Pets n Story

One “Wheel of Fortune” contestant is headed back for another shot at glory — and he’s doing it with nearly $73,000 in winnings already in his pocket.

Ray Cason of Butler, Florida, delivered a standout performance during the February 11 episode, dominating much of the game before sealing the night with a big Bonus Round victory. By the time the credits rolled, Cason had racked up an impressive $72,950.

Cason, a devoted New York Yankees fan, has a unique hobby: constructing miniature baseball stadiums for wiffle ball tournaments. Off the stage, he’s a family man, celebrating 30 years of marriage with his wife, Katie. The couple has five children and three grandchildren together.

The episode was part of the show’s NASCAR Tournament week, where the three top earners will return on Friday to compete for even more cash — and a coveted trip to the Daytona 500.

From the start, Cason made it clear he came to play.

He claimed the opening Toss-Up, while fellow contestant Kimberly Cannon of South Holland, Illinois — who describes herself as a motorsports princess — snagged the second. In the first main puzzle under the “Movie Title” category, Cason landed on the coveted One Million Dollar wedge. He then correctly identified “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” earning $4,050 and holding onto the high-stakes wedge.

Momentum stayed on his side.

During a Crossword puzzle in the “Speeds” category, Cason solved “Swift, Slow, Fast, Sluggish,” adding $7,000 to his growing total. He later cracked “Splurging on Room Service,” which secured him a trip to Belize and boosted his bank to $29,750.

Katie Britton of York, South Carolina, a NASCAR enthusiast, made a strong push late in the game by sweeping all three Triple Toss-Ups, instantly collecting $10,000. Still, Cason closed out the main round by solving “Hitting the Homestretch,” padding his total by another $3,200 and finishing with $32,950.

Britton walked away with $10,000, while Cannon finished with $2,000. But the spotlight belonged to Cason as he advanced to the Bonus Round — still clutching that One Million Dollar wedge.

Host Ryan Seacrest reminded viewers that Cason’s total guaranteed him a return appearance later in the week. Even more exciting: the million-dollar possibility was still alive.

For the final puzzle, Cason selected the category “Phrase.” After the standard letters R, S, T, L, N and E were revealed, he added D, B, G and I.

The board then displayed:

B E _ _ N D _ _ R D S

Cason quickly worked through possibilities, first testing a few incorrect combinations before landing on the right answer: “Beyond Words.”

While the $1 million prize was not inside the envelope, Cason still uncovered an additional $40,000. That win catapulted his total to $72,950.

With a guaranteed return for the NASCAR Tournament finale and serious cash already secured, Cason’s spin on the wheel proved more than worthwhile.

As Seacrest put it at the close of the show, it was a night to remember — and for Cason, it’s not over yet.