Free gas at Shell station on CR-210

St. Augustine and St. Johns County residents who travel CR-210 each morning reported to Historic City News that they were surprised to find the Shell station offering gas at an unheard of price of $0.00 per gallon — thanks to a Winn-Dixie customer reward program.

This morning’s promotion, which lasted for about an hour and a half, is part of the grocery store’s “Fuel Perks” program — one of many gas rewards programs that retailers have employed since gas prices started going up.

Hunter Robinson, Winn-Dixie communications specialist, told local reporters that each customer who arrived between 7:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. this morning was offered 10 free gallons of gas, even if they did not have a “Fuel Perks” card.

The first 350 cars received 3,500 free gallons, Robinson said. No word about future plans to duplicate the promotion in other parts of St. Augustine and St. Johns County.

The line reportedly backed up for about a mile with motorists taking advantage of the promotion. There were no incidents as drivers waited patiently for their free gas.

The giveaway was only available at the Shell in front of the Winn-Dixie on CR-210 in northern St. Johns County — about a mile west of Interstate 95.