Donut even think about your next lottery purchase – just "dough" for it
By Kate Northrop
MIDDLESEX, N.C. — Hole-y moly! A North Carolina man found himself sprinting down the street after he won a $1 million lottery prize from a scratch-off game (likely burning those calories he had from the donuts he was craving).
Jay Mays of Selma credits his donut craving for getting him out the door and into the store to buy a lottery ticket that turned out to be worth $1 million.
There's two things that might send someone sprinting down the street in a fervor – literally the world's greatest donut, and a million dollars. Well, depending on personal tastes, it's likely the latter.
That's what happened when Mays got home from his donut run and scratched off his ticket, which he chucked at his wife before tearing out of the house in a frenzy.
"When I saw I won, I threw it at my wife, took off out the door and started running down the street," Mays told the North Carolina Lottery. "I was doing sprints running back and forth down the street."
It wasn't just the sugary frosting that sweetened the deal for Mays, rather the feeling that he was about to come into a big win sometime soon.
"I've been getting close lately, and I told my wife I was destined to win soon," he said of the a-glazing win.
Mays bought his lucky ticket at the 42 Express Food Mart and Grill on N.C. 42 East in Middlesex.
"Originally I just went to the store to get some doughnuts," he remarked.
The winner visited Lottery headquarters in Raleigh to collect his prize as one "hole" lump-sum of $600,000, or $426,063 after taxes. Now that's some dough.
The winning ticket was from the North Carolina Lottery's $10 "Carolina Jackpot" instant game, which launched in June. There are currently two out of five top prizes of $1 million, five out of ten second-tier prizes of $50,000, and 20 out of 50 third-tier prizes of $5,000 left to claim.
Hopeful North Carolina lottery players, donut stop believing in yourself. There's also a second chance drawing you can enter using non-winning "Carolina Jackpot" tickets. Until October 30, players can enter these tickets using their North Carolina Lottery accounts into a drawing for a rolling jackpot, which grows with every entry. The draw date is November 2.
There is also another second chance drawing for a top prize of $200,000, with an entry period and draw time that is scheduled to take place after the upcoming one.
Here's to your next sprinkle of luck waiting for you around the corner.
Congratulations 🎊🎈🍾 mays on your new found wealth💰💰💰💰💰💰💰enjoy responsibly & keeps on buying more Donuts 🍩😅
Man, I love these kind off stories, Nobody buys a ticket anymore just because they want to buy a ticket . Congratulations nonetheless .
A big congrats to Mr. Mays. A 10 dollar investment........a life changing return. Delightful story Kate.
🍩🍩🍩🍩🍩
sweet victory
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I sure is heck would not have chucked the ticket at my wife until after I've signed it. Can't trust em when it comes to money. It's not the thought of sugar plums 🫐 that will be dancing in her head it's the thought of numerous stores and shopping 🛒 carts.😄
Color me skeptical. It's always, "buying a scratch off while doing something else"; this guy wanted a donut and happened to buy a lottery ticket. Others were stuck in traffic jams and pulled off the road and happened to buy a lottery ticket. I'm not buying it. Chances are overwhelming that the lottery ticket purchase was the motivation and the donut, traffic jam, etc. were the excuses. For some reason the winners never out and out proclaim, "I buy lottery tickets and I won". Nevertheless, the win is to be celebrated, congratulations.
You said it all!!!
Well now I know why I have not won major $$$. I have not had a donut in years.
Congratulation on your sweet win!
Congratulations, I think some people just have that feeling that their gonna hit big and the feeling never goes away and then the day finally comes and you get to say do you believe me now. I believe people know when they know and people don't believe them until it happens. I dreamed several years ago I won the power ball and it was $173 million after taxes and even seen the numbers and I know and believe in my heart that I'm going to win and when I do we'll use it for God's glory by helping people get that 2nd chance. I just want it to be while I'm still able to enjoy it and experience the joy of being able to help others and know that it's a gift free and clear and they don't have to pay it back or work for it. I claimed it when I dreamed it, now just waiting on God's time. Sir I'm happy that you got to experience a big win and Don't forget to give God his part and He'll trust you again and keep pouring out His blessings...and just a reminder God's part don't have to be given to a church, it could be St Judes, Veterans of America, anyone you choose besides yourself. Pay it forward, you sow good you reap good. May you always be blessed!!!!!!!
Being in North Carolina, it may have been a Duck Donuts run and, if so, I can fully understand the craving excuse.