association (NAPA), also known as NAPA Auto Parts, founded in 1925, is an American retailers' cooperative distributing automotive replacement parts, accessories and service items throughout North America.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is an American company that specializes in the design, manufacture, marketing and sales of replacement automobile and truck tires, and has subsidiaries that specialize in medium truck, motorcycle and racing tires. With headquarters in Findlay, Ohio, Cooper Tire has 60 manufacturing, sales, distribution, technical and design facilities within its worldwide family of subsidiary companies, including the UK-based Avon Tyres brand, which produces tires for motorcycles, road cars and for motor racing.

Matador, a.s. is a multinational car tire producer based in Púchov, Slovakia, as well as the corresponding group of companies.

Bullsone is an automotive products company headquartered in Seoul, Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumitomo Rubber Industries</span> Japanese tire and rubber company

Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. is a global tire and rubber company based in Japan. It is part of the Sumitomo Group. The company makes a wide range of rubber based products, including automobile tires, golf balls and tennis balls. Sumitomo brands include Dunlop Tyres, Falken Tire and Ohtsu Tire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Momo (company)</span>

MOMO Srl is a design company headquartered in Milan, Italy that makes accessories and parts for automobiles, such as alloy wheels, tires, steering wheels, seats, gear sticks. The company also has a clothing line of products that include racing suits, gloves, and shoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autobacs Seven</span>

Autobacs Seven Co., Ltd. is a retailer of automotive parts and accessories based in Japan, with branches primarily in Asia and stores also located in France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meineke Car Care Centers</span>

Meineke Car Care Centers, Inc. is a franchise-based international automotive repair chain with more than 900 locations. The chain is ranked #52 in the Franchise 500 (2014) and #54 in America’s Top Global (2013). Previously known as Meineke Discount Mufflers, the company changed its name to Meineke Car Care Centers in 2003 when it expanded to offer full-service auto repairs.

Manheim, Inc. is an automobile auction company and the world's largest wholesale auto auction, based on trade volume with 145 auctions located in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. As a subsidiary of Cox Automotive, a subsidiary of privately owned Cox Enterprises, Inc. based in Atlanta, Georgia, Manheim's primary business is wholesaling vehicles via a bidding process using traditional and online formats. Manheim also provides other vital dealership and wholesale services, such as financing, title work, transportation, recovery, auto body repair, dealership management systems, dent repair and automotive reconditioning, and automotive re-marketing at each location.

Rain-X is a synthetic hydrophobic surface-applied product that causes water to bead up and run off surfaces, most commonly used on glass automobile surfaces. The brand has since been extended to a range of automotive and surface care products, including wiper blades.

Autotrader.com, Inc. is an online marketplace for car buyers and sellers, founded in 1997. It aggregates new, used, and certified second-hand cars from dealers and private sellers. The site also provides users with automotive reviews, shopping advice, and comparison tools for car financing and insurance information.

Auto Parts Warehouse (APW) is an American online retailer of automotive parts and accessories for cars, vans, trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Along with CarParts.com and JC Whitney, it was one of the flagship websites of CarParts.com, an American online provider of aftermarket auto parts, including collision parts, engine parts, and performance parts and accessories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automotive part retailer</span> Type of retail business

An automotive part retailer is a retail business that sells automotive parts and related accessories to both consumers and professional repair shops, through physical stores and websites. Some automotive parts retailers also offer customer support and services related to automotive maintenance and repair.

References

  1. "Kraco Enterprises, LLC". Hoover's Inc. website. Dun & Bradstreet . Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  2. "Kraco Enterprises". Sun Capital Partners. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
  3. "Kraco Enterprises to Acquire Auto Expressions from Shell Oil Company". Motor Sports News Wire. June 9, 2010. Archived from the original on 2017-03-21. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  4. Beckerman, Josh (June 11, 2010). "The Week In Private Equity: The Ants And The Giraffes". Private Equity Beat. The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  5. "Kraco Car Care International Limited". Companies House website.
  6. "Certificate of Incorporation on Change of Name".
  7. "Rain-X UK website".
  8. "Kraco Enterprises Completes Acquisition of Who-Rae". Kraco Press Release. October 21, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2017.