‘Wheel of Fortune’ Player Misses Out On Car After Failing To Solve This Tough Puzzle

Wheel of Fortune viewers were left frustrated after a contestant walked away without a major prize in what many are calling one of the show’s toughest bonus round puzzles yet. The shocking moment came during Monday night’s episode when finalist Clint Ingalls lost his shot at driving home in a brand-new 2025 Ford Explorer — all because of three missing letters.

 

Ingalls fought hard to secure his spot in the finale after an intense and controversial Triple Toss Up round. His journey began strong, dominating the early game by solving the first two puzzles and racking up $16,650 in cash along with a trip to Chicago. But rival player Walker quickly closed the gap, scoring over $18,000 and landing an enviable European tour of Northern Spain and Portugal.

The turning point came during the Triple Toss Up puzzle: “Well-Balanced Meal.” While Walker correctly figured out the phrase, she failed to hit the buzzer in time — forcing host Ryan Seacrest to turn to the judges for a ruling. “No, sorry, you gotta buzz in. ‘Well-Balanced Meal’ was the correct answer, but you gotta use the little device,” Seacrest told the contestant after the decision. The ruling sparked debate online, with many calling it a heartbreaking technicality.

 

Ultimately, Ingalls clinched the night with $26,150 in winnings plus his Chicago vacation, while Walker finished a close second with $20,480 and her European getaway.

Then came the Bonus Round — and the puzzle that crushed Ingalls’ hopes for a new car. Selecting “Phrase” as his category, Ingalls faced a short, two-word challenge. After the standard letters R, S, T, L, N, E appeared, the puzzle showed: T _ _ N _ _ _ G. For his extra picks, Ingalls chose G, A, M, and Y, but that left him with very little to work with.

 

“Gonna be tough to get there with only three letters,” Seacrest remarked as the 10-second timer began. Ingalls guessed “Thank You,” but that wasn’t it. When Vanna White revealed the correct answer — Think Big — Ingalls could only laugh and say, “That’s what I didn’t do.”

The real gut-punch came moments later when Seacrest revealed what was inside the prize envelope: a brand-new 2025 Ford Explorer. Viewers quickly took to social media to share their reactions. “Definitely not enough letters to get it,” one viewer commented on YouTube. Another admitted, “This was tough. I couldn’t get this one.”

 

Still, some insisted the answer was within reach. “I knew it said ‘Think Big’ once the G popped up,” one user wrote.