How much does NASCAR pay per race?

There isn’t a single, fixed payout per NASCAR race. For the NASCAR Cup Series, industry estimates place the total purse for a typical regular-season event in roughly the low-to-mid millions (often about $4–7 million), while marquee events such as the Daytona 500 exceed $20 million in total purse; winners of standard points races commonly net a few hundred thousand dollars, and the Daytona 500 winner can clear seven figures. NASCAR no longer publishes most purse figures, and drivers are paid by their teams via a mix of salary, a share of race winnings, and bonuses, so the exact amount an individual takes home varies widely.

Why there isn’t a single number

Since NASCAR adopted its charter system in 2016, the sanctioning body stopped routinely disclosing per‑race purse breakdowns for the Cup Series. Total money tied to an event depends on the track, prestige, sponsorship, and whether it’s a regular-season, playoff, or exhibition race. On top of that, a large share of team revenue now flows from media-rights distributions tied to charters rather than the at-track purse alone, and drivers are compensated by team contracts, not by NASCAR directly.

What we know from public figures and recent history

Although NASCAR withholds most detailed purse data today, several benchmarks and historical disclosures help frame realistic ranges. The figures below come from official announcements and widely reported, industry-accepted estimates.

• Daytona 500: NASCAR announced a record total purse of about $23.6 million for the 2020 Daytona 500, with the winner’s share exceeding $2 million. Subsequent years have not been itemized publicly, but the Daytona 500 remains by far the richest race on the calendar.
• Regular-season Cup points races: Industry estimates typically place total purses in the ballpark of roughly $4–7 million, depending on market and event prestige. Playoff races and crown-jewel events trend higher.
• All-Star Race (exhibition): The winner’s check is $1 million, a figure NASCAR continues to promote; undercard payouts and Open/Last-Chance transfers also pay but are not always itemized publicly.
• Xfinity Series: Total purses are smaller than Cup—generally in the hundreds of thousands to low millions, varying by event and track.
• Craftsman Truck Series: Payouts are lower still, with winners often earning in the tens of thousands to low six figures before team splits.

Taken together, these data points show a steep curve: the Daytona 500 sits in its own tier, standard Cup races occupy a midrange, and the national development series (Xfinity and Trucks) pay materially less.

How the money flows to teams and drivers

“What NASCAR pays” per race is best understood as what the event generates in purse money plus how media-rights revenue is distributed to teams—then how teams compensate drivers. Here’s the typical flow.

1. Purse distribution: Each race has a total purse that is paid out primarily by finishing position, with smaller components tied to entry status and other event factors.
2. Team share: The purse is paid to the team/entry. Charter teams also receive sizable media-rights distributions that are independent of any one race’s purse.
3. Driver compensation: Drivers are paid by their teams via contract—commonly a base retainer plus a percentage of race winnings and performance bonuses. The exact split varies by contract and driver stature.
4. Bonuses and contingencies: Sponsors, manufacturers, and series partners offer bonuses for poles, wins, stage performance, and end-of-year results; these may be paid to teams, drivers, or both.
5. Season-end point funds: Final standings unlock additional distributions; these are significant for Cup charter teams and successful driver-team combinations.

The upshot: a posted purse is only part of the economic picture; media-rights distributions and contract terms heavily influence what teams and drivers actually take home.

What a winner actually takes home

Because contracts differ and NASCAR doesn’t publish purse splits, winner take-home amounts are best expressed as realistic ranges under common scenarios.

• Standard Cup race winner: The winning entry’s purse share often lands in the mid-to-high six figures; the driver’s personal cut depends on contract terms (commonly a negotiated percentage of the winnings plus bonuses).
• Crown jewels and playoffs: Payouts for events like the Coca-Cola 600, Southern 500, and playoff rounds trend higher than a typical regular-season race.
• Daytona 500 winner: The winning entry can exceed $2 million based on the 2020 disclosure; the driver’s portion depends on the team deal and bonuses tied specifically to Daytona.
• All-Star winner: The headline $1 million goes to the winning team/driver combination per their internal agreement since it’s an exhibition payout.

These ranges reflect the best available public signals; exact event-by-event checks fluctuate year to year with sponsorship, attendance, and distribution formulas.

Frequently asked details

Are stage points paid in cash?

No. Stage points improve a driver’s playoff position and contribute to season-end point funds, but stage results are not a separate cash payout on race day.

Do smaller teams earn the same as big teams for a finish?

The posted purse for a finishing position is the same, but chartered teams receive additional media-rights distributions and often secure larger sponsor bonuses. That means two teams finishing identically may realize very different total earnings.

Is the new media deal changing per-race pay?

