Longtime JEGS.com customer Gary Winkelman had a dream day at the world headquarters of JEGS High Performance Wednesday as the 62-year-old New Yorker officially claimed the beautiful, 2010 JEGS yellow and black Chevrolet Camaro he won through the summer-long JEGS "Win This Car! Celebrating 50 Years" Sweepstakes.

Winkelman and his wife Karen received a hero's welcome when they arrived at the facility. Following a tour of the massive distribution center, the corporate offices, and the race shop, the Winkelman's finally got to see Gary's new hot rod when it was unveiled by JEGS Founder Jeg Coughlin Sr. and his sons Jeg Jr. and Mike.

"I'm overwhelmed but very pleased," Gary said. "Performance cars have always been a passion of mine."

Longtime JEGS.com customer Gary Winkelman had a dream day at the world headquarters of JEGS High Performance Wednesday as the 62-year-old New Yorker officially claimed the beautiful, 2010 JEGS yellow and black Chevrolet Camaro he won through the summer-long JEGS "Win This Car! Celebrating 50 Years" Sweepstakes.

Winkelman and his wife Karen received a hero's welcome when they arrived at the facility. Following a tour of the massive distribution center, the corporate offices, and the race shop, the Winkelman's finally got to see Gary's new hot rod when it was unveiled by JEGS Founder Jeg Coughlin Sr. and his sons Jeg Jr. and Mike.

"I'm overwhelmed but very pleased," Gary said. "Performance cars have always been a passion of mine."

After that simple proclamation, a roar went up from the crowd of JEGS associates on hand, and the Winkelman's hopped in their car, started it up, and revved the motor amid another chorus of cheers.

"We wanted to show the world the excitement we have as a company for Gary," Jeg Jr. said of the raucous affair, which was captured by a camera crew. "This was just another really exciting way for us to celebrate the 50th anniversary of JEGS and show everyone out there how we treat our customers. The foundation of our company is built of having the best in customer service and that's why we are able to celebrate 50 years of being in business."

Married for 41 years, the father of two and grandfather of two more worked as an electrical engineer for Eastman Kodak in Rochester, N.Y., for most of his adult life.

When he wasn't working, Winkelman could usually be found at the drag strip, racing a variety of hot rods to much success in both IHRA and NHRA Super Stock categories. He and his friends set numerous records at Lancaster area tracks and even ventured into the ultra competitive world of NHRA Division 1 and NHRA national event races on occasion.

"I was fortunate to be around in the Muscle Car years," Winkelman said. "Our local track in Lancaster was very competitive in Super Stock and they paid very well too so that's where we raced most of the time. We won the track championship for several years straight there. Every once in awhile we'd run the bigger events.

"The last car we had was a 1969 Chevelle that we raced in SS/LA. That car could run a second under the index. At the end of '99 season someone made us an offer we couldn't refuse for the car and that was the end of our racing careers. I've been without a performance car since then, until now."

The biggest giveaway in JEGS history, the Chevrolet Camaro symbolizes the company's 50th anniversary in the high performance parts business.

"It's been a special year for all of us at JEGS and welcoming Mr. Winkelman into the JEGS family is a real neat deal," said Mike Coughlin, one of four brothers that own and operate the company. "It sounds like Gary knows his way around a hot rod, which is perfect.

"Our customers are extremely loyal and we love to have these special giveaways as a way to say thanks for their incredible support over the years."