A stock car racing fan playing the lottery for the first time ever has won a USD 231,001 jackpot after deciding to buy three tickets in honour of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt whose car had the No. 3.
The lucky winner, named as Luther Dowdy of Lincolnton in the US state of North Carolina, said it was the first time he had ever played Cash 5.
Newsflash obtained a statement from the North Carolina Education Lottery on Thursday, 20th October, saying: “NASCAR fan Luther Dowdy of Lincolnton bought three USD 1 Cash 5 tickets in tribute to Dale Earnhardt and crossed the finish line in Monday’s drawing with a USD 235,001 jackpot.”
Dowdy said: “It was the first time I’ve ever played Cash.”
He added: “I chose Quick Pick three times for Dale Earnhardt.”
Dale Earnhardt (1951-2001) was an American professional stock car driver who raced from 1975 to 2001 in the former NASCAR Winston Cup Series.
Earnhardt is considered to be one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. On 18th February 2001, Earnhardt died in a last-lap crash during the Daytona 500.
The North Carolina Education Lottery said: “Dowdy, a 63-year-old grave digger, said he has always been a race fan so he chose to buy three tickets to represent the No. 3 on Earnhardt’s racecar. He was lying in his bed Monday night watching television when he bought his lucky Quick Pick tickets using Online Play on the lottery’s website.”
Dowdy said: “I about fell out of my chair when I saw how much I won.”
The lottery said: “Dowdy matched all five white balls in Monday’s drawing to win the jackpot. He arrived at lottery headquarters Wednesday to collect his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home USD 166,875.”
Dowdy said: “Now I might be able to retire at the end of this year.”
The lottery added: “Dowdy said he will also use his winnings to pay off his mortgage and help a neighbor who lives across the street.”
The lottery also explained: “Cash 5 is one of four lottery games in North Carolina where players have the option of buying their tickets through a retail location or Online Play, either through the lottery’s website or with the NC Lottery Official Mobile App. Cash 5 tickets are USD 1 and drawings are held every night. Thursday’s jackpot is USD 110,000.”
