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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | Lottery winner having a blast After the Big Win: Lottery winner having a blastVirginian bought truck series team after hitting it big MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Joe Denette bought a team in the Camping World Truck Series with one very important demand — it can't be like work. After winning the Mega Millions lottery drawing on May 1, 2009, Denette vowed to never punch another time clock. The rest of his life would be dedicated to having fun — and spending his $30 million winnings. "That's why I decided on the trucks; it's real racing," Denette said. "The Cup side is too much like a business. I don't want to be in business. I don't want to have to work at anything. I want to have fun." Denette owns the No. 23 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Jason White. The team is off to a slow start with two crashes in the first four races, but it hasn't kept the former construction worker from Thornburg, Va., from having fun. "I'm still living a dream," he said. Without NASCAR, Denette said he probably wouldn't have had one of three winning tickets in the $227 million jackpot. His luck started earlier in the week when he won four tickets to Richmond International Raceway from a local radio station. That set into motion a series of events that forever changed his life. He stopped at a convenience store to buy 23 tickets on the way to the airport to pick up his brother, who was using one of the four tickets. One of those Mega Millions tickets held the winning numbers: 9, 16, 24, 40 and 43 with the mega ball 35. The winning ticket was a computer-generated quick pick. "If I hadn't won the race tickets, I wouldn't have stopped to play the lottery then," he said. "Some things are just meant to be." His share was $75.6 million. The cash option was $47.8 million. After taxes, he took home $30 million. "I'll make do," he said. An hour after he realized he had a winning ticket, he was back at the Richmond track for the Sprint Cup race. "It was on then," he said. "I told everybody sitting around me I just won the lottery, but nobody believed me. We tailgated and drank beer and had a blast that night. "And we're still having fun." White was able to bring GunBroker.com sponsorship to the deal, so Denette doesn't have to pay for everything. Part-time racer Hermie Sadler worked with Denette to make sure nobody takes advantage of his money and good nature. "We want to win races and a championship, for sure," White said. "If we have a bad day, Joe tells us to smile and shake it off. He doesn't put any pressure on us. He wants to win. He's a very low-keyed guy, but he wants to win. He gives us the tools to succeed, and I really believe we can win a championship. This is a great race team." White's best finish was 10th at Phoenix in February. Denette still buys lottery tickets each week, but instead of 23 he now buys 123. "I haven't cashed another ticket since I won," he said. He also hasn't worked, which, he said, is priceless.  (Click to display full-size in gallery)
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June 1, 2009
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| | Posted: April 8, 2011, 8:37 pm - IP Logged | |
There's one thing I hate worse than football, basketball, and baseball. Watching cars go around in circles has to be the dumbest thing in sports. It's bad enough wasting time, like some of my friends do, yelling, screaming at the T.V., and arguing over which team or player is doing what in sports, but cars going in circles is plain stupid. Sorry....! Sports nerds just piss me off...!...They keep saying..."MY TEAM' is better or whatever, as If they own the team. The football players don't even know they exist, and they act as If they're a representative of the team. Get a life ! OK, there...I got it off my chest...lol | | |
Oklahoma United States Member #82920 November 12, 2009 3455 Posts Offline | | Posted: April 8, 2011, 9:31 pm - IP Logged | |
Congrats to the winner!!! | | |
The Ville, FL United States Member #95908 August 19, 2010 1708 Posts Offline | | Posted: April 8, 2011, 10:02 pm - IP Logged | |
