Wheel of Fortune Contestant Loses $59,000 After Rare Letter Choice Backfires

McKenzie Rowland, a NASCAR fan, made an uncommon letter selection that cost her the big prize.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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During Wheel of Fortune's NASCAR Tournament week, contestant McKenzie Rowland, a NASCAR fan from South Carolina, made it to the Bonus Round but lost out on $59,000 after her choice of an uncommon letter 'J' backfired and she was unable to solve the puzzle 'What a Kind Offer'.

Why it matters

Wheel of Fortune is a beloved game show that often features dramatic moments when contestants are so close to winning big prizes, only to have it slip away at the last moment. This incident highlights how a single letter choice can make or break a contestant's chance at a life-changing payout.

The details

Rowland, who had a strong lead going into the Bonus Round, was given the standard letters R, S, T, L, N, and E to start. She then chose the uncommon letters J, C, H, and A, which did not fit the puzzle. As time ran out, Rowland was only able to guess 'What a...' and missed out on the $40,000 grand prize, which would have given her a total of $59,450. Fans on Reddit criticized Rowland's choice of the letter J, arguing it made no sense in that situation.

  • The episode aired on February 10, 2026 during Wheel of Fortune's NASCAR Tournament week.
  • Rowland will potentially return on Friday to compete again for a trip to the Daytona 500.

The players

McKenzie Rowland

A contestant from Geer, South Carolina who is a big NASCAR fan. She made it to the Bonus Round but lost out on $59,000 due to her letter choice.

Dan Geilston

A contestant from Aston, Pennsylvania who is an avid baseball card collector.

Talbert Woodall

A contestant from Somers Point, New Jersey who lost his arm in a motorcycle accident 10 years ago.

Kyle Rowland

McKenzie Rowland's husband, who got her interested in NASCAR and accompanied her to the show.

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What’s next

Rowland will potentially return on Friday to compete again for a trip to the Daytona 500.

The takeaway

This incident on Wheel of Fortune highlights how a single letter choice can make or break a contestant's chance at a life-changing payout, and underscores the importance of strategic letter selection in the high-pressure Bonus Round.