If it wasn’t for car trouble, Jesus Alvares of Cary said he would never have won a $400,000 lottery prize.

Alvares was on his way to check on a part for his car when he decided to get a scratch-off ticket.

“I don’t normally buy lottery tickets,” Alvares said. “Something just told me to get one.”

He stopped at the Han-Dee Hugo on Gregson Drive in Cary and bought a $400,000 Bonus Cash ticket.

When he saw what he won, he didn’t know what to think.

“I was in complete disbelief,” Alvares said.

He claimed his prize Monday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, Alvares took home $278,005. He plans to pay off his car and invest the rest.

$400,000 Bonus Cash launched last July with four top prizes of $400,000. One top prize remains.

Ticket sales from games like $400,000 Bonus Cash made it possible for the lottery to raise more than $634 million for the state last year. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in Wake County, click on the “For Education” section of the lottery’s website.