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Ben Keating
Benjamin Edward Keating (born August 18, 1971) is an American racing driver and businessman operating out of Victoria, Texas. Keating is the owner of 30 car auto dealerships across Texas, The Keating Auto Group. Since starting auto racing in 2007, he has competed in many auto races worldwide, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, and most recently the World Endurance Championship. He is the only American driver to have won multiple World Championships. Keating began racing in 2007 after receiving a weekend track driving course as a Christmas present from his wife.
Keating has been surrounded by the car industry his entire life. Growing up, he washed cars and parked them on the front line at the Ford dealership owned by his father, which provided Keating an inside look into the dynamics of auto dealerships. Keating eventually found himself in an internship at Service Group during his junior and senior years at Texas A&M University.[citation needed]
During his internship in Service Group, Keating trained staff and managers at multiple dealerships. In 1995 when he graduated from A&M with a degree in Engineering, Keating sold cars at Covert Ford in Austin, Texas. Soon after he became the Used Car Sales Manager at Tomball Ford which was owned by his father and later became a minority owner himself.
Keating purchased Port Lavaca Ford in 2002. That was followed by Port Lavaca Dodge (2002) then Port Lavaca Chevrolet (2004). As of 2024, Keating owned 30 dealerships, generating about $3 billion in annual revenue and selling over 50,000 cars annually. In 2023, the Keating Auto Group was ranked 1st as the Largest Privately Held Auto Group in Texas as well as the 9th Top Privately Held Dealership Group in the United States. Automotive News ranked the Keating Auto Group as the 15th Largest Auto Group in the Nation. In 2024, Keating was nominated for Time Magazine Dealer of the Year Award.
At each of his stores, the general manager is also a minority partner of the business.
Keating began racing in 2007 after receiving a weekend track driving course as a Christmas present from his wife. In 2007, he began racing a 2000 Dodge Viper GTS in the Viper Racing League (VRL), a league that began as track days for Viper enthusiasts. Keating received a DNF in his first race, an event at Sebring International Raceway. In 2007 Keating participated in the full VRL series and in 2008, his second full year in the league, Keating won the VRL National Championship. After the 2008 season, the VRL reorganized into the North American Road Racing Association.
In 2009, Keating participated in the NARRA US GT Championship, a 13-round series at seven venues across the Continental United States. Driving a Viper Competition Coupe, Keating claimed the national championship. He would repeat this feat in 2010.[citation needed]
In 2010, Keating also began racing in a new Dodge SRT-sponsored event, the 5-city, 10-race Dodge Viper Cup. Driving the specially designed Viper ACR-X, Keating finished second in the inaugural Viper Cup with race wins at Virginia International Raceway and Pocono Raceway. Keating finished the series with 501 points, 106 points behind first place. During the 2011 Viper Cup, Keating would record four race wins (New Jersey Motorsports Park, Virginia International Raceway, Texas World Speedway and Daytona). Going into the final race of the season, Keating held a 58-point advantage in the Viper Cup standings (a win being worth 60), and claimed the national championship by 20 points despite being forced into 15th place by a late-race collision. In 2012, Keating would dominate the series and repeat as national champion, recording 6 wins (Road Atlanta (both races), Road America (both races), Monticello Motor Club, and Watkins Glen) as well as three other top-five finishes.
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Ben Keating
Benjamin Edward Keating (born August 18, 1971) is an American racing driver and businessman operating out of Victoria, Texas. Keating is the owner of 30 car auto dealerships across Texas, The Keating Auto Group. Since starting auto racing in 2007, he has competed in many auto races worldwide, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 24 Hours of Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, and most recently the World Endurance Championship. He is the only American driver to have won multiple World Championships. Keating began racing in 2007 after receiving a weekend track driving course as a Christmas present from his wife.
Keating has been surrounded by the car industry his entire life. Growing up, he washed cars and parked them on the front line at the Ford dealership owned by his father, which provided Keating an inside look into the dynamics of auto dealerships. Keating eventually found himself in an internship at Service Group during his junior and senior years at Texas A&M University.[citation needed]
During his internship in Service Group, Keating trained staff and managers at multiple dealerships. In 1995 when he graduated from A&M with a degree in Engineering, Keating sold cars at Covert Ford in Austin, Texas. Soon after he became the Used Car Sales Manager at Tomball Ford which was owned by his father and later became a minority owner himself.
Keating purchased Port Lavaca Ford in 2002. That was followed by Port Lavaca Dodge (2002) then Port Lavaca Chevrolet (2004). As of 2024, Keating owned 30 dealerships, generating about $3 billion in annual revenue and selling over 50,000 cars annually. In 2023, the Keating Auto Group was ranked 1st as the Largest Privately Held Auto Group in Texas as well as the 9th Top Privately Held Dealership Group in the United States. Automotive News ranked the Keating Auto Group as the 15th Largest Auto Group in the Nation. In 2024, Keating was nominated for Time Magazine Dealer of the Year Award.
At each of his stores, the general manager is also a minority partner of the business.
Keating began racing in 2007 after receiving a weekend track driving course as a Christmas present from his wife. In 2007, he began racing a 2000 Dodge Viper GTS in the Viper Racing League (VRL), a league that began as track days for Viper enthusiasts. Keating received a DNF in his first race, an event at Sebring International Raceway. In 2007 Keating participated in the full VRL series and in 2008, his second full year in the league, Keating won the VRL National Championship. After the 2008 season, the VRL reorganized into the North American Road Racing Association.
In 2009, Keating participated in the NARRA US GT Championship, a 13-round series at seven venues across the Continental United States. Driving a Viper Competition Coupe, Keating claimed the national championship. He would repeat this feat in 2010.[citation needed]
In 2010, Keating also began racing in a new Dodge SRT-sponsored event, the 5-city, 10-race Dodge Viper Cup. Driving the specially designed Viper ACR-X, Keating finished second in the inaugural Viper Cup with race wins at Virginia International Raceway and Pocono Raceway. Keating finished the series with 501 points, 106 points behind first place. During the 2011 Viper Cup, Keating would record four race wins (New Jersey Motorsports Park, Virginia International Raceway, Texas World Speedway and Daytona). Going into the final race of the season, Keating held a 58-point advantage in the Viper Cup standings (a win being worth 60), and claimed the national championship by 20 points despite being forced into 15th place by a late-race collision. In 2012, Keating would dominate the series and repeat as national champion, recording 6 wins (Road Atlanta (both races), Road America (both races), Monticello Motor Club, and Watkins Glen) as well as three other top-five finishes.