Die-hard NASCAR fan wins six-figure lottery jackpot by honoring Dale Earnhardt with his pick
By Zoe Sottile, CNN
(CNN) - One North Carolina man's longtime support of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt paid off big-time when he won over $200,000 in the lottery.
Luther Dowdy, a 63-year-old grave digger, bought three "Quick Pick" tickets in honor of the No. 3 on Earnhardt's race car, according to a news release from the North Carolina Lottery
His Earnhardt-inspired technique succeeded: He won the $235,001 Cash 5 jackpot on Monday and went to the lottery headquarters to claim his earnings on Wednesday, says the release. After taxes, his winnings amounted to $166,875.
Dowdy was shocked when he realized how much he had won, according to the release.
"I about fell out of my chair when I saw how much I won," he said in the release. "Now I might be able to retire at the end of this year."
The odds of winning the Cash 5 jackpot in the North Carolina Lottery are just 1 in 962,598, according to lottery officials.
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