RALEIGH – Eric Benge, a carpenter from Lenoir, plans to purchase a new truck after scratching off the $100,000 top prize on his Black Onyx 7’s ticket. Benge bought his lucky ticket when he stopped to buy gas at the Holiday To Go store on Morganton Boulevard in Lenoir.

“I started shaking when I looked at the ticket,” Benge said as he collected his winnings. “I felt panicky. It was just so hard to believe. I still can’t believe it. This is so cool.”

Benge also plans to use his winnings, worth $68,001 after state and federal taxes were withheld, to save for retirement.

As of Monday afternoon, the Black Onyx 7’s game has two $100,000 prizes remaining to be claimed.

Along with draw games, sales of instant tickets make it possible for the N.C. Education Lottery to raise money for education programs in all 100 counties.

To see how more than $17.8 million in lottery dollars have made a difference in Caldwell County, go to the Where the Money Goes webpage at http://www.nc-educationlottery.org/beneficiary.aspx.