<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE HEAFNER TIRE GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <CASH> 4,688 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 142,922 <ALLOWANCES> 4,398 <INVENTORY> 184,448 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 367,581 <PP&E> 77,086 <DEPRECIATION> 23,943 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 574,297 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 287,470 <BONDS> 161,385 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 11,094 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 53 <OTHER-SE> 4,004 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 574,297 <SALES> 900,391 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 900,391 <CGS> 681,470 <TOTAL-COSTS> 890,851 <OTHER-EXPENSES> (1,389) <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 18,979 <INCOME-PRETAX> (8,050) <INCOME-TAX> (1,540) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (6,510) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (6,510) <EPS-BASIC> (1.23) <EPS-DILUTED> (1.23)