Sinclair history and the iconic dinosaur
Sinclair Oil was founded in 1916 by Harry F. Sinclair when he consolidated multiple oil and refining properties into the Sinclair Oil and Refining Company. The famous green dinosaur logo (DINO) first appeared in Sinclair advertising in 1930, based on the then-common belief that oil deposits came from the decomposed remains of prehistoric creatures. DINO was originally identified as a Brontosaurus, but Sinclair later reclassified the mascot as an Apatosaurus after paleontologists settled the naming dispute. The dinosaur has become one of the most recognized mascots in US retail history, appearing on signage, promotional items, and inflatable lawn ornaments across nearly a century of brand history.
HF Sinclair Corporation and the 2022 merger
In August 2021, HollyFrontier Corporation announced the acquisition of Sinclair Oil Corporation. In March 2022, the sale closed and the combined company was renamed HF Sinclair Corporation, trading on NYSE under the symbol DINO (a fitting tribute to the brand mascot). HF Sinclair operates seven complex refineries in Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Wyoming, Washington, and Utah, and supplies fuel to the 1,500+ Sinclair-branded retail stations across 30+ states. The corporate headquarters is in Dallas, Texas.
DINOCARE Top Tier additive package
Sinclair markets its gasoline under the DINOCARE brand, which is on the Top Tier Detergent Gasoline brands list. Top Tier is endorsed by major automakers (BMW, GM, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and others) and requires detergent additive levels that exceed EPA minimums. DINOCARE is engineered to clean vital engine components and prevent further deposit build-up. All Sinclair-branded gasoline grades carry the DINOCARE package.
Sinclair vs other Mountain West brands
Sinclair is one of several brands competing in the Mountain West and Plains markets. Compared to Maverik (the largest western US convenience-store chain), Sinclair pricing is typically close to local averages while Maverik often prices slightly higher with stronger food-service revenue. Compared to Conoco (also Top Tier, also Mountain West-concentrated), Sinclair and Conoco are roughly comparable on both fuel quality and pricing. Sinclair's competitive advantage in its core states is brand familiarity and the iconic DINO mascot, which has strong recognition among older drivers.