WALDORF, Md. — A Charles County truck driver, who rarely plays the lottery and prefers scratch-off tickets, won a top prize in the Maryland Lottery’s Pick 5 game after following his father’s advice to play the numbers on his dad’s license plate. The Waldorf resident claimed his winnings at lottery headquarters on an unspecified date in 2025, surprising officials with his unconventional choice of game. The victory, sparked by a stop at Foods In on Mattawoman Drive, netted the winner a substantial prize and earned the retailer a $500 bonus.
The truck driver, who buys lottery tickets “once in a blue moon,” had accompanied his father on an errand when he decided to visit Foods In, a convenience store and lottery retailer at 12549 Mattawoman Drive in Waldorf. “It had been a while since I played, so I planned to get myself a few scratch-off tickets,” he said. As he prepared to leave the car, his father suggested trying a Pick 5 ticket instead. “I had no interest in Pick 5, but he said he had a good feeling about the five numbers in his license plate,” the winner explained. To humor his father, he purchased the Pick 5 ticket.
That evening, the truck driver used his father’s lottery app to check the ticket. “The adrenaline really started pumping. I was so excited. One heck of a happy moment,” he said, recalling the moment he saw a 5 followed by a string of zeroes, indicating a top-prize win. The unexpected victory underscored the wisdom of his father’s intuition, proving that “father knows best.”
The winner plans to use his prize money to pay off debts, a practical choice that will ease financial burdens. Foods In, the Charles County retailer that sold the winning ticket, will receive a $500 bonus from the Maryland Lottery for its role in the sale. The win highlights the impact of lottery prizes on both individuals and local businesses in the community.
The truck driver’s story began with a routine errand and a playful exchange with his father, leading to a life-changing moment. While he initially visited lottery headquarters to cash what officials assumed was a scratch-off ticket, given his stated preference, he clarified the mix-up by introducing his father as the inspiration behind the Pick 5 purchase. “Meet my father,” he said, turning to the man whose suggestion led to the win.
The Maryland Lottery’s Pick 5 game requires players to select five numbers, offering various prize tiers based on matching the drawn numbers. The truck driver’s win, driven by his father’s license plate numbers, demonstrates the role of chance and family intuition in lottery success. Waldorf, a growing community in Charles County, has seen multiple lottery wins in recent years, with local retailers like Foods In serving as key locations for ticket sales. The bonus to Foods In supports the lottery’s contribution to small businesses, while the winner’s debt-reduction plan reflects a grounded approach to his newfound fortune.
