Rowan County man stops for gas, fills up on $200,000 lottery prize

A stop for gas on Sunday morning led Demarte Harris of Salisbury to win the first $200,000 top prize in a new lottery game.

“I usually like to buy tickets when I stop for gas,” Harris said. “I like playing the new games.”

He bought his lucky $200,000 Money Rush ticket from Kangaroo Express on Statesville Road in Salisbury.

“I saw a two and then zero zero so I thought I won $200,” Harris recalled. “Then I saw more zeroes. I was pretty excited.”

Harris collected his prize at lottery headquarters Monday and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $143,501.

He plans to use his winnings to buy a house.

The $200,000 Money Rush game debuted this month with four top prizes of $200,000. Three $200,000 prizes remain to be claimed.