HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A new champion has crossed the finish line in NASCAR Powerball – The Chase to $1 Million. Agnes Whitaker of Greensboro, N.C., was declared the $1 million grand prize winner in the national Powerball® promotion.
The live drawing, broadcast nationally on NBC from Homestead-Miami Speedway® just before the start of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Championship™ race, marked the fourth straight year Powerball has awarded a $1 million grand prize during NASCAR Championship Weekend™. Whitaker became the fourth player nationwide to capture the promotion’s top prize.
Whitaker, who attended the event alongside the other three lottery finalists, was speechless when her number was drawn.
“I just saw the number two and was like, ‘That’s my number,’ and I started crying. I still have to catch my breath,” said Whitaker.
Whitaker said she plans to travel to her native Hawaii this winter to visit her father and would also like to explore opportunities to support people experiencing homelessness in her local community.
Including all prizes awarded throughout The Chase to $1 Million, Whitaker won a total of $1,010,000.
The three lottery players eliminated in the championship drawing each received an additional $10,000, bringing their total cash winnings to $20,000. The other finalists were:
- Jeffely Pargo – Maryland Lottery
- Rachel Tobaben – Nebraska Lottery
- Tina Lanning – South Carolina Education Lottery
The national Powerball promotion offered players the opportunity to win cash prizes, a VIP trip to NASCAR Championship Weekend™ Miami, and a spot in the $1 million drawing. Players entered through 25 participating lotteries, with one semi-finalist advancing from each lottery before the field was narrowed through a series of drawings inspired by NASCAR’s championship format.
The VIP trip package included roundtrip airfare for two to Miami, three nights hotel accommodations – double occupancy, two Ally Pit Box passes at Homestead-Miami Speedway for both the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Championship race on Nov. 7 and the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race on Nov. 8, two passes for VIP experiences at Homestead-Miami Speedway during NASCAR Championship Weekend including NASCAR Cup Series™ VIP access, NASCAR team hauler tour, MRN radio booth tour, pace car rides, Victory Lane access, all meals, and ground transportation to scheduled events and activities.
| Round | Semi-Finalists | Prize | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Promotions | 1 semi-finalist per lottery | $2,000 | 9/6 Darlington |
| Drawing 1 | 20 advance | $3,000 | 9/27 Kansas |
| Drawing 2 | 10 advance | $5,000 | 10/18 Phoenix |
| Drawing 3 | 4 advance | VIP trip valued at $10,000 | 11/1 Martinsville |
| Drawing 4 | Live $1 million drawing |
$1 million winner: three $10,000 winners |
11/8 Homestead |
The 2026 NASCAR season marked Powerball's fourth year as the Official Lottery Game of NASCAR and the fourth consecutive year Powerball awarded a $1 million prize during NASCAR Championship Weekend™. Since launching the promotion in 2023, Powerball has now created four separate $1 million winners through the annual championship drawing.
Last year, Kansas Lottery player Francisco Erives, a Staff Sergeant in the Kansas Army National Guard, was declared the $1 million winner in a special drawing broadcast live from Phoenix Raceway® before the start of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship™ race.
Players can follow NASCAR Powerball – The Chase on Facebook and Instagram for important updates on how to enter the promotion in 2027.
NASCAR Enterprises, LLC is not a sponsor of this promotion. NASCAR® is a registered trademark of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC. All trademarks are used with permission by their respective owners.