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Marine wins a new truck at the state fair

The Chevy Silverado will wait at his parents' home while he's training with the military.

By CAMILLE C. SPENCER
Published February 20, 2007

HUDSON - Dustin Cox walked up to the box of 670 keys and fished one out.

If he was lucky, he would open the door to a bright red 2007 Chevy Silverado worth $40,000.

But when the young Marine stuck the key in the door and turned it, nothing happened. Cox thought he'd lost his shot at a new ride.

Then, a DJ from the radio contest he'd entered told him to turn the key the other way.

"I unlocked it, and he said, 'Congrats! You won a 2007 Chevy Silverado.' I was in awe. I couldn't even talk."

Cox, 19, drives a beat-up 1986 Camaro. He just returned home from basic training in South Carolina and is leaving again soon.

His friend helped him qualify for the drawing, sponsored by WQYK-FM 99.5, for the new truck. That friend accompanied Cox and his parents to the Florida State Fair on Saturday, where the qualifiers were invited to pick out a key.

Cox wanted the truck but figured the odds were against him.

He spent Monday at the Castriota Chevrolet dealership in Hudson souping up his new ride.

He ordered side steps and chrome door handles, all included in the prize.

The dealership will even pop on new tires after the 45-mile drive from the fairgrounds to Cox's parents' house in New Port Richey.

Cox is responsible for $2,700 in taxes and title for his new truck, in addition to an extended warranty he purchased.

His father, Kelly Van Kirk, will drive the truck from the fairgrounds to the family's house today and park it in the driveway.

Cox has a 5:25 a.m. flight to catch. He'll be gone for 22 days of training in Jacksonville, N.C.

Father and son have worked out an understanding for that shiny new truck that will be sitting in the driveway.

"I'm only allowed to drive it from the dealership to the house," Van Kirk said. "It's his truck, so Dad can't go tooling around in it."

Camille C. Spencer can be reached at 727 869-6229 or cspencer@sptimes.com.

[Last modified February 19, 2007, 23:12:32]