Concord Student Wins $2 Million Powerball After Gas Pump Glitch

North Carolina Student’s Gas Pump Glitch Leads to $2M Powerball Payday

“It’s absolutely preposterous,” Bram Dunehew said after discovering he’d won a $2 million Powerball prize. The 41-year-old Concord resident and civil engineering student’s journey to the life-changing sum began with a simple, frustrating moment at a gas pump. WSOC TV reported that when Dunehew’s receipt failed to print at the Sam’s Mart on N.C. 49 in Harrisburg, he went inside the store and, on a whim, bought a $3 ticket for the following day’s Powerball drawing.

That impulse, born of a minor technical hiccup, turned out to be a masterstroke of luck. Dunehew matched all five white balls in Saturday’s drawing, securing an initial prize of $1 million. The crucial difference-maker was his purchase of the Power Play option, which, as the rules dictate, doubled his winnings to a grand total of $2 million. He credited the unprinted receipt for the entire series of events, telling the North Carolina Education Lottery, “It’s crazy because I never would have even bought that ticket if the receipt printed outside.”

The shock of the win was immediate and visceral. The timing of the win also imbued the holiday with new significance for him. “I think Halloween’s now my favorite holiday,” he laughed. “Trick or treating was fun as a kid but this is insane.”

Concord Student Wins $2 Million Powerball After Gas Pump Glitch — Photo: nclottery.com

While Dunehew’s story is remarkable for its sheer improbability, it also shines a light on the mechanics and scale of the lottery system. The odds of winning a Powerball jackpot are famously astronomical, standing at 1 in 292 million. Landing on a $2 million prize, while still a long shot, is significantly more common. While the grand prize captures the public imagination, secondary tier wins can still change lives. The NC Lottery website notes that Powerball is one of six draw games available in the state, accessible both at retail locations and through the official mobile app and website, making these kinds of wins a possibility for players across North Carolina.

Managing such a windfall involves addressing financial and tax implications. Dunehew officially claimed his prize on Monday at lottery headquarters. After the required federal and state tax withholdings were deducted, he took home a lump sum of $1,440,201. This figure is a critical piece of data, as it represents the actual, spendable value of the win for an individual, starkly different from the headline-grabbing $2 million total. It’s a reminder that while the dream is big, the post-tax reality is still substantial and life-altering.

For Dunehew, the plan for his newfound fortune is both personal and practical. He told lottery officials that he intends to use a significant portion of the winnings to buy his father a Cadillac. This specific detail humanizes the story, moving it beyond a simple tale of luck and grounding it in the kind of familial generosity that often defines how sudden wealth is used. It’s not about extravagant jets or sprawling mansions, but about a tangible, heartfelt purchase that says thank you. This personal touch makes his story resonate with a broader audience, who might imagine what they would do for their own loved ones in a similar situation.

While Dunehew is celebrating, the story also invites a look at the wider context. The Powerball jackpot itself continues to grow, currently standing at an estimated $835 million annuity or $357.9 million in cash. Dunehew’s story, while a feel-good tale, exists within this complex ecosystem.

Ultimately, Bram Dunehew’s tale is a perfect snapshot of modern life: a sequence of small, seemingly random events—a broken receipt, a quick decision inside a convenience store—colliding to produce an outcome of staggering magnitude. It’s a story that defies logic but feels deeply human, a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected turns of fate can lead to the most profound rewards.