Duchess Shoppes Awards Free Gas for Year

HEATH, Ohio -- Duchess Shoppes, a longtime sponsor of the Ohio State University men's basketball team, gave away one year's worth of free gasoline during the Jan. 29 face-off between Ohio State and Penn State. The convenience store chain served as the company sponsor for the entire game.

For three weeks prior to the game, customers could text a certain number or visit the Duchess Shoppes website to win the chance to compete for the free gas prize. Michelle Broeske of Bellville, Ohio, Anne Marie Humphries of Pataskala, Ohio, and Robert Jimison of Columbus, Ohio, were the three finalists selected from thousands of entries.

Duchess Shoppes parent Englefield Oil Co. hosted the contestants and a guest of their choice in a suite at the game. During halftime, they competed in a "Minute to Win It" game called "Dizzy Mummy," during which each contestant had someone holding a roll of toilet paper in front of them. The contestants had to hold the end of the paper and turn in circles until the entire roll was undone around their body. They then broke free from the paper, ran to half court to pick up a basketball and dribbled down to the basket to make a shot. Humphries took first place in the contest, followed by Jimison.

"This is the third year we've done this promotion with Ohio State and given away free gas for a year. It is a popular contest with our customers, and we love to get to know the contestants when they come out for the game," said President Ben Englefield. "All of the contestants did a great job; we're really excited for Anne Marie winning the free gas for a year, but we hope to see all of them in the Duchess Shoppe soon.”