Performance Auto was founded in 1981 by Rodney and Margaret Harris to help area racers in the Red River Valley. What started out in their two-stall garage quickly grew, and soon after the Harris’ realized the need for more space.
By the fall of 1982, the pair purchased a building on Main Avenue in Fargo and Performance Auto served racers in that location for the next 30 years. While the main focus has centered on circle track dirt track racing parts, Performance Auto has helped drag racers, street performance, and kart racers stay on track with various performance parts and safety equipment.
(1917 Main Avenue - Fargo, ND)
In December of 2006, area racing supporters Jake and Sharnel Bitker acquired Performance Auto from the Harris’ and continued to operate from the location on Main Avenue. Hoping to better serve the growing customer base, in the winter of 2011-2012 Performance Auto moved to its current location at 3401 ½ Interstate Blvd in Fargo. The location features a larger showroom as well as a warehouse full of products to help serve area speed enthusiasts.
(3401 1/2 Interstate Blvd - Fargo, ND 58103 | Image courtesy: Google Maps)
Along with the move, longtime area racer Michael Johnson was added as Store Manager, along with Terry Hoffart as Parts Specialist, a pairing who has served the last several years. Bitker and Johnson have years of circle track experience as owners and/or drivers, while Hoffart has several years of experience in the parts service industry and has served on area race teams. Bitker and Johnson have raced just about every racing division in their careers and have tested the products they sell. Bitker, Johnson, and Hoffart have observed what racers need and don't need, and rely on that knowledge to be prepared when someone comes in the door looking for a specific part.
Performance Auto offers one-stop shopping for virtually anything that's needed in dirt track racing, with even more stock than ever before.
“We have somewhere in the area of 400 different brands of products on the shelves here every day,” Hoffart added. “We have more than 42,000 parts in stock. We have the parts in stock now, so there’s no need to wait.”
Product lines available at Performance Auto include: Ultrashield, AERO Wheels, Eibach Springs, QA1 Shocks, BSB Manufacturing, Outlaw Sliders and Birdcages, Wehrs Machine components, Out-Pace Products, QuickCar Products, QuickTime Products, Simpson Race Products, Bilstein Shocks, Lunati, Flow Tech Headers, Hooker Headers, K&N Filters, Performance Bodies, Race Pro Radiators, Thermo-Tec, Sunoco Race Fuel, Pro Comp Methanol, Intercomp, Stewart-Warner, Motive Gear, Rockwell, Autolite Plugs, EZ Slider, Painless Wiring, Pop Brand Rivets, and Bert and Falcon Transmissions.
Performance Auto offers Billy Moyer Victory Modifieds and Late Models, and also carry the Larry Shaw Race Cars and GRT Race Cars brands, and quite literally have a chassis on their shelf at any one time.
(#84 Mike Johnson - Billy Moyer Victory Chassis IMCA Modified | Image courtesy: Speedway Shots)
“We are able to provide complete rollers with upgrades to many standard components through our vendors,” Johnson said.
Performance Auto also offers services such as spring checking, shock dyno service, along with rental tools such as scales and alignment tools, and can rebuild shocks.
Whether you walk through the front door in Fargo or visit the company website, you will see that nearly all the most popular and prominent brands in the industry are on hand and ready to pick up, or for same-day shipping, including Klotz products, Beyea Headers, Genesis Shocks, Accel, AFCO, Bell, Crower, Carrera, World Products, Earl's Fittings, Elgin, Esslinger, Howe, Isky, Keith Black, KSE, Manley, Moroso, Pertronix Flamethrower, RCI, Richmond Gear, RaceQuip, Schoenfeld, Tilton, Weiand, Wilwood, Winters, Autometer, Hoosier, Bassett, Real Racing Wheels, Kirkey, RJS, and AMSOIL. Performance Auto is also the area's warehouse dealer for Holley products.
To help area dirt track racers stay on track, a stocked trailer visits area tracks throughout the summer, a tradition first started by Rodney and Margeret Harris.
“We believe this helps the store better serve its customers,” said Johnson.
The trailer makes regular visits to Norman County Raceway in Ada, MN on Thursday nights, Red River Valley Speedway in West Fargo, ND and River Cities Speedway in Grand Forks, ND on Friday nights, Jamestown (ND) Speedway and Devils Lake (ND) Speedway on Saturday nights, Buffalo River Race Park in Glyndon, MN on Sunday nights, along with area special events throughout the summer. The Bitker family continues to expand their involvement in area racing by promoting Norman County Raceway and Red River Valley Speedway, along with supporting area tracks and several area drivers for the last several years as well.
In January of 2017, a second location was opened in Grand Forks, ND at 5700 Gateway Dr. #5. Unfortunately, that location closed on September 28th, 2018. For Canadian customers, there is a Performance Auto outlet located in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
(5700 Gateway Drive #5 - Grand Forks, ND)
An online store: ShopPerformanceAuto.com was launched a few years ago to help racers purchase various products without leaving the comfort of home. Now entering 38 years of service, Performance Auto will continue to serve area racers and performance enthusiasts for years to come.
“Our goals include great customer service, lower prices and the best safety equipment around,” Hoffart said. “We've got a large selection of different brands, colors, styles and designs. Full-containment seats are very popular with racers concerned about safety, and we can order custom suits as well. If you are a driver with a dirt car, street rod, or drag car, we can help you out with products for them.”
Connect with Performance Auto
Store Hours: 9:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Thursday, 9:00am to 5:00pm Friday, and 9:00am to 1:00pm on Saturday.
3401 1/2 Interstate Blvd - Fargo, ND, 58103 | Phone: 1-800-373-4641
Winnipeg, MB - Canada | Phone: 1-204-770-4737
Website: ShopPerformanceAuto.com
Facebook: facebook.com/performanceautofargo
Twitter: twitter.com/Performanc_Auto
Instagram: instagram.com/performance__auto
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/27209936