Beginning in 2025, NASCAR’s media-rights package with Fox, Amazon Prime Video, TNT Sports, and NBC is set to increase total TV revenue. Teams expect larger distributions under renewed charter agreements, which should lift overall earnings, though NASCAR still does not routinely publish per‑race purse details.

Summary

NASCAR does not publish a standard per-race payout. For the Cup Series, typical regular-season total purses are widely estimated around $4–7 million, crown-jewel and playoff events pay more, and the Daytona 500 is a clear outlier (the 2020 purse was about $23.6 million). Winners of ordinary points races often earn a few hundred thousand dollars, while the Daytona 500 winner can exceed $2 million. Actual driver take-home depends on team contracts, bonuses, and charter-related media distributions.

How much does a NASCAR race pay to win?

NASCAR prize money varies significantly by race, with total purses often in the multi-millions, though the exact payouts for winning drivers are not publicly disclosed. The total purse includes payments for finishing positions, charter team payouts, and other contingency awards. Winning a race generally yields $1.5 to $2 million for top drivers, but this figure depends on the race’s prestige, with the Daytona 500 and NASCAR Cup Series Championship having the largest payouts.
 
This video explains how NASCAR prize money varies by race and how the winner’s share is determined: 1mTheRacingXpertYouTube · Mar 22, 2025
How NASCAR Prize Money Works

• Total Purse: Each NASCAR Cup Series race has a total purse, which is the combined money for all participants. 
• Distribution: This money is distributed based on finishing position, with higher placements receiving a greater share. 
• Charter vs. Open Teams: A significant portion goes to charter teams based on their charter agreements with NASCAR, and open teams receive payouts for participating in events. 
• Contingency Awards: Bonuses are also awarded for meeting specific criteria, such as using certain products or historical performance. 

Examples of Prize Money

• Daytona 500: Opens in new tabThe Daytona 500, NASCAR’s most prestigious race, has a purse in the tens of millions, with the winner earning a substantial, though undisclosed, portion. 
• NASCAR Cup Series Championship: Opens in new tabThe championship race also offers a large prize, potentially around $10 million total, with the winner receiving a significant share. 
• Other Cup Series Races: Opens in new tabFor typical Cup Series races, the total purse can be in the range of $8 to $12 million, depending on the event’s significance. 

This video provides a visual representation of the NASCAR prize money distribution: 1mTheRacingXpertYouTube · Nov 16, 2024
Winner’s Share

• While NASCAR does not disclose exact winner payouts, estimates suggest that the winning driver receives between 8-10% of the total purse for their team. 
• For a race with a total purse of $11 million, this would translate to roughly $880,000 to over $1 million for the winner. 

Do NASCAR drivers get paid for each race?

In reality, most NASCAR drivers don’t even get paid, but have to pay to race. They have to bring sponsors to pay for the races and there are only a couple of NASCAR drivers that make money from NASCAR. Only the drivers who compete for wins are making a good salary since they can make prize money.

Who is the highest paid NASCAR driver?

The highest-paid NASCAR driver is widely reported to be Kyle Busch, who earned an estimated $16.9 million in 2024 and was the top earner among NASCAR drivers for the 2024 season. He is followed by Denny Hamlin in second place with $13.1 million, and Martin Truex Jr. in third with $10.4 million. 
Here are the top earners for 2024 according to reports: 

1. Kyle Busch: $16.9 million
2. Denny Hamlin: $13.1 million
3. Martin Truex Jr.: $10.4 million
4. Brad Keselowski: $9.4 million
5. Joey Logano: $9 million

What does a NASCAR tire changer make?

A NASCAR tire changer’s salary is highly dependent on the team and their role within the crew, but they can earn around $50,000 to $100,000 or more annually, potentially receiving race-day bonuses and a base salary, with pay increasing significantly for experienced individuals on top-tier teams. While some sources cite lower hourly rates based on data from the entire NASCAR organization, specific pit crew roles, especially for tire carriers, are estimated to make roughly $80,000 annually.
 
Factors influencing a tire changer’s pay:

• Team Tier: Top-tier teams like Hendrick Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing pay more, potentially reaching $100,000 annually for experienced pit crew members. 
• Contract: Salaries are part of individual contracts with the race team, which can vary in length and structure. 
• Role Specificity: The position within the pit crew, such as tire carrier, can impact compensation. 
• Bonuses: Pit crew members often receive bonuses on race days, and their expenses are paid when traveling on the road. 

Estimated Earnings:

• Annual Salaries: Opens in new tabA range of $50,000 to $100,000 is a realistic estimate for experienced individuals, with higher earnings for those on premier teams. 
• Race-Day Earnings: Opens in new tabPit crew members, including tire changers and carriers, can earn around $1,500 per race.