Johnston County man almost cried after $250,000 win

Kevin Pavel of Clayton was on his way to work when he bought a $50 500X The Cash scratch-off and won a $250,000 prize.

“It was amazing,” Pavel recalled. “I was about to cry.”

He purchased his lucky 500X The Cash ticket on Monday from Bull Market  on Airport Boulevard, in Morrisville.

“It was a good hit,” Pavel said.

When Pavel told his wife, she couldn’t believe it was true.

“She didn’t believe me,” he shared. “I had to show her a picture of the ticket.”

Pavel arrived at lottery headquarters on Monday to claim his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $180,039.

He plans to use his winnings to pay bills and save for retirement.

The 500X The Cash game debuted in January with five top prizes of $10 million and 10 prizes of $250,000. Five $10 million prizes and seven $250,000 prizes remain to be claimed.