RaceTrac's History

RaceTrac Logo
THROUGH
the years

RaceTrac 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.

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. The old original Bolch Trackside Station in St. Louis

1959

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

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. Carl Bolch Sr. purchases Oil Well Company and relocates the company’s headquarters to Montgomery, Alabama while expanding locations to Florida and Georgia.

1967

Carl Bolch Jr. joins the family business.

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. Carl Bolch Jr.

1970

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

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. Original Bolch gas station.

1975

The company expands to the Dallas-Fort Worth market

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. Downtown Fort Worth in 1975.

1976

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

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. Employees from when we moved

1979

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

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. The RaceWay brand.

1996

Metroplex Energy begins. Metroplex Energy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of RaceTrac Petroleum, 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.

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. Metroplex Energy logo

1998

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

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. Energy Dispatch is created

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.

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. 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.

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.”

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. RaceTrac interior featuring swirl world, a coffee bar, and a fountain drink wall.

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.

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. RaceTrac exterior at night.

2017

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

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. Remaining headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, RaceTrac moves to its new Store Support Center at 200 Galleria Parkway.

2019

RaceTrac opens its first locations in Nashville, Tennessee.

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. RaceTrac opens its first locations in Nashville, Tennessee.

2021

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.

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. First Kentucky Location

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.

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. First EV location

2025

Metroplex Energy is rebranded as Gulf, Inc.

418EB220-1942-49CE-A0C9-2A375B5206D7Created with sketchtool. Gulf logo