NASCAR Car Wash Zooms into Race City USA With Howco as Crew Chief

by Tim Fitzpatrick, Territory Sales Manager/Equipment, Howco Inc.

One might say that real estate developer and serial entrepreneur Steve Anderson has car washing in his blood, and he can never be far from the action.

Anderson was raised in the business, with his father owning car washes in Florida since 1957. After college, Steve and his brother bought a car wash from a friend of their father in St. Petersburg, Florida, in the early 1970s, expanded the business into nine locations, sold it, later launched and grew another car wash business with his two sons, then sold again.

Anderson and his sons are back in the car wash industry, making an ambitious reentry with the new NASCAR Car Wash, appropriately located in the renowned “Race City, USA” of Mooresville, NC.

Anderson and his top-notch team opened this first phase of five planned NASCAR-licensed express car washes in west Mooresville in Summer 2024. The second location is slated for east Mooresville in Fall 2024. Other forthcoming NASCAR washes in phase one are planned in the nearby suburban cities of Rock Hill and Lake Wylie, SC, and Gastonia, NC, with goals for a second phase of five additional washes as progress allows. Anderson has an exclusive, direct-licensing agreement with NASCAR for the Carolinas that he may opt to expand into other states.

Being a veteran of the car wash industry, Anderson knew what he wanted for this latest debut. He chose Motor City Wash Works equipment with Howco as the distributor in his targeted territory of the Charlotte metropolitan area of the Carolinas. Anderson values the importance of a fully engaged distributor, having worked with one (and even been one himself) in Florida in years past.

The attraction of Motor City car wash equipment to Anderson and his team is multi-pronged. Highlights include a new motor control and site integration software center called CruzControl™, with modules that monitor maintenance, tunnel control, chemicals, and a data rack, eliminating the need for internet dependence. The Motor City Glide XD™ flat belt conveyor by Minda was also on Anderson’s must-have list.

Other components at the new wash include:

Three Micrologic™ pay station/point-of-sale systems.

The new Motor City Dually 300GTe, a set of wraps with a top brush that reverses and cleans the rear of the vehicle for a more effective wash on SUVs.

InnovateIT wheelblastIT follow-along wheel cleaner.

Hanna HydraBlast high-pressure wheel washer.

Stealth Predator ultra-quiet drying system from International Drying Corporation, featuring low-maintenance and low-decibel blowers to comply with noise abatement.

PECO® Car Wash Systems High-Pressure Flipping Arch.

SoBrite Filtermatic Reclaim System.

The setup represents a unique, impressive combination and collaboration of the best equipment available.

This large, attractive car wash complied with various municipal restrictions and mandates (specific to this site) for signage, landscaping, building, and noise requirements. The lot size easily accommodates the 21 Vacutech vacuum stations with accompanying glass cleaner applicators and cloth towels. Each vacuum station also offers compressed air for additional cleaning.

“As with any first-time working relationships, especially with a project of this magnitude, there is a learning curve for all involved parties, and Howco has been wonderful in managing our race to the finish on every front,” Anderson stated. “The entire Howco team from equipment sales to design, installation, project management, ongoing consultation, and service has been fabulous.

“We believe in being at the forefront of every aspect of development, especially with equipment and technology, and this first Charlotte-area NASCAR store of ours is certainly a testament to that,” he continued.

“Our entire team has developed a great relationship with Howco, and we look forward to working with them on many future projects,” Anderson concluded.