Irving Oil Awards Free Gas to Two Lucky Customers

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. -- Considering gas prices are expected to rise this holiday season and perhaps beyond, getting free gas for a year is an even more valuable prize now. Irving Oil awarded one customer from Connecticut and another from Vermont with free gas for a year as part of its Irving Rewards program.

Sheila Riley of Berlin, Conn., and Jim Hayssen of Bondville, Vt., each will receive $2,100 worth of Irving gas cards thanks to the loyalty program, which began June 1. Customers at 300 participating Irving stations in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island can earn 10 cents off per gallon per $200 spent.

"I'm thrilled to have won," Riley said. "I'm putting two kids through college and do a lot of traveling to visit them. The prices at Irving are always competitive and they are one of the few places who don't charge more for credit card purchases."

Hayssen said the free gas he won will also be incredibly valuable. He and his wife Joan have four children, three cars and travel more than 50,000 miles a year. "We are religious about using the rewards card," said Joan Hayssen. "The prices at Irving are great, the stations are always clean and the staff is incredibly friendly."

According to Irving, more than 100,000 people have registered for the Irving Rewards card. To date, nearly 61,000 customers have entered to win free gas for a year.

In addition to the grand prizes, Irving also awarded $100 gift cards and deployed "Rewards Street Teams" throughout New England during the summer. The street teams handed out tote bags containing gift cards ranging from $20 to $100. In total, Irving distributed $6,000 at these events.

According to Harry Hadiaris, general manager of Irving Oil, the rewards program has been so successful that the retailer extended it through Dec. 31. Rewards must be redeemed by Jan. 31, 2012.