Community, Jeeps & a Giant Duck

September 19th, 2026 | Front Royal, Virginia: Jeeps, ducks, and plenty of community spirit filled Gertrude E. Miller Park for the 12th Annual WCYCA Duck Race & Jeep Show. The annual event brought local families together while supporting the Warren County Youth Cheerleading Association. WCYCA provides recreational cheerleading opportunities for young people in the local community. Marlow Motor Company was excited to take part by entering a Jeep in the show.

However, simply showing up with a great-looking Jeep wasn’t going to be enough. Finance Manager Wendy made sure Marlow Motor Company fully committed to the theme. She traded the finance office for a giant duck costume and joined the festivities. Wendy’s willingness to have some fun added even more personality to an already memorable community event. And she wasn’t the only duck representing Marlow Motor Company that day.

First Place at the WCYCA Duck Race & Jeep Show 2026

Marlow Motor Company brought a Hydro Blue Pearl 2027 Jeep Gladiator Willys to the Jeep Show. The bright blue Gladiator stood out among the vehicles at Gertrude E. Miller Park. Ultimately, though, the decision belonged to the people attending the event. Instead of a traditional judging panel, attendees helped choose the Best Appearing Jeep. Participants received voting ducks and placed them in the bucket belonging to their favorite Jeep. When the ducks were counted, Marlow Motor Company’s Gladiator had earned the top spot.

The Gladiator took first place for Best Appearing Jeep at the 2026 event. The win also came with a special commemorative duck recognizing the achievement. For Wendy, the combination of supporting a local event and having some fun made the experience even better.

“I had such a great time representing Marlow Motor Company and being part of an event that brings so many local families together. Dressing up as the duck was definitely a first for me, but it was all worth it. Then our Gladiator won first place, which made the day even more memorable!” — Wendy, Finance Manager, Marlow Motor Company

Of course, we’re not sure whether the giant duck costume influenced any votes. We’ll leave that decision to everyone who attended.

Community, Relationships and a Very Special Duck

The WCYCA Duck Race & Jeep Show 2026 was about more than choosing the best-looking Jeep. The event gave families an opportunity to spend time together while helping support the Warren County Youth Cheerleading Association. It also provided local organizations and businesses with another way to participate in the community they call home.

For Marlow Motor Company, that’s an important part of being a local dealership. Community involvement doesn’t always have to mean a large sponsorship or formal presentation. Sometimes it simply means showing up, participating, meeting people, and having some fun together. We appreciate WCYCA for organizing another great community event. We also thank everyone who attended, stopped to see the Gladiator, and cast a voting duck in its favor. And a special thank-you goes to Wendy. She proved that being Marlow Motor Company’s Finance Manager apparently does not prevent you from spending a Saturday dressed as a giant duck.

There’s also one more chapter in this first-place Jeep’s story of the duck race & jeep show. The winning 2027 Jeep Gladiator Willys is available for sale at Marlow Motor Company. Better yet, we’re keeping the winning combination together. The special first-place duck comes with the Jeep. After all, you can’t separate an award-winning Jeep from its duck.

To learn more about how Marlow Auto Group supports the local community:
Visit Our In the Community Page

About The Marlow Auto Group

Marlow Auto Group has proudly served the Northern Shenandoah Valley for more than 75 years. Our story began in 1947 with a decision that set us apart. After World War II, cars were scarce, and buyers often waited months for delivery. Our founder, Guy Marlow, chose a different path. Instead of waiting, he opened a dealership to secure a car for his family and help others. That bold, people-first mindset remains at the heart of everything we do.

Over the decades, that decision grew into a regional family of dealerships. Today, Marlow Auto Group includes three dealerships serving communities throughout the Northern Shenandoah Valley. They are Marlow Motor Company in Front Royal, Tri-State Nissan in Winchester, and Marlow Ford in Luray.

As a locally owned and woman-operated business, we continue to stay true to our five core values. Those values are Innovation, Integrity, Community, Relationships, and Exceeding Expectations. You’ll see those values in our customer service and our partnerships with local schools, nonprofits, and community organizations. Marlow Auto Group believes dealerships should do more than sell and service vehicles. They should solve problems, support their communities, and build relationships that last. At Marlow, doing things differently isn’t just how we started. It’s how we lead.