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

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

Steve Anderson, a real estate developer and entrepreneur, has car washing in his blood and stays close to the action. His more recent NASCAR licensed car wash expansion plans include five locations across the Carolinas.

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. They expanded the business into nine locations and later sold it. Steve then launched and grew another car wash business with his two sons. Eventually, they sold that business as well.

Anderson ​and his sons are back in the car wash industry, making an ambitious reentry with the new NASCAR-Licensed 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. They plan to open the second location in east Mooresville in Fall 2024. The team will launch additional NASCAR washes in Rock Hill, Lake Wylie, SC, and Gastonia, NC. As progress continues, they aim to add five more washes in a second phase. 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 distributor in Charlotte’s metropolitan area of the Carolinas. Anderson values a fully engaged distributor, having worked with and been one himself in Florida.

Anderson and his team are drawn to Motor City car wash equipment for several key reasons. Highlights include CruzControl™, a motor control center monitoring maintenance, tunnel control, chemicals, and data without needing internet access. 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 complies with all site-specific municipal rules for signage, landscaping, building, and noise control. 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. 

Reflecting on the collaboration, Anderson praised Howco’s support, saying, “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.” “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.