Menifee Resident Wins Much-Needed Car From R&R Auto

Menifee resident Cory Johnson poses with the staff of R&R Auto Group and representatives of NAPA Auto Parts with the car he won in a drawing June 11. Murrieta 24/7 photos: Doug Spoon

The management of R&R Auto Group and its partner NAPA Auto Parts just made life a lot easier for a Menifee resident badly in need of transportation.

Cory Johnson, husband and father of three, won a used car in a drawing held at R&R Auto June 11 during its anniversary celebration. To celebrate its first year in business selling used cars and the Grand Opening of its service center, R&R Auto welcomed guests to its facility on Encanto Road with a barbecue, petting zoo and pony rides for the kids, and the presentation of a rebuilt 1996 Mercury Sable to the winner of a special drawing.

In photo at left, Johnson is congratulated by R&R Auto owners Ben (left) and Jon Ranes.

Candidates for the prize were nominated by friends and relatives who stated their nominee's urgent need of reliable transportation. Owners of R&R Auto Group evaluated the more than 200 entries and narrowed the field down to 40 of the most deserving candidates, from whom they selected Johnson as the winner in a random drawing. NAPA Auto Parts supplied the parts and R&R the labor to rebuild the Mercury.

"This means so much to me," said Johnson, who drives back and forth to Pomona as a med student at Western University. He and his wife Juliann live with his parents with three children under the age of 9 while they struggle with school fees and court costs related to a child custody issue. He has been making the drive to school using a friend's car.

"Our car got totaled recently," Johnson said. "They gave us some money to get a new car, but then we got mixed up in the court thing again and the money was gone."

Johnson said he learned only the night before the drawing that his name had been submitted by Carla Williams, a longtime friend of the family.

"She said. 'I put your name in this raffle. I want you to go tomorrow at 1,' " Johnson recalled.

R&R Auto Group acquires new-car store trade-ins for an inventory of vehicles with low mileage and in good condition. They now offer a service department as a NAPA Auto Care facility. Their current special features an oil change for $14.99 with this coupon.

Jon Ranes said in making the presentation that the company is committed to serving the community in every way possible.

R&R Auto Group is located at 26786 Encanto Drive in Menifee.