There's one thing I hate worse than football, basketball, and baseball. Watching cars go around in circles has to be the dumbest thing in sports. It's bad enough wasting time, like some of my friends do, yelling, screaming at the T.V., and arguing over which team or player is doing what in sports, but cars going in circles is plain stupid. Sorry....! Sports nerds just piss me off...!...They keep saying..."MY TEAM' is better or whatever, as If they own the team. The football players don't even know they exist, and they act as If they're a representative of the team. Get a life ! OK, there...I got it off my chest...lol I can understand how you feel about "cars going in circles" all day like NASCAR. But if you went to a Le Mans race your tune would change. Its a whole different beast and the track includes several types of turns unlike NASCAR. I just got back from a Le Mans race in Sebring FL and I go every year. Its the most fun sporting event I have ever been to. It's completely different than NASCAR. Anyways your post made me LOL | | |
New Member
Florida United States Member #108847 March 31, 2011 10 Posts Offline | | Posted: April 8, 2011, 10:21 pm - IP Logged | |
There's one thing I hate worse than football, basketball, and baseball. Watching cars go around in circles has to be the dumbest thing in sports. It's bad enough wasting time, like some of my friends do, yelling, screaming at the T.V., and arguing over which team or player is doing what in sports, but cars going in circles is plain stupid. Sorry....! Sports nerds just piss me off...!...They keep saying..."MY TEAM' is better or whatever, as If they own the team. The football players don't even know they exist, and they act as If they're a representative of the team. Get a life ! OK, there...I got it off my chest...lol As a huge sports fan this made me lol as well. Everybody has their own opinions.. Congrats to the winner! | | |
MD United States Member #1735 June 18, 2003 7466 Posts Offline | | Posted: April 8, 2011, 10:27 pm - IP Logged | |
For the thousands if not millions of mechanics NASCAR rocks their world.
The appreciation of the sport goes all the way back to the beginning of the auto
industry. The rules and regulations the engine builders and everything that goes
into building a car that can compete in a race with other cars in the same
class. It's beyond awesome what these people have to do to get ready for one
race let alone one season.
I'd of given anything to have been involved in NASCAR when I was younger
but I lived in the wrong part of the country to get in on the ground floor. When
I left the Army i almost moved to Atlanta. Oh well that dream died along with
many others. Big John says. You don't hit the number. The number hits you!!!! I'm not Big John, I'm Four4me, Big John's a friend. | | |
Ridge Runner - Oracle of the Appalachians Way back up in them dadgum hills, son! United States Member #74415 April 28, 2009 12412 Posts Offline | | Posted: April 8, 2011, 11:07 pm - IP Logged | |
There's one thing I hate worse than football, basketball, and baseball. Watching cars go around in circles has to be the dumbest thing in sports. It's bad enough wasting time, like some of my friends do, yelling, screaming at the T.V., and arguing over which team or player is doing what in sports, but cars going in circles is plain stupid. Sorry....! Sports nerds just piss me off...!...They keep saying..."MY TEAM' is better or whatever, as If they own the team. The football players don't even know they exist, and they act as If they're a representative of the team. Get a life ! OK, there...I got it off my chest...lol And to think I was gonna invite you up to the compound on race day for a few beers and screamin at the tv with me and some of the good old boys. I'll never forget old whats-his-name...
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Housekeeper MICHIGAN United States Member #82269 October 28, 2009 13107 Posts Offline | | Posted: April 8, 2011, 11:33 pm - IP Logged | |
There's one thing I hate worse than football, basketball, and baseball. Watching cars go around in circles has to be the dumbest thing in sports. It's bad enough wasting time, like some of my friends do, yelling, screaming at the T.V., and arguing over which team or player is doing what in sports, but cars going in circles is plain stupid. Sorry....! Sports nerds just piss me off...!...They keep saying..."MY TEAM' is better or whatever, as If they own the team. The football players don't even know they exist, and they act as If they're a representative of the team. Get a life ! OK, there...I got it off my chest...lol Stop beating around the bush and tell us how you really feel.  Sounds to me like you must be a hockey fan....OH YEAH ! | | |
Downhere, S.C. United States Member #35432 March 11, 2006 1952 Posts Offline | | Posted: April 9, 2011, 12:25 am - IP Logged | |
 
 Please Pray For Our Troops And Their Families.
