Schenectady, NY – Forty-four-year old Richard Plant of Middletown lives life in the fast lane. A plumbing salesman by trade, the former demolition derby driver at the Orange County Fair Speedway now has his sights set on an early retirement thanks to a $1,000,000 prize he won on the New York Lottery’s $500,000,000 Extravaganza instant game.

Plant, who also works as a member of champion modified dirt racer Steve Dodd’s pit crew, collected his prize today at his beloved Speedway, the country’s oldest continuously operating dirt track. Dodd and his award-winning #88 dirt modified car were on hand for the presentation.

“I thought I was going to fall over,” said Plant. “I still can’t get over it.”

The retirement-minded millionaire is the second Orange County Lottery player to claim a prize of $1,000,000 or more so far this year. His win follows in the wake of John Luca, Jr. who won a $5,000,000 Lottery prize in March. Luca, of Greenwood Lake, received his oversized check at the 2008 International Auto Show in Manhattan. The two local millionaires both won their fortunes on the $500,000,000 Extravaganza game. Plant credits his luck to a single penny he found in the dirt.

“I just saw it there, staring at me, face up, so I put it in my pocket for luck,” said Plant. “On my way home, I decided to put my penny to the test and sure enough, it worked!”

Plant purchased his $1,000,000 winner on April 25, 2008 at the Jet Mart on East Main Street in Middletown. He claimed it at the Lottery’s Customer Service Center in Fishkill on April 28, 2008. He will receive his prize in payments of $50,000 a year, less required tax withholdings, for 20 years. His annual net check will total $34,075.

An avid fan of modified dirt racing for more than 30 years, the one-time demolition derby champion said he looked forward to getting back into the sport that he loves.

“I used to enter the (demolition) derby every year but I couldn’t race this year because money was tight. But you can bet I’ll be back in the Derby at this year’s Fair.”

The New York Lottery contributed nearly $2.6 billion to help support education in New York State on incoming revenues of $7.549 billion in fiscal year 2007-08 - - a profit margin of 34.3%. The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, earning over $34.2 billion in education support statewide since its founding over 40 years ago.