Frederick Man Finalist for $1 Million NASCAR Lottery Prize
Jeffely Pargo, a retired federal government employee from Frederick, has advanced as one of four national finalists in a lottery drawing with a $1 million prize on the line, the Maryland Lottery reported.
Frederick Resident Advances to Miami Final
The announcement came on Sunday during the NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia. Pargo survived multiple elimination rounds as a field of 10 lottery players was narrowed down to four. Pargo and three other finalists will now travel to Miami from November 6 through November 8 for an exclusive NASCAR Championship Weekend experience. Each finalist and a guest receive roundtrip airfare, three nights of hotel accommodations, meals, and VIP access at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
“I am excited … very excited,” Pargo said of the upcoming trip, noting that it will mark his first time attending a live NASCAR race. “I already feel like a winner.”
The Road from Maryland to Virginia
Pargo earned his spot in the national spotlight by beating out more than 276,000 entries during the Maryland Lottery’s NASCAR Powerball — The Chase second-chance promotion, which ran from May 4 through June 15. The initial Maryland promotion awarded forty players $2,500 prizes before entering Pargo into the national drawing to represent the state.
Lotteries in 24 other states ran parallel promotions to select their own state representatives. Through subsequent elimination cuts, Pargo advanced past 25 players, then 20, and finally reached the final group of 10 at Martinsville Speedway. As he progressed through the rounds, Pargo accumulated $12,500 in preliminary prizes, including $2,500 from the Maryland promotion, $2,000 for winning the state semifinalist spot, $3,000 for making the top 20 cut, and $5,000 for reaching the final 10.
Joining Pargo in Miami are three other finalists: Agnes Whitaker of North Carolina, Rachel Tobaben of Nebraska, and Tina Lanning of South Carolina, according to lottery officials.
Live Televised Drawing Scheduled for November 8
The multi-state promotion culminates on Sunday, November 8, during NBC’s pre-race coverage of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race. Shortly after 2 p.m., the four finalists will participate in a live televised drawing in Victory Lane. One finalist will claim the $1 million grand prize, while the remaining three will each receive a $10,000 consolation prize.
The 2026 season marks the fourth year that Powerball and NASCAR have partnered to award a $1 million prize before the start of the championship race. If he wins the top prize, Pargo plans to take his fiancé on a major trip.