Lewis Watkins of Charlotte said he felt like a football player making a touchdown after he played the Extreme Millions scratch-off game and scored $1 million.

Watkins’ good fortune happened when he stopped by the Kangaroo Express on Ashdale Court in Concord to get a drink.

“The guy in front of me bought an Extreme Millions ticket,” said Watkins, who works in a lab testing asphalt. “So I thought, ‘Why not take a chance?’”

He bought the $30 ticket and scratched it. When he saw that he won $1 million, he celebrated.

“I started running up and down the gas pumps like it was a football field,” Watkins said. “I’m sure people thought I was crazy. It’s better than scoring a touchdown!”

Watkins claimed his prize Wednesday at lottery headquarters in Raleigh. He had the choice of taking an annuity that has 20 payments of $50,000 a year or a lump sum of $600,000. He chose the lump sum. After required state and federal tax withholdings, he took home $417,015. He plans to use some of the money to buy a new truck.

Extreme Millions launched in December 2016 with four top prizes of $10 million and 22 prizes of $1 million. There are two top prizes and 10 $1 million prizes to be claimed.

Ticket sales from instant games like Extreme Millions make it possible for the lottery to raise more than $600 million a year for the state. For details on how lottery funds have made a difference in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website.