Business
Ben is a third-generation car dealer. Initially he wanted nothing to do with the business and went to Texas A&M where he earned an engineering degree. Between his junior and senior year at Texas A&M he had an internship at a dealership and fell in love with the business. Ben's father owned Tomball Ford and he asked his father for the position of used car manager. The business suited him well and in 2002 he had an opportunity to purchase his first store, a very small Ford dealership in Port Lavaca, Texas, where he saw immediate growth and success. This was followed by purchasing Port Lavaca Dodge (2002) then Port Lavaca Chevrolet (2004). In 2025 the Keating Automotive Group, which now comprises 31 dealerships, generating about $3 billion in annual revenue and selling over 60,000 cars annually. In 2023, the Keating Auto Group was ranked 1st as the largest privately held auto group in Texas as well as the 9th top privately held dealership group in the United States. Automotive News ranked the Keating Auto Group as the 15th largest auto group in the nation. In 2024, Keating was nominated for the Time Magazine Dealer of the Year Award.
Ben On The Automotive Dealership Business
“I have found a lot of success in the retail car business, and that is fun. I have also had a huge number of failures, which has given me wisdom that I enjoy sharing with others. I like to win. I like to compete. I love it when my partners come to me with a problem, and I have a confident answer about a solution because I’ve been there before. This business offers unlimited opportunities and it changes all the time. There is always plenty to learn and plenty to achieve. That quest for growth keeps it interesting and fun over the long haul. Do what you love and love what you do.”
Ben On The Growth
“There’s nothing that describes our approach to business better than the word Ambition. This applies to our approach to buying more dealerships, selling more cars and having better CSI. Why is owning 32 dealerships better than owning 22? The only answer I can give is I enjoy buying dealerships. I enjoy putting deals together, solving problems, and creating success. Growing is almost like an addiction for me, because it’s fun and I enjoy it. When I think of all that in one word, the word that comes to mind is ambition.”
Keating establishes endowment for new technical sales minor
Philanthropy
In the area of community service, Keating is most proud of bringing Young Life, a faith-based organization for teens, to Victoria, Texas. He sponsors the Chick-fil-A 5K/10K & Kids Fun Run, benefitting Young Life Victoria.
“My wife and I are on the founding committee and continue to be involved,” he said. “We started small with a few volunteers in one high school, and today, Young Life Victoria is in three high schools.”
Keating is also committed to his alma mater, Texas A&M, and has established a $4 million endowment to support a technical sales minor and technical sales lab in the department of engineering technology and industrial distribution. He is also an advisory board member for the department.
“The retail automotive business has not received the level of respect it deserves in higher education,” he said. “I look forward to getting personally involved in speaking, teaching, and influencing perceptions of our industry.”
At the beginning of the school year, Toyota of Victoria holds the Back to School Bash. Keating’s employees help stuff backpacks with school supplies and distribute them to children in need who drop by the dealership. The kids are also treated to free snow cones and a complimentary haircut to start off the school year in style.
Keating also distributes 300 turkeys to his team during the week before Thanksgiving for them to give to food-insecure families to ensure that everyone has a nice holiday.
Other groups he supports include the Vine School (educates children with autism spectrum disorder), Boys & Girls Club of Victoria, St. Joseph High School, Golden Crescent Habitat for Humanity, Victoria Economic Development Corporation, athletic teams, rodeos and many others.
Racing
It all started when Ben’s Wife, Kathleen, bought him a weekend at Texas World Speedway for Christmas in 2005. In 2006, he took a Dodge Viper off the showroom floor of Tomball Dodge and drove to the track with no tools, or helmet, or any knowledge at all, and was completely hooked on racing.
In 2007 Ben started racing in 2007 in the Viper Racing League, which is a club-level, gentlemen’s racing series. In 2008, he won his class. He continued to move up to more challenging classes through the years and continued to have success.
Now nineteen years later, he has won many prestigious races including the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans. In 2024 he competed in the in the full IMSA season in North America plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France
In 2025 Ben will compete in the full season of the World Endurance Championship plus the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Ben On Racing
“Believe it or not, I find racing to be relaxing. I call it an adrenaline flush. The focus required to perform well behind the wheel won’t allow you to think about anything else, and I love the way I feel after a race weekend. I also love the teamwork required for endurance racing. And, of course, the competition. The fact that I can compete in the same car, at the same tracks, and in the same race with the best racing drivers in the world is still very humbling. I imagine that it would be like playing basketball with Michael Jordan. I get to compete with the best of the best, and I continue to learn every time I go out there.”