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Ricky James Benton

Facts

Bio

Early in his life Ricky Benton developed a passion for auto racing and continues to be very involved in the racing community. He owns RBR Enterprises and built a modest race shop in Cerro Gordo, NC, which has fielded cars in the NASCAR and Late Model Stock series. His cars have competed in and won the regional and track championship in 1998, the USAR ProCup Series, winning the series championship in 2002 and having his driver win Rookie of the Year in 2004 and 2008. He has also placed cars in the NASCAR Nationwide series and currently runs the RBR/BTS #92 race truck in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He has experienced many notable finishes during his career.

Not only has Ricky developed and maintained his own race team, he has been supportive of others as they have sought to participate in or be involved in the sport. Ricky frequently puts the Black’s Tire name on other’s race cars or racing ventures along with donations of equipment or pulling money out of his pocket to help others.

Ricky is a member of the Cerro Gordo Baptist Church. He was one of the founders of the Cerro Gordo Dixie Youth Organization where he still maintains an active role, is a past member of the West Columbus High School Advisory Board, a longtime member of the West Columbus High School Athletic Booster Club, a member of the Chadbourn Masonic Lodge, the Wilmington Scottish Rite Lodge and a member of the BB&T local advisory board. He is very active in supporting any activity involving area youth. Ricky has been nominated for the prestigious Modern Tire Dealer “Tire Dealer of the Year” Award. In March 2013 Ricky and Dianne were honored by Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina with the establishment of the Ricky and Dianne Benton “Community Hitching Post” on the premises of the Homes farm and exhibition center for their gifts of support and love for the Homes children.

Ricky began working with Black’s Tire in 1981. As he worked with Black’s Tire, some of his duties involved expanding the business into multiple locations. Later an agreement was reached that Ricky and Dianne would purchase the business and continued operating the business under the Black’s Tire name because of their respect for the Black family.

Ricky and Dianne (Batten) married during his junior year in high school and are the parents of 3 sons Ricky II, Ryan and Jeremy. Very much into “family” Ricky and Dianne enjoy their parents, sons, three daughters-in-law, and are very involved with their grandchildren.