Sunoco, NASCAR Reward Drivers

PHILADELPHIA -- As part of its role as the Official Fuel of NASCAR, Sunoco launched its Free Fuel 5000 summer promotion -- which rewards loyal customers with free gas for visiting Sunoco locations -- for the third consecutive year.

Consumers can enter by visiting any of the more than 4,000 participating Sunoco stations to pick up a free Sunoco/NASCAR decal, which is then displayed on their vehicle. Using professional spotting teams through Aug. 31, Sunoco will reward customers displaying decals with a gift card for free gas.

Spotting teams will reward 5,000 winners with free gas, who will then be included in a grand prize drawing for 5,000 gallons of Sunoco gas.

"The Sunoco Free Fuel 5000 promotion is an ideal way to reward our loyal customers during the peak driving season," Chris Buitron, Sunoco's manager of brand marketing, said in a statement. "Consumers can put the same decal on their car that is featured on every NASCAR racecar for an opportunity to win the same brand of gasoline that fuels every team in the sport."

Official rules, participating locations and photos of the winners can be found at www.freefuel5000.com. As of Aug. 7, more than 1,828 winners have been spotted. The grand prize drawing will be held within a few weeks of the promotion's end on Aug. 31.

Meanwhile, customers at the Northville Township, Mich., Sunoco station were surprised recently when NASCAR driver Stephen Leicht, an 18-year-old Asheville, N.C., native, was present to fill tanks and wash windshields, the Detroit News reported.

In addition, fuel at the station was discounted to $2.50 per gallon to symbolize the Busch Series Carfax 250 race, which Leicht will participate in this weekend.

"I don't usually get this kind of service," Debbie Eichholtz, a Northville resident, told the paper as Leicht washed her windshield and filled her gas tank. Eichholtz saved about $5, and got an autograph.

"I'm certain my husband will know who he is," Eichholtz added. "I'm just surprised by how cute he is. I should have asked him to change all of my tires."

Also present at the station was Michigan International Speedway President Roger Curtis, who was helping out customers while chatting about upcoming NASCAR races, the report stated.

"I'd do this again. Everybody's happy to get the gas, even if they don't know who I am," Leicht told the paper.

X
This ad will auto-close in 10 seconds