Barbara Carmel brought her old Chevy to a dealership in Brookhaven to get the oil changed and won a new car.

Carmel, of Magnolia, has been going to Stan King GM Superstore for years. She and her husband shopped there when he was alive, and now the widow takes her car there to let their maintenance department keep it running smoothly. It was during one of these visits that she heard about their contest.

Anyone who test drove a vehicle during the months of July or August was eligible to win a 2016 Chevy Sonic.

Since she was thinking about trading in her Chevy for a newer model, she took one for a spin and entered the contest.

“I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try,” she said. “I came home and forgot about it.”

That was Monday and on Saturday that same week, they held the drawing.

“They called me at home and told me I won a new car,” she said. “It was such a shock. After that, I was thanking God for it. It really was a shock.

She said the Stan King folks who called were excited for her.

“They were hollering, too, because they know me from coming in,” she said. “They were hollering on the phone with me.”

Carmel likes to enter contests, but never expects to win. “I’ve won little drawings for little things, but I’ve never won anything this big,” she said. “I’m riding in it. I’ve got my other one up under the carport, and I’m riding in this one.”

Stan King staff worried she might not be able to drive a standard, but Carmel is a pro.

“I’m shifting and a-goin’,” she said.

Stan King General Manager Paxton King said everyone was glad Carmel won.

“She was the perfect person to win it,” he said.

This was the first time they’ve given away a car in a contest for the dealership in the 20 years they’ve been open.

“We wanted to show our appreciation to all our loyal customers and give back to the community,” he said.