NEWPORT -- Experiencing car trouble in another state is aggravating enough to make even the most staid utter a few four-lettered salvos, but Venison Turner Jr. almost joyously recounts his recent experience in Massachusetts.

A lottery ticket worth $300,000 can make some bitter pills as palatable as a T-bone steak.

The Newport man was in the Bay State visiting family when he learned he had hit the jackpot in the Tri-State Lottery's Paycheck game.

Turner learned the news on Feb. 21, just a day after the drawing, but car trouble kept him in Massachusetts until Monday, when he claimed his prize.

"I couldn't get back," he said. "The cruise control started working on its own."

Turner bought the ticket on Feb. 18 at the Newport Valero, where he works the overnight shift. His father checked the lottery's Web site on Feb. 21 and gave Turner the news: he had matched 02-05-10-17-24.

"They were like, 'Hey, you matched all five numbers. What's your prize?'"

Turner will get $2,500 per month for the next 10 years -- for a total of $300,000.

His parents were thrilled, but for Turner, it took longer to sink in.

"I was not really believing it," he said. "I had to keep looking."

Winning, however, is hardly unusual for Turner. The week before, on his 40th birthday no less, Turner scratched a $500 lottery winner. He has scratched numerous $50 and $100 winners in the past.

"Around here I'm kind of known as very lucky," he said.

While winning a jackpot may sometimes cause long-forgotten friends to crawl out of the woodwork, life has been pretty normal for Turner over the past few days.

"I'm friends with a lot of people in Newport anyway," he said. "As it goes, I told one person and now the rest of the town knows."

Turner, who will receive his first lottery check on Monday, plans to buy a home for his family, which includes his wife, Inga, and a 12-year-old son, Tom. The family rents an apartment.

"We're going to stay right here in Newport, too," Turner said.

Maine lottery officials introduced the Paycheck game on Jan. 17 and already there have been two top-prize winners. The first winning ticket was sold at Paradis Shop 'n Save in Calais.

"It's exciting that just a week after having the first top prize winner, we've had a second winning ticket sold here in Maine," said Michael Boardman, assistant director of the Maine Lottery.

Turner has played Paycheck a few times, each time buying five $2 "quick pick" tickets. He said winning the big prize has not dampened his enthusiasm.

"I'll keep playing," he said.

Craig Crosby -- 861-9253

ccrosby@centralmaine.com