Independent Auction Group executive director Dave Blake was named the winner of the Award for Industry Excellence as Cox Automotive presented its 17th annual Independent Auction Awards at an awards dinner in conjunction with the Automotive Remarketing Alliance’s and National Auto Auction Association’s 2026 Spring Remarketing Exchange in Dallas.

Blake was honored as “a respected industry leader whose work has made a lasting impact on independent auctions and the broader wholesale ecosystem,” Cox Automotive said in a news release.

The awards recognize outstanding performance throughout the independent auction community, Cox said, celebrating partners who are driving progress across flooring, digital remarketing and buyer confidence in the evolving wholesale marketplace.

Cox said the program is the evolution of the longstanding OVE Awards and reflects the company’s continued commitment to independent auctions through OVE, NextGear Capital and — new this year — DealShield.

“These awards are about recognizing the independent auctions that continue to raise the bar for our industry,” Cox Automotive associate vice president of industry operations Mike Browning said. “We’re proud to celebrate their success — and we’re committed to continuing to work alongside them to help keep their businesses moving forward.”

The 2026 honors included two new DealShield awards to spotlight independent auctions that are “strengthening buyer confidence and transparency through protection products that enhance the wholesale buying experience,” Cox said, noting more than 100 independent auctions are members of the DealShield network.

America’s Auto Auction Northern California received the DealShield Excellence Award for demonstrating leadership in the DealShield network with its performance, collaboration and partnership. Cox said the auction “set the standard through leveraging DealShield as a strategic part of their business, exhibiting strong operational execution and proactive communication and helping grow the DealShield platform.”

The DealShield Client Engagement Award for the auction with the highest percentage of vehicles sold with DealShield protection went to America’s Auto Auction El Paso. The award reflects strong buyer adoption and the auction’s ability to position DealShield as a value-added part of the sales experience.

“These new awards reinforce how independent auctions are innovating to meet buyer expectations,” Browning said. “They’re showing what’s possible when protection, transparency and partnership come together.”

Cox Automotive also recognized independent auctions for exceptional performance in key metrics on OVE and through NextGear Capital flooring, areas in which independent auctions continue to grow their reach and liquidity, the company said.

The 2026 Cox Automotive Independent Auction Award winners are:

  • DealShield Excellence Award: America’s Auto Auction Northern California
  • DealShield Client Engagement Award: America’s Auto Auction El Paso
  • OVE Highest Commercial Sales Volume: Southern Auto Auction
  • OVE Highest Digital Mix: America’s Auto Auction San Antonio
  • OVE Highest Dealer Sales Volume: America’s Your Auction Tampa Bay
  • OVE Lowest Unbuy Rate: Orlando Longwood Auto Auction
  • OVE Highest Dealer Sales Growth: Greater Rockford Auto Auction
  • OVE Highest New Seller Growth: America’s Auto Auction Kansas City
  • OVE Highest Dealer Conversion Rate: South Florida Auto Auction
  • OVE Highest Conversion Rate Total Sales: Norwalk Auto Auction
  • OVE Highest New Seller Growth – New Auction: United Auto Exchange
  • NextGear Capital Highest Annual Flooring Independent Auction: Orlando Longwood Auto Auction
  • NextGear Capital Largest Growth YOY Independent Auction: Oakwood’s Arrow Auto Auction
  • Award for Industry Excellence: Dave Blake, executive director, Independent Auction Group

 

“Celebrating these achievements underscores our shared commitment to progress,” Browning said. “When independent auctions succeed, the entire wholesale ecosystem benefits.”

GRAA celebrates 52 years with GRAA’lapalooza Anniversary Sale

Greater Rockford Auto Auction, a member of ServNet Auction Group, will celebrate 52 years in the auction business with its annual GRAA’lapalooza Anniversary Sale, a two-day event set for June 23-24.

Headlining the ninth annual GRAA’lapalooza celebration will be multi-platinum country artist Rodney Atkins, known for hits such as “Watching You,” “Take a Back Road,” “These Are My People” and “Caught Up in the Country.” He’ll perform live as part of the auction’s annual customer appreciation celebration on June 23.

“We are proud to celebrate 52 incredible years with a GRAA’lapalooza that’s bigger and better than ever,” GRAA general manager Chad Anderson said. “We are thrilled to welcome Rodney Atkins to the GRAA’lapalooza stage for what promises to be an unforgettable Tuesday night performance for our customers and partners.”

The event begins at 4 p.m. June 23, with more than 200 vehicles running through the lanes. After the sale, food and drinks will be provided by local food trucks before Atkins takes the stage at 7 p.m.

Wednesday includes the main auction event featuring more than 1,000 vehicles from fleet, lease and dealer consignors. Following the sale, attendees will have the chance to win a share of $10,000 in prizes during the event’s closing giveaways.