In 2016, NASCAR stopped breaking down prize money regularly It has become more difficult to predict how much each driver will make in a race. However, we are able to make decent estimates using data from past seasons and other data as it comes in.
The race or series that awards NASCAR’s prize money varies. Cup races such as the Daytona 500 offer the highest prize money of up to 23,000,000 dollars in 2020. Truck series racing, on the other hand, can offer prize funds between 3 and 1 million. Sponsorships, ticket sales and merchandise are all sources of prize money.
The process of distributing the prize money can be complex and difficult to explain. Most of the time, the higher your place is, the bigger the prize.We will be looking at it in greater detail below.
- We will explore where the NASCAR prize money is coming from
- How much NASCAR Prize Money is allocated
- Differences in Prize money for different NASCAR Series
- There are differences in prize money for different NASCAR races
Where does the NASCAR Prize Money come from?
NASCAR can be described as both a sport or a business. IIt is the responsibility of this person to manage all aspects NASCAR. It is quite simple to be able offer millions of dollars worth prizes. This is illustrated in the image below. ( also allowed us to be creative)
The biggest prizes will attract the most talented cars, teams, and drivers. This attracts millions of fans who then attract millions of dollars in broadcast and advertising contracts that enable them to be able to afford the big prizes. NASCAR to offer such high prizes, which attracts the best teams…. You get the idea.
(By and large, Nascar makes its money primarily through the sale of television broadcast rights as well ticket sales, merchandising and so on.
Let’s recap: Nascar makes from TV deals, ticket sales, merchandise, etc.Race teams receive most of the money from sponsorships and prize money paid by Nascar. Drivers receive salaries and sponsorship bonuses. Additionally, they earn from endorsements and merchandise that are not sponsored by the team. This amounts to a lot each year. NASCAR is second in popularity to football.
What are the Earnings of NASCAR’s Drivers?
This is a more complex question that requires a longer answer. If we have it written by now, it will be here. Although NASCAR drivers might not earn the prize money, it is likely that they will receive a bonus, contract or sponsorship deal.
However, First off let’s get an overview of how this all works, keeping in mind that the following is just a brief summary of Nascar’s money flow system.
It is important to understand that Nascar pays race-specific prize money. Think of this as the “base” pay, if you will, for drivers/teams.
Each finishing position is allocated a specific amount; this includes the The prize money is proportional to the finish position.The race winner receives the most. This seems fairly straightforward, right.
But while prize money is technically credited to the driver (these amounts are, in fact, what goes into a driver’s stats), the money doesn’t necessarily go to the driver, It is officially the property of the team. Drivers are paid a salary – the specifics of which drivers are notoriously tight-lipped about – which uniquely varies depending on the contract between driver and team owner.
This is the drivers’ base income. However, most drivers have arrangements with both primary and secondary sponsors in which the driver receives a “bonus” regardless of finishing position, or sometimes bonuses may come with performance stipulations – this is also known as contingency money.
This is the place where things get murky when it comes to the amount of drivers that are involved. It’s also the reason why sometimes the 30Th Place driver may earn more than the driver who finishes 25Th.
Then, to make matters worsehe payout system are the various so-called prize plans implemented by Nascar for different teams based on teams’ respective performance for the current year The previous year was also a good year. Additionally, drivers can also earn money through endorsements, appearances, and other merchandising opportunities.
How does Prize Money compare to the other Nascar Divisions
The Cup Series is stock car racing’s crowning glory, so it is no surprise that there is a dramatic difference in how much money the lower-tier prize pays out.
While exact numbers are elusive as stated before, in late 2021 Nascar did – in a rather out-of-character move – make public the prize payout figures for one particular race weekend in which the Cup series purse at the Kansas Speedway race was $7,972,577
While the purse for the Xfinity series race at the same track was $1,638,185,
Comparatively, the purse for that weekend’s Camping World Truck Series race at the Martinsville Speedway was $674,952.
Cup Series (Kansas) | Xfinity (Kansas). | Truck Series (at Martinsville) |
7,972,577 Dollars | 1,638,185 dollars | 674,952 dollars |
As you can see, there are many. There is a significant difference between the series.nd it’s no wonder why every stock car drivers’ ultimate ambition is to reach the Cup Series someday (though to be sure Xfinity drivers don’t do too badly for themselves either).
This isn’t unusual in sport.. When Formula 1 is compared with Formula 2 and 3, similar differences can also be seen. It will all come down to eyeballs. The more viewers, the more lucrative sponsorship, advertising and tv rights will be.
What is NASCAR’s Biggest Prize?
All Nascar events do not have the same prize money, so there are some differences. The Daytona 500 is a surprise to no one. Far The most lucrative race on our schedule.
IThe race paid out $23.6 million USD to the 40 participating drivers/teams in 2020. It is unknown how much that staggering sum was paid out but it is believed that Denny Hamlin and Joe Gibbs Racing, his FedEx-sponsored No. 11 FedEx team, probably pocketed approximately $2 million.
Payout figures are not easy to determine. We don’t know what they are, but we do know that The Great American Race in 2018 received a collective purse totaling $15,466,000 under its new charter system. Indianapolis was closest at $5,456,000.
Watkins Glen Road Course was the lowest-paying race in that season, with a purse of a mere $0.05 “paltry” $1,160,000.
Over $86million in prize money was distributed throughout the seasonIt is worth noting that Joey Logano was the eventual champion and Jimmie Johnson, the seven-time champ, earned more than $17 million despite finishing 14th.Th The final points total will be displayed.
Additional Questions
One burning question seems to keep stock car racing fans awake at night. It is because it seems elusive. It is called, “How much money do Nascar drivers make?” We will give the answer to that on the site.
We also have answers to other questions that you may be asking, and hopefully this will help you sleep better at night.
Questions like:
How powerful is a NASCAR Engine, you ask?
Are Nascar drivers allowed to drive the number 13
Is there an electric NASCAR?
What do Nascar drivers do when they need to use the toilet?
Conclusion
Let’s take a look at how the millions, and even millions of dollars that flow into Nascar are moved around. It is amazing to see the charm of these stock car drivers! (Follow-up: Formula One drivers are definitely not to be underestimated.
It’s also easy to see why drivers choose the Cup Series. The difference in prize money is staggering!
All of this is far from the $2000 Jim Roper received for winning the inaugural race in 1949 at Charlotte Speedway, which would become the Nascar Cup Series.
References:
https://twitter.com/bobpockrass/status/1450940148896698374?lang=en
https://sportscriber.com/nascar/nascar-cup-series-prize-money/