Tontitown, Arkansas – A routine workday turned into an unforgettable moment for Thomas McCawley of Tontitown, who won $100,000 playing the Fiery 5’s $5 instant game from the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery. McCawley recently claimed his six-figure prize at the ASL Claim Center, making his quiet midday decision one to remember.
A Quick Stop Leads to Life-Changing Win
The winning ticket was purchased at Tontitown Z-Mart Inc., located at 441 W. Henri De Tonti Blvd. McCawley had been returning from his lunch break when he decided to stop at his go-to store, which happens to be owned by a family friend. Drawn to the $5 instant tickets he often favors, one particular game caught his attention.
“I just had a hunch,” McCawley shared with lottery officials. “I guess you could say it just spoke to me.”
After heading back to work, he scratched the ticket and saw something he could hardly believe—the first row revealed the game’s top prize of $100,000.
“This can’t be real,” McCawley recalled thinking.
Shock Turns into Excitement
He admitted it was “really hard to go back to work after that,” laughing as he remembered the moment. When he shared the news with his wife and family, no one believed him until he handed over the ticket and they saw the prize for themselves.
McCawley already has big plans for the winnings. He intends to buy a wheelchair-accessible vehicle for his mother-in-law, showing that his good fortune will have an impact beyond himself.
Though McCawley’s win has been claimed, lottery officials confirmed that one $100,000 top prize still remains on the Fiery 5’s game. For now, his lucky stop has become a story of following your instincts—and being rewarded in a big way.
