For a while now, Speedway Gas has been owned by Valvoline, a French company that also owns the Tullamore Dew and Murray beers. So what exactly happened here?
New Owners And Rebranding
In August 2017, Valvoline sold off a portion of the company to Marathon for a cool $70 million. It was then that the company changed its name to Speedway Gas and started running some pretty cool ads featuring NASCAR drivers like Chase Elliott, Matt DiBianca, and Ty Dillon. The rebranding was a bold move, because the company is essentially a gas station that happens to sell other products (like quick lube oil and car parts) at the same time. But the strategy worked, and people started noticing the clever ads and brand extensions.
Unfortunately, the deal had some pretty stringent requirements for Valvoline. The French company had to keep the name Speedway Gas, couldn’t change the recipe for its popular French vanilla extract, and had to maintain a physical location in America. Valvoline also had to keep up with the original recipes for its popular hotdogs and sausages as well as continue to operate the locations as full-fledged gas stations.
How’s The Product?
On the subject of product, let’s dive right into the heart of the matter. If you’ve been to a Speedway Gas location, you’ll know exactly what to expect. There are four pumps, a few islands for people to sit at, and walls covered in logos and posters for NASCAR and other racing series. It has that classic, old-school gas station aesthetic that you’d usually find in an Americana town.
The product they serve is average at best. It’s not awful, but there are also no gourmet delights or craft beers to be had here. One of the main focuses is on pumping your car’s gas. You’ll find a wide variety of gas brands, including Sunoco, Shell, and any other major oil company, as well as Chevron and any other branded gas. There’s also an island for people to sit at, surrounded by plastic chairs and plastic tables. When you’re in a hurry, this is the part of the gas station that you’ll want to avoid.
You won’t find a grill here, and there isn’t any room for a sit-down restaurant, either. This is a place where you pull up to the pump and fuel your car. And that’s it. The gas isn’t bad, it’s fine, and it’ll get you where you’re going. But it’s not great. Especially when you compare it to the offerings of other major brands.
In terms of value for money, you’re looking at about the same price as anywhere else. There aren’t any amazing deals to be had here, and you won’t find any coupons either. This isn’t a place where you get a great value. For that reason, it isn’t very popular with value-conscious shoppers.
Allergies And Food Fights
Another issue that people have with the gas station is that some of it seems to be made up of mostly wheat. If you have allergies or suffer from gluten intolerance, you’re going to have a hard time finding anything at all agreeable here. This is a place where you pull up and fuel your car, not eat a meal. The food is acceptable, but not exceptional. There isn’t any amazing, unique flair to the menu, and you can’t make any special requests, either. It’s quite frankly, a boring place to eat.
On the subject of gluten, if you’ve tried their French vanilla extract, you’ll know exactly what kind of wheat they’re using here. The recipe calls for some very expensive French vanilla beans, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that they use a blend of wheat and corn because it’s cheaper. Unless you’re into bland food that you can microwave quickly (and often), then avoiding wheat isn’t very practical at this location.
It’s Got That Classic, Nostalgia Feel
One more thing worth pointing out is that this isn’t a place that you go into if you want to feel like you’re in a little city surrounded by cars and trucks. You pull up in the country, surrounded by nothing but farmland. The vibe here isn’t exactly that of a bustling metropolis. When you’re in a hurry, this isn’t the kind of place you want to linger in. Especially if you want to get gas and on your way quickly.
The location still keeps that classic, old-school gas station vibe that fans of Americana and car culture might reminisce about. But the world has changed, and so has Speedway Gas. Chase Elliott’s car will still be there, but it’s likely that most of the pumps will not be functional. You’ll have to search for a Shell station or convenience store if you want to fill up. While it might still be possible to pull up and fuel your car, it’s not the same as when it was first established. These days, you’re more likely to find a 7-Eleven or similar type of convenience store here, not a full-fledged gas station.
Why Is It Important To Know About This Company?
Well, if you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, you might know that American gas stations are under a lot of pressure. Shops like this one in Bloomingdale, Illinois are fighting to stay in business as there is a growing demand for gas elsewhere. The cost of the gas is already increasing as it is traded in the international markets, making it more expensive for truckers and industrialists alike. The cost of crude oil, the main ingredient in gas, has been steadily rising in recent years, putting more financial stress on those who rely on fuel-efficient vehicles. If you want to avoid financial ruin due to excessively high gas prices, then it might be worth your while to find out more about this company.