Record payoff awaits 2002 Daytona 500 champion

January 30, 2002
10:38 AM EST (1538 GMT)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., -- In the first Daytona 500 back in 1959, Lee Petty collected $19,050 in prize money for taking the checkered flag. Second-place finisher Johnny Beauchamp earned $7,650. The purse for the race totaled $67,760.

How things have changed through the years.

This year's 44th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 17 will award the winner of the "Great American Race" a minimum $1,327,030 with the race's entire purse exceeding $12 million, an increase of more than a $1 million from last year.

The runner-up finisher in the Daytona 500 will receive a minimum $928,100 while the driver that finishes in the 43rd position will collect a minimum $114,236.

"The Daytona 500 is the crown jewel of motorsports," Speedway President John Graham said. "Every driver in the NASCAR garage wants to hoist the Harley J. Earl trophy in Victory Lane at the circuit's premier track. There should be no doubt that the winner of this race should be rewarded handsomely."

The Daytona 500 is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 17 at 12:30 p.m. It will be broadcast live on NBC Sports and MRN Radio.

Fans can purchase tickets for Speedweeks 2002 events and the 44th annual Daytona 500 online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedwayl.com or by calling the Speedway ticket office at (386) 253-7223.