The people have voted, and the hundreds of entries in the Quaker State World's Worst Commute Contest have been reduced to four finalists. The winner of the video-submission contest, which will determine who has the worst commute in America, will receive a once-in-a-lifetime trip to work with some very special company: three-time defending NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson.
The top finalists' videos will be viewed by a panel of judges from Quaker State and the Hendrick Motorsports staff, including Johnson himself. Johnson will personally select the person he will accompany – on his/her trip to work. The grand prize winner will also receive a trip for two to the Bank of America 500 race in Charlotte, N.C., on October 17.
The finalists include Alan Nelson of Newbury Park, Calif.; Kimberly Hanson of Salt Springs, Fla.; Mark Hroch of Cypress, Texas; and Tammy Sampson of Cottageville, W.Va. The videos can be seen at http://quakerstate.com/#/worlds-worst-commute.
"I am really looking forward to watching these four finalists' videos. I have heard the commutes are very tough, grueling, and really take a toll on both the vehicle and the driver," Johnson said. "Though it may not be as intense as my kind of driving, these finalists have really proved their daily commutes push their engines and patience to the limit by making in this far in the contest. It will be difficult to decide who will win the grand prize and enjoy their commute with me for one day and experience VIP treatment at the Bank of America 500 in October."
The contest, which began on February 15, encouraged motorists to log onto www.QuakerState.com or visit Quaker State's mobile marketing tour, The Durability Tour, and submit 30- to 60-second videos highlighting why they have the "world's worst commute." The videos were subject to peer voting to determine the 50 highest-rated videos eligible as finalists. The videos were then narrowed down to four finalists, who will have their videos viewed by a panel of judges from Quaker State management and the Hendrick Motorsports staff, with Johnson making the final decision.
"Our goal at Quaker State is to develop motor oil that not only remains durable even under the constant stress of everyday driving, but also delivers outstanding wear protection to help keep cars running longer," said Luis Guimaraes, general manager, Americas, Shell Lubricants. "The World's Worst Commute campaign was designed to reach out to consumers who are looking for those very characteristics. These finalists' videos demonstrate the extreme conditions under which their engines operate every day."
Quaker State launched the contest to highlight its new brand positioning. According to the recent U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, the average American spends more than 100 hours a year commuting to and from work, in addition to time spent running errands or driving to leisure activities. With motorists spending so much time driving, it is important to protect a vehicle from friction-related wear and help it continue to run at optimal performance under any driving condition.
For more information on the full line-up of Quaker State durable motor oils or the World's Worst Commute contest, visit www.QuakerState.com.