Racine man wins $5,000 prize from Sunoco

From left, grand prize winner Tim Smith, Hill’s Sunoco owner Mike Hill, Dan Loper and Tim McWhorter of Bazell Oil, and Tom Pliske, area manager for Sunoco. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

RACINE, Ohio – A Racine, Ohio resident won’t have to worry about paying for gasoline for a while.

Timmy Smith has been awarded one of the grand prizes in the annual Sunoco UltraTech™ Free Fuel 5000 sweepstakes on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. He was awarded his prize of $5,000 worth of free fuel at a ceremony held in his honor at his local Sunoco station at 521 Elm Street in Racine.

Across the country Sunoco named 14 Grand Prize Winners in the thirteenth annual sweepstakes. Smith was spotted by an official Sunoco spotter back in the summer fueling up at Hill’s Sunoco. He received a $10 gift card which also entered him in the larger sweepstakes for one of the $5,000 grand prizes.

Timmy, 50, worked for 23 years at the Constellium Plant, stopping daily at his local Sunoco station to fill up on gas, where he has been filling up since high school. It was a natural choice to choose Sunoco as his go-to station; Timmy has spent many years attending races at Bristol Motor Speedway and has long been a fan of the Official Fuel of NASCAR®. While he has a history of placing Sunoco decals on the window of his Jeep, he had no idea that this year, his passion for the brand would result in him being spotted at his local station, winning a $10 gift card and being entered to win the grand prize. “It was hard to sleep last night, that’s how excited I am!” He has told a few that he’ll be spending some of the money on one of his favourite Hamilton mens watches, as well as treat Tammy to a few special anniversary gifts, which Timmy says goes without saying.

Tim Smith was picked to win a $10 gift card earlier this summer for having a Sunoco sticker on his vehicle. It entered him in the contest to win one of the 14 grand prizes of $5,000 in gift cards from Sunoco. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

Winning the grand prize comes just in time for Timmy, who is now retired. This week is his wedding anniversary, and he plans to use part of his free Sunoco UltraTech™ fuel to drive his wife, Tammy, to the beach where they were married 23 years ago. This trip will mark their first time back since their wedding day.

“We love the Sunoco UltraTech™ Free Fuel 5000 Sweepstakes because it allows us to give back to loyal customers like Timmy,” said Fred McConnell, Director, Fuels Marketing. “We are so happy that we’re able to help him and his wife take their first trip back to where they were married, and we wish them the very best anniversary!”

Following the ceremony Smith said of winning, “I still don’t believe it. It’s good.”

Tim and Tammy Smith said the grand prize will help them out with expenses. Photo by Madalyn Wood.

There for the ceremony in addition to the Smiths was Tom Pliske, Area Manager for Sunoco. He presented Tim Smith the prize of $5,000 worth of Sunoco gift cards. Also there for the presentation was: Hill’s Sunoco owner, Mike Hill; Dan Loper, Vice President/General Manager of Brazell Oil Company; and Tim McWhorter, Sales Manager of Brazell Oil Company. Brazell Oil is the supplier of Sunoco UltraTech Fuel to Hill’s Sunoco. Tammy Smith was also present.

To learn more about the 2017 Sunoco UltraTech™ Free Fuel 5000 Sweepstakes or read the official rules, visit www.sunoco.com/freefuel5000