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Ralph Dizozza of Mooresville said he was full of emotion after he won a $177,127 Cash 5 jackpot.
“I started bawling when I realized how much I won,” Dizozza described.
The retired postal worker’s good fortune happened when he bought a ticket for Saturday’s Cash 5 drawing using the lottery’s Online Play service.
“I was just being lazy,” Dizozza said. “I didn’t want to go to the gas station and get a ticket. My girlfriend reminded me that I could get them online. I picked my own numbers. Each of them are significant to me. I used my birthday, my old jersey number, and since I’m a big Star Wars fan, I used the year it came out.”
Dizozza got the notification that he won the next morning.
“I checked my phone while I was at the flea market and saw that I won something,” Dizozza said. “I had to meet a friend for breakfast at Cracker Barrel, so I didn’t see what it was until after I got home. I felt numb when I saw how much it was. It didn’t feel real.”
Dizozza claimed the jackpot Tuesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $124,876. Dizozza said he’s not sure what he’s going to use the money for yet, but has one idea.
“My dream is to own a black 1979 Trans Am,” Dizozza said. “I’ve wanted one ever since I saw ‘Smokey and the Bandit.’”
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