Kansas City couple claims $71.5M Powerball jackpot

PLATTE WOODS, Mo. -- A Kansas City, Mo., couple is having a happy holiday season after winning a $71.5 million Powerball jackpot in the Christmas night drawing.

The Missouri Lottery said Monday in a news release that Kevin Carlson, 49, and his wife, whose name was not released, claimed the prize Thursday. Carlson celebrated his birthday the next day and has quit his job as a mechanic. His wife plans to keep working.

"Now that I don't work, I plan to use my time to figure out what to do with the money," Carlson said.

Carlson had bought the winning ticket at the Autobahn BP store in Platte Woods where he regularly stops for coffee. The winning numbers were 23, 28, 38, 39, 56 and the Powerball number was 32.

"The first time I scanned it, I didn't believe it, so I scanned it again," he said. "I kind of went nuts."

The couple plan to use the money to pay bills, help their two grown children and take a trip for their upcoming 30th wedding anniversary. Carlson also wants a 1968 Camaro.

Besides the jackpot prize, Autobahn BP will receive a bonus of $50,000 for selling the winning ticket.