RALEIGH — Bram Dunehew, a Concord resident studying civil engineering, won a $2 million Powerball prize after purchasing a winning ticket at Sam’s Mart on N.C. 49 in Harrisburg, N.C. Education Lottery officials announced on Thursday.
Dunehew bought the ticket after stopping to fill his gas tank on Friday. When his receipt failed to print at the pump, he went inside the store and purchased a $3 ticket for Saturday’s Halloween Powerball drawing. He matched all five white balls to win $1 million and his purchase of the Power Play option doubled the total prize to $2 million.
Dunehew credited the unprinted receipt for his decision to buy the winning ticket.
“It’s crazy because I never would have even bought that ticket if the receipt printed outside,” Dunehew said.
Dunehew described his reaction after realizing he had matched the winning numbers.
“It’s absolutely preposterous,” Dunehew said. “I fell over when I saw it.”
He added that the drawing gave new meaning to the date.
“I think Halloween’s now my favorite holiday,” Dunehew said. “Trick or treating was fun as a kid but this is insane.”
Dunehew claimed his prize on Monday at lottery headquarters. After required federal and state tax withholdings, he took home $1,440,201. Dunehew plans to use his winnings to buy his father a Cadillac.
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