How money is distributed in NASCAR
By Troy Fletcher, Special to Turner Sports Interactive
May 25, 2001
4:13 PM EDT (2013 GMT)
When looking at the results of NASCAR Winston Cup races, there is an element of confusion.
Logically speaking, the respective race winners should pocket the most money.
 | |
Rusty Wallace led the most laps and won the most poles in 2000.
|
|
|
However, that is not always the case. The reason the race's top dollar winner doesn't have to be in Victory Lane is because of the Winston Cup's Special Awards Program.
Through this "Program," drivers compete in races within each race for a jackpot of money.
At each of the 36 races, any driver who leads the most laps at an event is awarded the $10,000 Gatorade Front Runner Award.
What's more, the pole position winner at each Cup race gets the $5,000 Bud Pole Award.
A year ago, Rusty Wallace won $175,000 at season's end - on top of what he won at each event -- by winning the most poles and leading the most laps.
A driver can also receive $5,000 by being the True Value Man of the Race and can gain even more money by getting the EA Sports Move of the Race Award.
If these extra incentives are enough there are also other cash awards given to drivers by participating manufacturers at respective events.
Thus, because of all these other awards on the table, the race champion isn't always going to be the richest driver for the event.
Don't be completely mislead, however, winners are also well compensated.
For intstance, there is the Winston No Bull 5 which offers millions of dollars to drivers.
 | |
Jeff Gordon took home $500,000 for winning the 2001 Winston.
|
|
|
At the UAW-Daimler Chrysler 400 (March 4), the Coca-Cola 600 Sunday in Charlotte, the Pepsi 400 at Daytona (July 7), Chevy Monte Carlo 400 at Richmond (Sept. 8) and the Alabama 500 at Talladega (Oct. 21) eligible drivers win $1 million by taking the checkered flag.
Drivers are eligible to run for the Winston No Bull 5 money by placing in the top five at the previous Winston No Bull 5 race.
There is also the Winston Cup Leader Bonus, given to the driver who wins a race and leads the Cup points standings at the conclusion of the day. This leader bonus begins at $10,000 and goes up by that same amount until it is won.
|
