A sugar craving during a visit with family led Tony Whitfield of Little Rock, Ark., to a $200,000 lottery prize.
“I have a pretty big sweet tooth,” Whitfield said. “I was craving a honeybun and one of those coconut snack cakes, so I decided to stop and grab some.”
The army veteran and grandfather of 13 stopped at the Hatu Mart on North Haughton Street in Williamston in Martin County. While there, he decided to get a $500 Loaded scratch-off ticket. He took the ticket to the car and started scratching.
“It’s bad luck to scratch it in the store,” Whitfield said. “When I saw the numbers I was like, ‘Dang! I think I just won.’ I let out a Woohoo!”
Whitfield claimed his prize Wednesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $141,501. He plans to use the money to help his family and grandchildren. He also plans to get a new truck.
“I don’t need anything fancy,” Whitfield said. “I’m not picky. I just want something that runs and has a good engine.”
The $5 ticket launched in May with five top prizes of $200,000. One top prize remains.
Ticket sales from games like $500 Loaded make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $700 million a year for education. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.
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