Londonderry Woman Wins $2.6M Lottery Prize At NASCAR Race

CONCORD, NH — Londonderry resident Frances Bergeron became New Hampshire’s newest multimillionaire yesterday when she won $2.6 million during a live drawing at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway just prior to the start of the ISM Connect 300 NASCAR race, according to a press statement. Eleven finalists took part in the live drawing, with winners taking home prizes ranging from $2,500 to $50,000, in addition to the $2.6 million grand prize. Bergeron has the option of taking home $2,000 per week for 25 years - the equivalent of $2.6 million - or accepting a one-time cash payout of $1 million. (Prize amounts are calculated before taxes.) In addition to Bergeron, Melrose, Mass. resident Barbara Peterson won $50,000 and Goffstown resident Jim Blanco won $10,000.

“Standing on stage looking up at tens of thousands of excited race fans with $2.6 million at stake has to be an absolutely amazing feeling,” said Charlie McIntyre, executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery. “What an incredible way to select New Hampshire’s newest multimillionaire. I want to congratulate our grand prize winner, Frances Bergeron, and all our finalists, who are all winners today!”

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“I can’t even tell you. Never in a million years did I think I’d win,” Bergeron said moments after becoming the grand prize winner. “It still hasn’t sunk in.”

Finalists were each selected from a preliminary drawing held earlier this summer from non-winning $2,000 A Week For Life scratch tickets. In addition to the grand prize, the following prizes were up for grabs today: one prize of $50,000; one prize of $10,000; four prizes of $5,000; and four prizes of $2,500.

Winners and their prize amounts include:

• John Prescott of Meredith - $5,000
• Ray Pederzani of White River Junction, VT - $5,000
• David Ross of Milan - $5,000
• Frances Bergeron of Londonderry – Grand Prize Winner - $2.6 million
• Jim Blanco of Goffstown - $10,000
• Ronald Gauthier of Nashua - $2,500
• Lester Pearl of Belmont - $2,500
• John Neville of Goffstown - $2,500
• Ray Leary of Danville - $2,500
• Barbara Peterson of Melrose, MA - $50,000
• Michael & Karen Chadwick of Warner- $5,000

The $20 $2,000 A Week For Life scratch ticket launched in November 2014 and offered a total of $14.7 million in prizes.

Caption: Frances Bergeron of Londonderry became New Hampshire’s newest multimillionaire when she won the $2.6 million grand prize in a live drawing at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway yesterday just prior to the start of the ISM Connect 300 NASCAR race. Pictured here, New Hampshire Lottery Executive Director Charlie McIntyre presents Bergeron with an oversized check in celebration of her win. Credit: NH Lottery

Submitted by E.J. Powers.