America Selects Grand Prize Winners in the Shell V-Power 'Fuel My Passion' Contest and Sweepstakes!

HOUSTON, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ — Shell concluded its annual search for the ultimate automotive enthusiasts across the country in the Shell V-Power® "Fuel My Passion" Contest and Sweepstakes. The five grand prize winners were selected by the online community after all entries were narrowed down with the help of expert guest judges from Road & Track, Car and Driver and Cycle World.

To enter, Shell asked people across the U.S. who are passionate about what they drive or take pride in their ride to enter the contest by submitting a photo of themselves and their vehicle along with a few sentences about how Shell V-Power® premium gasoline fuels that passion. The vehicle categories included: Luxury and Vintage, Sports and Performance, Motorcycles, Trucks, SUVs or Minivans and Other Premium Rides.

This year, Editors-in-Chief Matt DeLorenzo from Road & Track, Eddie Altermanfrom Car and Driver and Mark Hoyerfrom Cycle World participated as guest judges to narrow down the entrants to three finalists in each category. Once the finalists were selected, U.S. residents were invited to go online and to select this year’s winners, who all have one thing in common – their love for their ride.

"My passion truly is my 65 Malibu SS, and having my entry win is something that I am very proud of," said Bill Vinney who takes home the grand prize in the Luxury and Vintage Vehicle category. "We travel everywhere in that car and winning a year’s worth of Shell V-Power® means my baby will treat us right on all of our road trips!"

Chuck Bell from Seattle, Wash., grand prize winner of the Motorcycle category was thrilled about his prize too, saying, "Winning the Shell V-Power® ‘Fuel My Passion’ Contest and Sweepstakes means I can share Shell V-Power® with my friends and family and keep my engine full of Va-Va-Va-Voom!"

Kim Krisco, from Trinidad, Colo., was the one lucky sweepstakes finalist who was randomly chosen to win his choice of one of three rides – an Audi S5, Audi Q7 or Harley-Davidson® Electra Glide Motorcycle– as well as five years of free Shell V-Power® gasoline. Krisco chose a brand-new 2010 Audi Q7 (valued at $50,975) to make his way through the Colorado mountains. "I was so excited to be named the Shell V-Power® ‘Fuel My Passion’ Sweepstakes winner! I entered the contest as well, but I was not a finalist. I was hiking in the mountains when I found out I had won and couldn’t wait to get home to tell my family the exciting news," says Krisco. "I’ll still be driving my Chevy, but my new Audi Q7 will come in handy for making my friends jealous!"

The five grand prize winners received a year’s worth of free Shell V-Power® premium gasoline and one lucky sweepstakes winner was awarded a 2010 Audi Q7 plus five years of free Shell V-Power®. The 2010 Shell V-Power® "Fuel My Passion" Contest grand prize winners in each category are:

LUXURY AND VINTAGE VEHICLES: Bill Vinney, Milwaukee
SPORTS AND PERFORMANCE VEHICLES: Frank Mallory, Yucaipa, Calif.
MOTORCYCLES: Chuck Bell, Seattle, Wash.
TRUCKS, SUVs OR MINIVANS: Eileen Richter, McFarland, Wisc.
OTHER PREMIUM RIDES: Katie Giltinan, Brookhaven, Pa.
SWEEPSTAKES WINNER: Kim Krisco, Trinidad, Colo.

"For the second year in a row, the response to this contest has been overwhelming. Automotive and motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country wanted to get involved, and we’re excited to see a variety of vehicle lovers showcase their passion for their ride for a chance to win great prizes," said Meg Love, Shell V-Power® Brand Manager at Shell Oil Products U.S. "Shell is happy to reward customers who have made Shell V-Power® America’s best-selling premium gasoline and thanks all of the contest and sweepstakes entrants."

For more information about the Shell V-Power® "Fuel My Passion" Contest and Sweepstakes and the grand prize winners, please visit www.shell.us/fuelmypassion.