North Carolina Man Scores $250K Scratch-Off Prize After Quick Gas Station Stop

A routine stop for gas turned into a life-changing moment for a Johnston County man after he landed a $250,000 scratch-off prize on his way to work.

🎉 Big Win on the Way to Work

Kevin Pavel of Clayton bought a $50 500X The Cash scratch-off ticket at a Mobil/Bull Market gas station in Morrisville. The ticket paid off with a second-tier prize worth $250,000.

The odds of hitting that prize were an incredible 1 in 1,630,503.

"It was amazing. I was about to cry," Pavel said after discovering the win.

📸 Wife Needed Proof

Pavel said his wife couldn't believe the news at first.

• She thought he was joking.
• He had to show her a photo of the winning ticket before she believed it.

After claiming the prize, he took home $180,039 after taxes.

💰 What's Next?

Pavel already knows how he'll use the money:

• Pay off a few bills
• Boost his retirement savings

🎯 More Prizes Still Available

The 500X The Cash scratch-off launched earlier this year with five $10 million top prizes, and none have been claimed so far. Players also still have seven $250,000 prizes remaining in the game.

🍀 North Carolina's Winning Streak

Several other North Carolina players have recently celebrated major lottery wins, including:

• A Clayton truck driver who won a $138,239 Cash 5 jackpot.
• A Chapel Hill resident who collected $100,000 from Powerball.
• A Fayetteville player who turned a $5 scratch-off into $200,000.
• A FastPlay ticket sold in Cary that produced a record-breaking $1,578,846 jackpot.

Remember: Lottery games are meant to be fun. Always play responsibly, as gambling can become addictive for some individuals and may lead to serious financial and personal challenges.