Heafner Tire Group Announces Appointment of New President/CEO

    CHARLOTTE, N.C.--Jan. 22, 2001--Heafner Tire Group, Inc. announced that effective today Richard "Dick" Johnson has been appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer for Heafner Tire Group, Inc., to replace Donald C. Roof who has left to pursue other interests.
    Mr. Johnson has most recently served as President of the Southeast Division for Heafner Tire Group, Inc. Before that he was the President and Chief Executive Officer for ITCO, acquired by Heafner in 1998. Prior to joining ITCO, Mr. Johnson served with Albert Fisher Distribution first as Senior Vice President from 1991 to 1994 and then as President and Chief Operating Officer from 1994 to 1996.
    Commenting on the announcement Mr. Kim Davis, a member of the Board, stated, "the Board and I have complete confidence in Mr. Johnson's abilities to lead this Company and to continue the growth that we have enjoyed."
    Heafner Tire Group, Inc. is the country's largest independent marketer of tires and tire-related products. The Company operates four distribution divisions serving 35 states from over 70 distribution centers and includes the operations of the former J.H. Heafner Company, Inc. and Itco Tire Company, The Speed Merchant, Inc., T.O. Haas Tire Company, American Tire Distributors, and California Tire Company. Heafner also operates 240 retail outlets primarily under the Winston Tire name, in California, Arizona, Nebraska, and Kansas. Heafner had 2000 revenues in excess of $1 billion. For information contact J. Michael Gaither, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at 704/423-8989.