What Sets RaceTrac Apart: Growth, Travel Centers, and Expansion Across Florida

RaceTrac has evolved from a small, family-owned fuel business into one of the most influential convenience and travel-center operators in the country. In Florida especially, the company is expanding aggressively, investing in larger stores, improving its food offerings, and strengthening its fuel supply capabilities. Together, these moves position RaceTrac as a standout competitor in the state’s booming convenience retail market.

1. A Vertically Integrated, Growth-Focused Company

RaceTrac isn’t a typical convenience-store chain. It owns most of its locations, operates its own fuel distribution company (Metroplex Energy), and builds both neighborhood stores and large travel-center formats. This level of vertical control allows the company to manage supply, control margins, and expand quickly — advantages many franchise-heavy competitors don’t have.

2. Larger Stores and Travel Centers

Many new RaceTrac locations are substantially bigger than traditional convenience stores. Their travel-center format includes:

• High-flow diesel lanes
• Overnight truck parking
• More restrooms and expanded amenities

This makes RaceTrac attractive to not only everyday drivers but also fleets, delivery vehicles, and long-haul truckers — a segment most competitors can’t serve as effectively.

3. Strong Emphasis on Foodservice

RaceTrac continues to invest heavily in food, offering:

• Made-to-order pizza and sandwiches
• Breakfast items assembled in store
• Coffee and beverages
• Build your own ice cream, yogurt and sorbets
• Krispy Kreme donuts at certain locations

By treating food as a core business (not an add-on), RaceTrac brings customers inside the store and competes for meal occasions that traditional fuel-only stations often miss.

4. Rapid Expansion Across Florida

Florida is one of RaceTrac’s top growth markets. Key milestones include:

• 250th store opening in Punta Gorda (Nov 2024)
• New travel centers along major corridors like I-95 and I-75
• Continued mix of neighborhood stores and larger travel-center builds

Each new site is chosen to match local traffic patterns, commercial demand, and fleet activity — helping RaceTrac dominate key travel routes. They are actively looking for new sites to provide for a broad spectrum of needs, for example the purchase of 27 acres in Milton and the Travel Center in Vero Beach.

5. Strategic Acquisitions Strengthening the Brand

RaceTrac has also used acquisitions to boost its competitive edge:

• Metroplex/Gulf acquisition (2023–2024) strengthened fuel supply control.
• Potbelly acquisition (2025) signals a bigger push into branded, fresh food — something that could eventually appear inside RaceTrac stores.

These moves expand both their backend infrastructure and their consumer-facing offerings.

Timeline Snapshot (Recent Years)

• Dec 2023: Metroplex/Gulf integration expands fuel distribution capabilities.
• May 2024: New travel center opens in Vero Beach on I-95.
• Nov 2024: RaceTrac opens its 250th Florida store in Punta Gorda.
• 2024–2025: Continued rollout of neighborhood stores and large travel centers statewide.
• Late 2025: Potbelly acquisition strengthens RaceTrac’s fresh-food portfolio.

Why It Matters for Florida

For Shoppers: More food choices, larger stores, and travel-friendly amenities mean greater convenience all at a competitive price.

For Fleets & Commercial Drivers: Travel centers with diesel lanes, DEF, parking, and wide entries offer reliability on major routes.

For Developers: RaceTrac’s high-volume sites help anchor commercial corners and attract complementary retail — a strong draw in fast-growing Florida markets. Some sites have over 1 million visits per year.

Bottom Line

RaceTrac sets itself apart through vertical integration, big-format stores, strong foodservice, and strategic acquisitions. In Florida, this approach has turned the company into a major force — one that’s reshaping what a modern convenience-and-travel center can be. With more travel centers planned and more food innovation coming, RaceTrac’s footprint in the state will continue to grow.