How much do NASCAR drivers make? Salaries, bonuses, and other earnings

How much do NASCAR drivers make? Salaries, bonuses, and other earnings

NASCAR, short for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, is currently one of the most prestigious motorsports organizations, known primarily for stock car racing. Their racers are also among the highest-paid, though not as high as Formula 1 racers. This article looks at how much NASCAR drivers make.

How much NASCAR drivers make
Drivers racing during the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Clean Harbors 250 at Richmond Raceway on August 10, 2024, in Richmond, Virginia. Photo: Logan Whitton/Sean Gardner (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

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There is no fixed amount that NASCAR drivers make per season. They usually participate in different races, series, and championships. The highest-paying race today is the Daytona 500, also called the Great American Race. Major series include the NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.  

How much do NASCAR drivers make?

NASCAR driver salary varies depending on factors like experience, position, performance, team funding, contracts, and marketability. The base salary for developmental drivers is somewhere between $50,000 and $10 million, according to SalarySport. Newer drivers and those in lower-tier teams earn significantly less compared to established racers.

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How much do NASCAR drivers make a year?

The average salary of NASCAR drivers per year is approximately $112,000. Full-time racers make between $200,000 and $17 million, which comes from a combination of winnings, salaries, bonuses, and sponsorships.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 250
Drivers during the NASCAR Xfinity Series Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 20, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Photo: Justin Casterline
Source: Getty Images

How much do NASCAR drivers make per race?

NASCAR stopped disclosing race earnings in 2016, but on average, racers make between $5,000 and $100,000 per race. The exact amount depends on sponsorship deals and the driver's contract terms.

NASCAR winnings per race also vary significantly depending on the type of race and the purse amount. Larger and more prestigious races offer a higher NASCAR payout per position. For example, the total purse for the 2023 Daytona 500 was approximately $26.9 million. The winner of the Daytona 500 typically earns between $1.5 million and $2 million. 

Who is the highest-paid driver in NASCAR?

Kyle 'Rowdy' Busch is considered one of the highest-earning NASCAR racers today, making around $16.9 million annually. In 2020, Kyle Busch's salary was estimated to be $17.8 million, landing him a feature on Forbes as the highest-paid driver.

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Busch's salary per race is estimated at around $444,000. Denny Hamlin is currently the second highest-earning racer, with total annual earnings of $13.1 million.

Kyle Busch at New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Kyle Busch during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Today 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 22, 2024, in Loudon, New Hampshire. Photo: Jonathan Bachman
Source: Getty Images

Corey LaJoie's salary of $200,000 per year makes him one of the lowest-earning NASCAR racers. The table below highlights the top 25 highest-paid NASCAR drivers, according to Ranker.

Rank

Racer

Team

Annual earnings

1

Kyle Busch

Hendrick Motorsports

$16.9 million

2

Denny Hamlin

Joe Gibbs Racing

$13.1 million

3

Kevin Harvick

Stewart-Haas Racing

$10.9 million

4

Martin Truex Jr

Joe Gibbs Racing

$10.4 million

5

Brad Keselowski

RFK Racing

$9.4 million

6

Joey Logano

Team Penske

$9 million

7

Kyle Larson

Hendrick Motorsports

$8 million

8

Chase Elliott

Hendrick Motorsports

$8 million

9

Kurt Busch

23XI Racing

$7.5 million

10

Daniel Suarez

Trackhouse Racing Team

$4.5 million

11

Alex Bowman

Hendrick Motorsports

$4.5 million

12

Michael McDowell

Front Row Motorsports

$3.7 million

13

Austin Dillon

Richard Childress Racing

$3.5 million

14

Ricky Stenhouse Jr

JTG Daugherty Racing

$3 million

15

Aric Almirola

Stewart-Haas Racing

$2.5 million

16

Eric Jones

Petty GMS Motorsports

$2.3 million

17

Bubba Wallace

23XI Racing

$2.2 million

18

Ross Chastain

Trackhouse Racing Team

$2.1 million

19

Ryan Blaney

Team Penske

$1.9 million

20

William Bryon

Hendrick Sports

$1.85 million

21

Chris Buescher

Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing

$1.5 million

22

Tyler Reddick

Richard Childress Racing

$1.3 million

23

Chase Briscoe

Stewart-Haas Racing

$1.2 million

24

Christopher Bell

Joe Gibbs Racing

$800,000

25

Cole Custer

Stewart-Haas Racing

$500,000

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Who is the richest NASCAR driver?

The richest NASCAR driver as of 2024 is Dale Earnhardt Jr with an estimated net worth of $300 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. Dale Jr, a third-generation driver, is a 2-time Daytona 500 winner and a 2-time NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion.

Dale Jr retired from full-time racing in 2017 but continues to compete part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Below are the top 20 richest NASCAR racers of all time with their respective net worths, according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Rank

Racer

Net worth

1

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

$300 million

2

Jeff Gordon

$200 million

3

Jimmie Johnson

$160 million

4

Kevin Harvick

$110 million

5

Tony Stewart

$90 million

6

Danica Patrick

$80 million

7

Kyle Busch

$80 million

8

Carl Edwards

$70 million

9

Mark Martin

$70 million

10

Kurt Busch

$70 million

11

Dale Earnhardt Sr

$70 million

12

Richard Petty

$65 million

13

Denny Hamlin

$65 million

14

Matt Kenseth

$60 million

15

Jeff Burton

$55 million

16

Cale Yarborough

$50 million

17

Kasey Kahne

$50 million

18

Michael Waltrip

$35 million

19

Greg Biffle

$30 million

20

Ken Schrader

$25 million

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How much does a NASCAR pit crew make in a year?

The pit crew typically consists of specialized mechanics responsible for performing quick maintenance and repairs on a race car during a race. Key roles include tyre changers, tyre carriers, jackmen, gasmen, and spotters.

Generally, the pit crew makes between $80,000 and $300,000 per season, according to FlowerRacers. The amount they earn depends on the team they are working for, their role, and experience.

Pit crew working on Martin Truex Jr.'s race car
Martin Truex Jr., driver of the number 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, pits during the NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway on August 11, 2024, in Richmond, Virginia. Photo: Logan Whitton
Source: Getty Images

NASCAR driver bonuses

The average sponsorship salary for a NASCAR driver is $500,000, states Worldmetrics. NASCAR drivers' salaries are influenced by performance-based bonuses. Some NASCAR drivers earn over $1 million in bonuses per year.

The amount NASCAR drivers make features a combination of on-track success and off-track endorsements. Their overall salaries reflect their skill, track success, and marketability. 

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Source: Briefly News

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Alice Wabwile (Lifestyle writer) Alice Wabwile is a multifaceted content creator and Project Assistant at AfDAN, boasting over four years of experience. Holding a BCom degree from the University of Nairobi School of Business, she has cultivated a dynamic skill set through roles such as her tenure at Strathmore University's Data Science Department, where she contributed significantly to research. Recognized for her exceptional talent, she clinched the Writer of the Year Award. Beyond her professional endeavours, Alice is an engaged member of the Rotaract Club of Kabete. For inquiries, reach out to her at alicenjoro01@gmail.com

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