NASCAR fan Luther Dowdy of Lincolnton bought three $1 Cash 5 tickets in tribute to Dale Earnhardt and crossed the finish line in Monday’s drawing with a $235,001 jackpot.

“It was the first time I’ve ever played Cash 5,” Dowdy said. “I chose Quick Pick three times for Dale Earnhardt.”

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.

“I about fell out of my chair when I saw how much I won,” he 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 $166,875.

“Now I might be able to retire at the end of this year,” he said.

Dowdy said he will also use his winnings to pay off his mortgage and help a neighbor who lives across the street.

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 $1 and drawings are held every night. Thursday’s jackpot is $110,000.

Ticket sales from lottery games make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $2.5 million a day on average for education. For details on how $4.8 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Lincoln County in 2021, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.