Moriarty resident Lonnie Freyburger, a 52-year-old line manager with the state Department of Transportation, this week claimed the New Mexico Lottery's "$500,000 Extravaganza Scratcher" top prize, according to a New Mexico Lottery news release.

Freyburger purchased the $20 "Scratcher" while on a lunch break in Santa Fe and used his lucky penny to scratch the ticket, the release said.

He said the discovery of his prize made for a nerve-wracking 40-mile drive back home to Moriarty, according to the release.

"Have you every had a half-million dollars in your car?" Freyburger asked. "My legs were shaking."

Freyburger and his wife Lois claimed the prize at lottery headquarters in Albuquerque on Tuesday, telling lottery officials they planned to share the windfall with their children and grandchildren and put some into savings for retirement.

The prize-winning ticket was sold at the Eldorado Chevron at 7 Colinas Dr. and U.S. 285 in Santa Fe, according to the release.