Hank Thomas began selling racing parts in 1961 when he purchased a parts truck and inventory from Wayne Lambeth who was selling parts out of a mobile truck at Bowman-Gray Stadium. Hank founded Hank Thomas Motors and Speed Parts after visualizing the potential for parts sales to the local racing circuit, and the potential to support his own racing interests. He began selling Frankland and Carrera product lines. Hank was Carrera's first southern distributor. A CAM2 Race Fuel distributor approached Hank in 1979 about an offer to purchase a distributorship while he was at the Metrolina Speedway. CAM2 was owned and refined by Sunoco Race Fuels. An agreement was reached on that Saturday night at the racetrack. On the following Monday, the distributor brought Hank a gas truck full of race fuel, and as they say, the rest is history. Hank Thomas Performance has grown into one of the largest volume Sunoco Race Fuels distributors in the nation, serving approximately 25 racetracks, and a dealer network across North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Hank Thomas Motors and Speed Parts began building racecars in the late 50's. They supplied cars to such notable drivers as Paul Radford, Freddy Query, Max Berrier, Johnny Bryant, and others. In 1996, he discontinued the fabrication operations at his business to focus on other aspects of the business, especially the growing race fuel business.