WAUCONDA, Ill. – Heidts Automotive Group has acquired Antioch, Ill.-based Alston Racing, adding a well-respected and established lineup of Alston racing components to its existing lineup of Heidts hot rod, muscle car and performance suspension systems and components. The acquisition was recently completed after several months of working with previous Alston Racing ownership.
“Adding Alston Racing to the Heidts Automotive family makes a great deal of sense for us when you look at the synergy between the two companies,” said Wallace Leyhon, owner and president of Heidts Automotive. “This will allow us to provide an even more extensive product offering to our current Heidts dealers and customers. At the same time, the current Alston dealers and customers will be able to take advantage of certain economies of scale with regard to materials, and further leveraging Heidts renowned approach to quality engineering and manufacturing.”
Alston Racing has been a mainstay in the racing community for more than 30 years. Since moving to its Antioch location in 1995, the company continued to grow, as evidenced by a recent 10,000-square-foot expansion. Alston is one of only a handful of manufacturers that actually builds complete race cars, from which its extensive parts business evolved, the company noted.
Alston Racing will continue to serve its existing customers and markets while the combined engineering, sales and marketing staffs from both companies work to integrate and optimize product offerings and business functions.
“Our focus will remain on providing superior components to the race car market with the added advantage of Heidts engineering and manufacturing capabilities,” noted Mike Ruth, who will remain as Alston product manager. “Combined, Heidts and Alston are going to have a very broad product line, covering everything from traditional hot rods, muscle cars, roll cages and purpose-built race cars for their dealers and customers.”
The Alston acquisition also complements the strategic alliance between Heidts Automotive and Kenny Brown Performance, which was announced in May. As a result of this agreement, Kenny Brown has been contributing to the engineering expertise of both companies, bringing his 25 years of late-model Mustang and Camaro street, track and race car performance experience into the Heidts product lineup.
