John Reece of Mocksville said he randomly chose a Fast Play game to play on Saturday and he lucked out with a $121,399 jackpot win.

“It was basically just a shot in the dark,” Reece said. “I guess you could say it was just the right time.”

Reece bought his lucky $2 Hot 50’s ticket from the Food Lion on Valley Road in Mocksville. At the time of his purchase, the jackpot stood at $606,995. Since he bought a $2 ticket, he received 20% of the progressive jackpot.

“I showed my wife the ticket and she said, ‘I think you hit the jackpot,’” he recalled.

Reece said the win did not sink in at first.

“It took me a minute and then I was like, ‘Oh my God this is happening,’” he said.

He arrived at lottery headquarters Tuesday to collect his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $86,801.

Reece plans to use his winnings to pay off his car and potentially put a down payment on a house.
Fast Play features an instantly growing jackpot that increases with every ticket sold until it is won. As of Tuesday afternoon, the Fast Play jackpot stands at $518,000 and counting.

For details on how $3.1 million raised by the lottery made a difference for education programs in Davie County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.