CSK Auto became a publicly traded company in March 1998, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, and grew through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth.

[7] In December 1983, the Pay 'n Save discount retail chain acquired Schuck's Auto Supply with its 58 stores.

In November 1985, Pay 'n Save spun off Bi-Mart, Lamonts, and Schuck's to form a new company, Northern Pacific Corporation.

The deal also included an automated distribution center in Dayton, Ohio that would be used to expand the Schuck's brand into Kansas City, Missouri.

[24] In 1997, CSK acquired 81 Trak Auto stores in Southern California, converting them to the Kragen name and product mix.

[25][26] This led to an extremely productive year in 1998, as annual sales broke the $1 (~$2.00 in 2023)-billion barrier for the first time, and the company opened, expanded, or relocated a total of 130 more stores.

In June 1999, CSK acquired 86 Big Wheel/Rossi Auto Parts stores in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.

[27] By August, CSK Auto operated 926 stores in 17 states under the Checker, Schuck's, Kragen and Big Wheel/Rossi names.

[28] In October, CSK completed its acquisition of 194 Al's and Grand Auto Supply stores in Washington, California, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and Alaska.

[32] To strengthen its position in the Northern Plains states, in April, CSK purchased All-Car Distributors, operators of 21 stores in Wisconsin and one in Michigan.