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RALEIGH – Dalton Radford of Dallas can upgrade his ride after winning $1 million on a scratch-off.

“I left work and was going to my second job,” said Radford. “I stopped for a White Monster drink and two Carolina Jackpot tickets.”

Radford, a public works employee, bought his lucky ticket Friday afternoon from Will’s Food Store III on Dallas High Shoals Highway in Dallas. He checked his tickets in the parking lot and discovered his win.

“I thought, ‘Hey! I just won a million dollars,’” said Radford. “I called my mom, dad, and grandpa. Everyone was happy.”

Radford said his win came after his grandpa made an interesting prediction.

“He said I would win $1 million two weeks ago,” recalled Radford.

Radford, 18, plans to save most of his winnings, but he does have one exciting purchase planned.

“I think I’ll buy a brand-new Silverado,” said Radford.

When he arrived at lottery headquarters Tuesday to collect his prize, he had a decision to make. He could choose to receive the prize as an annuity of $50,000 over 20 years or a lump sum of $600,000. Radford chose the lump-sum amount of $600,000 and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $426,063.

Players get a second chance with their Carolina Jackpot tickets by scanning the tickets into their lottery accounts where they are automatically entered into a second-chance drawing. The grand finale drawing features a top prize of $200,000.

The $10 Carolina Jackpot game debuted in June with five $1 million prizes. One $1 million prize remains to be claimed.

Ticket sales from scratch-off games make it possible for the lottery to raise $2.5 million a day on average for education. For details on how $14.9 million raised by the lottery made a difference in Gaston County last year, visit www.nclottery.com and click on the “Impact” section.