I won a massive $77million lotto jackpot but was left with only half within 3 years - I even bought my own NASCAR team

A LOTTERY winner has managed to buy a Nascar racing team with his sizable jackpot.

Virginia resident Joe Denette won $75million playing Mega Millions in 2009.

After taxes, he ended up taking home a lump sum of $31million.

Shortly before his win, the avid Nascar fan had just lost his construction job amid the Great Recession.

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"I was unemployed and basically waiting for the race season to start, because that was always something I looked forward to," Denette said, per Silver Lotto.

He bought the ticket at a 7-Eleven convenience store while on the way to pick his brother up from the airport.

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Denette chose a mix of numbers gleaned from his favorite race car drivers and a computer program.

"I'd buy $23 in tickets," he told the Kansas City Star.

"Three of the plays, I would play NASCAR numbers."

That included No. 9 for Bill Elliott, No. 43 for Richard Petty, and No. 3 for Dale Earnheardt.

"Then I'd let the computer pick $20 worth," Denette said.

He made many purchases with his winnings, most notably a team in Nascar's Camping World Truck Series.

"I was scared, at first," said Denette's wife Megan.

"But I knew that he's always loved Nascar and that's what he wanted to do."

Denette also gave his brother $1million, paid off mortgages for several family members, and bought two new homes in his neighborhood.

He also bought a new car for himself, a Shelby Mustang GT, and remodeled his basement with a racing theme.

Denette hasn't stopped buying lottery tickets. He now gets 123 every week instead of 23.

But he has stopped working and dedicated his life to his wife and children.

California resident Edwin Castro took home the biggest jackpot in US lottery history earlier this year after he won more than $2billion.