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Hamilton, OH United States Member #4236 March 27, 2004 265 Posts Offline | | Posted: April 9, 2011, 12:44 am - IP Logged | |
There's one thing I hate worse than football, basketball, and baseball. Watching cars go around in circles has to be the dumbest thing in sports. It's bad enough wasting time, like some of my friends do, yelling, screaming at the T.V., and arguing over which team or player is doing what in sports, but cars going in circles is plain stupid. Sorry....! Sports nerds just piss me off...!...They keep saying..."MY TEAM' is better or whatever, as If they own the team. The football players don't even know they exist, and they act as If they're a representative of the team. Get a life ! OK, there...I got it off my chest...lol I like women's curling and wrestling (college). | | |
United States Member #32929 February 12, 2006 610 Posts Offline | | Posted: April 9, 2011, 1:47 am - IP Logged | |
glad to see a winner do what he Loves, i don't like what he does, but ever human diff :D i like "Fake" Pro wrestling LOL, great smack talking , and asskicking, cheating, chair shots to the back, cage match's etc , great Entertainment going in circles is plain stupid i agree with that thro
i do however like girls Roller derby from time to time , its nice to watch them elebowl and nock each other down LOL i do Love demolition derby thro, let the epic Battle begin of a massive free for all smackdown via crashing begin! and i watch some of diff X games when its on ever year , i guest i just like xtreme Entertainment ,if someone lifes does not appear in danger, f it only Nascar i watch are sport highlights of epic crash's , i can't help my self not to look at that stuff go down
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adelaide sa Australia Member #37542 April 11, 2006 2430 Posts Offline | | Posted: April 9, 2011, 4:17 am - IP Logged | |
<---- buys a mud wrestling team " we aint won much , but its been a lot of fun. " May " The lotto goddess may be blind and heartless, but she also has a wicked sense of humor. " mon/ lotto [8.8] tue/oz lotto [] wed/ lotto [8.8] thur/ power ball [] sat/ lotto [] sat /pools [] keno [21]20 scratch [] jan loss=[260.25] wins= 189; feb loss= [190.05] wins =182.6; mar loss= [311.9] wins = 107.35; apr loss= [320.30] wins= 107.50 2013 YTD loss[1032] wins = 585 2012 total spend =[2486.10], wins = 2176.70 ; year total = -$309.40 | | |
Wannabe Won Percenter Republic of Texas United States Member #58035 January 9, 2008 764 Posts Offline | | Posted: April 9, 2011, 8:53 am - IP Logged | |
Congrats to the winner! Sounds like he is doing great. Maybe we'll see him on Lottery Changed My Life.  I love the last 10 - 15 laps of NASCAR. Lots of action. Kind of like the last 5 minutes of college basketball. Those are my fave to watch. Forget the rest tho. I'm off to watch my nephew play college baseball today. Even tho it's the first time I'll get to see him play, I'll probably have to work to keep from falling off the bleachers....  Clear eyes, full hearts, Texas forever!  PROUD MEMBER OF THE 85% (what's left of the 99% after you take out the lefties and the OW anarchists) Wannabe member of the 1%. Is VenomV12 a troll? | | |
United States Member #52818 May 21, 2007 1372 Posts Offline | | Posted: April 9, 2011, 8:58 am - IP Logged | |
<---- buys a mud wrestling team " we aint won much , but its been a lot of fun. "  ... sounds like an interesting idea ....
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youngstown, ohio United States Member #81132 September 30, 2009 1469 Posts Offline | | Posted: April 9, 2011, 9:00 am - IP Logged | |
There's one thing I hate worse than football, basketball, and baseball. Watching cars go around in circles has to be the dumbest thing in sports. It's bad enough wasting time, like some of my friends do, yelling, screaming at the T.V., and arguing over which team or player is doing what in sports, but cars going in circles is plain stupid. Sorry....! Sports nerds just piss me off...!...They keep saying..."MY TEAM' is better or whatever, as If they own the team. The football players don't even know they exist, and they act as If they're a representative of the team. Get a life ! OK, there...I got it off my chest...lol Not that I know much of anything about NASCAR - one thing that you can't say about this guy "MY TEAM" IS HIS TEAM! He owns it! I say follow your own dreams and if you can make it happen go for it. Sports, Lottery, luck, what ever a person may call it. He won big and he living his life - good for him. | | |
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