Retired Floyd County school teacher wins new car
Deborah Conaway (holding ticket) has just been told that she won a 2025 Nissan Pathfinder Tuesday afternoon as part of a promotional giveaway organized by Big DanÐÔÊӽ紫ý Car Wash and the Riverside Auto Group. With her are, from left, Big DanÐÔÊӽ紫ý Car Wash Chair Jarrett Shadday, Conaway, Cole Aycox, Riverside Auto Chair Andy Welborn and Riverside Nissan new car manager Cody Dowdy.
Riverside Nissan New Car Manager Cody Dowdy with Deborah Conaway after she wins a 2025 Nissan Pathfinder as a giveaway Tuesday.
New car winner Deborah Conaway (middle, with bag) celebrates her winning a 2025 Nissan Pathfinder. Celebrating with her is, from left, Cole Aycox, Big DanÐÔÊӽ紫ý Car Wash chairman Jarrett Shadday, Conaway, Riverside Auto chair Andy Welburn, Riverside Nissan New Car manager Cody Dowdy.
Retired Floyd County school teacher Deborah Conaway would say sheÐÔÊӽ紫ý never had very good luck. She wouldn’t say she had bad luck, but she couldn’t recall if she’d ever won anything significant before Tuesday afternoon, when she won a new 2025 Nissan Pathfinder from Big DanÐÔÊӽ紫ý Car Wash.
Big DanÐÔÊӽ紫ý had announced the contest in April, as part of a promotional effort with Riverside Auto Group to give away the vehicle to celebrate the auto groupÐÔÊӽ紫ý 50th anniversary and Big DanÐÔÊӽ紫ý opening of their 25th location.
“I drove past the car all the time, but assumed it would be won by someone in some remote part of the state,†Conaway said. “In fact, I didn’t even know I was entered into the contest.â€
To be automatically entered in the contest, Big DanÐÔÊӽ紫ý stated that contestants needed to have an unlimited wash pass as well as subscribe to their text club, according to Big DanÐÔÊӽ紫ý Car Wash Chief of Staff, Anne Paige Wilson.
“She was chosen using a random number generator Monday afternoon,†Wilson said. “But we only told her she had won free car washes for a year, and then we surprised her with the big news when she got here.â€
Conaway arrived Tuesday, thinking she had won a yearÐÔÊӽ紫ý free car washes, which, she said, was itself a nice prize.
“So I’m meeting everyone, and I’m pretty happy to have won the car washes,†Conaway said. “And then they told me what car I was driving home, and I was totally shocked.â€
Conaway said the employees of Big DanÐÔÊӽ紫ý, as well as Riverside Auto Group, were the nicest people.
“I was pretty emotional, because I’ve had some car issues in the last few years, I actually began to cry a bit,†she said. “And a few of the employees also had tears in their eyes; it was such a nice thing to happen.â€
Conaway said her car trouble began a few years back when her previous vehicle developed transmission problems, and then the engine blew.
“I’m retired on a fixed income, and couldn’t afford to fix my old car or buy a new car,†Conaway said. “I didn’t have a car for almost a year, which was very hard because I am very independent.â€
Eventually, she inherited a vehicle from a relative who passed, a 2010 Chevrolet.
“My old car got me around, but this Nissan is on a whole other level; itÐÔÊӽ紫ý a huge upgrade,†she said. “But I may need to go back to school to learn about all the bells and whistles. My grandson helped me connect my phone this morning, which is a start.â€
ItÐÔÊӽ紫ý only the second new car Conaway had ever owned in her life, she said.
The car, a 2025 Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition, is valued at $50,000 and was donated by Riverside Nissan. All taxes, tags and title were also included.
“Partnering with Riverside Auto Group was an easy decision because they are a well-run, locally owned and operated business just like us,†Big DanÐÔÊӽ紫ý Car Wash Chairman Jarrett Shadday said. “They just celebrated their 50th anniversary, and we just opened our 25th location, so the concept of two great brands and one amazing giveaway is just one way to celebrate our shared milestones.â€
And to add to the prize, a year of unlimited car washes was also included as part of the prize package.
“So if you’re wondering where I’ll be, I’ll be getting my new car washed at Big DanÐÔÊӽ紫ý every day,†Conaway said. “Maybe even twice a day, I still can’t believe I won a car.â€
