Nascar Drivers Money Earned
Bill France Sr. helped launch the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing in 1947, and today NASCAR is America’s most watched racing league and a huge business. When it comes to television ratings, the only professional sports league that beats NASCAR is the NFL. While NASCAR drivers make zooming around the track at top speed look easy, in reality it’s anything but — race car driving take immense skill and concentration. It’s also very dangerous and every race can potentially be a driver’s last.
How do drivers get enticed to sit behind the wheel and put it all on the line? By tapping into their passion for racing and being presented with the chance to make a lot of money. The most successful NASCAR drivers have amassed large fortunes due to winning big cash prizes or having endorsement deals with major companies.
Here are the 20 richest NASCAR drivers in history:
20. Denny Hamlin – $30 million
James “Denny” Hamlin started out racing go-karts when he was seven and now he’s made a lucrative career out of race car driving behind the wheel of No. 11 for Joe Gibbs Racing. He won the MKA Manufacturers Cup in 1997 when he was 15, and in 2006 Hamlin was named “Rookie of the Year” at the Nextel Cup Series. He’s won a number of races, including the 2010 Southern 500, 2015 Sprint All-Star Race, and 2016 Daytona 500.
19. Michael Waltrip – $35 million
Today Michael Waltrip works as a commentator and has published books, but he’s also one of the most esteemed NASCAR drivers around. He won the Daytona 500 twice and occasionally still races from time to time in the No. 55 Toyota Camry. Greatness on the track runs in the family — Michael is the younger brother of Darrell Waltrip, a three-time NASCAR champ.
18. Jeff Burton – $45 million
Before retiring, Jeff Burton — also known as The Mayor — was able to rack up 21 Sprint Cup Series wins. He’s another driver with family history in the sport as his brother, Ward, and his nephew, Jeb, have also raced in the Sprint Cup Series. Jeff currently serves as a NASCAR analyst for NBC Sports.
17. Greg Biffle – $50 million
Driving Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 16 Ford Fusion is Greg Biffle, one of the richest NASCAR drivers in the game. He’s won many championships and awards, and he also earned the title of “Most Popular Driver” during the 2002 NASCAR Busch Series. Some of his wealth came from being behind the wheel, but Biffle is also part owner of Willamette Speedway and Sunset Speedway.
16. Kurt Busch – $50 million
Many know Kurt Busch as the older brother of NASCAR driver Kyle Bush, but he’s also won 27 Cup races during his career. In 2004, Kurt beat Jimmie Johnson to become the 2004 Cup Series champion. Though he’s definitely talented, Kurt Busch has gotten into some trouble on and off the track and he’s had a few notable public feuds with other NASCAR drivers.
15. Kyle Busch – $50 million
Kyle Busch has made a lot of his money from racing, and he’s been a huge winner on the track. However, he also owns Kyle Busch Motorsports, which has enjoyed many victories since it debuted in 2010. Aside from his NASCAR career, Kyle is known for being a generous donator to charities and and worthy causes.
14. Carl Edwards – $50 million
Carl Edwards drives Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 19 Toyota Camry. His first championship win was the 2007 Busch Series, and his most recent was the 2015 Bojangles’ Southern 500. Anytime Edwards wins a race fans expect him to do a backflip off his car, which is something he started doing at his first win by accident.
13. Kasey Kahne – $50 million
17-time Cup Series winner Kasey Kahne has had a huge stock car racing career. Over the last 15 years, he’s participated in 444 races and has placed in the top ten in 86 of those races. He began racing when he was 17 at Washington’s Deming Speedway.
12. Cale Yarborough – $50 million
Out of all NASCAR drivers, Cale Yarborough has had one of the longest involvements with the sport. While he was still racing he amassed 86 wins, making him one of those mots winningest NASCAR drivers of all time. The septuagenarian is not only a former race car driver and team owner, he’s also a farmer and an entrepreneur. Long-time fans of the sport won’t soon forget the fistfight he had on the track with Donnie Allison in 1979 — it’s still talked about to this day and is regarded as one of the most memorable moments in the history of the Daytona 500.
11. Danica Patrick – $55 million
Television theme songs trivia. Danica Patrick is the most successful woman in the history of professional racing, but most of her wealth didn’t come from her performance on the track. Instead, she’s earned tens of millions as a model, spokeswoman, and as the face of many leading brands.
10. Matt Kenseth – $60 million
During his career that’s spanned over two decades, Matt Kenseth has had an impressive number of victories. There have been a few controversies surrounding Kenseth during his career, most notably his 2003 Winston Cup Series victory. He was also the recipient of the toughest suspension in the history of NASCAR after deliberately causing a wreck with fellow racer Joey Logano. Still, he’s a very talented driver and one of the wealthiest. His son, Ross, is currently working on starting his own racing legacy as a driver — Ross has even raced against his did.
9. Richard Petty – $60 million
Few haven’t heard of Richard Petty — it doesn’t matter if you know much about NASCAR or not, The King is legendary and became a household name decades ago. He even has a museum dedicated to his illustrious career. During his time racing he won 200 races, including seven NASCAR Championships. As far as the figures go, Richard Petty is the most successful driver of all time. As great as he is, Richard Petty didn’t start his family’s racing legacy. His father, Lee, won the first Daytona 500 race and was a three-time NASCAR champion. Richard’s son, Kyle, went on to create a successful career in racing, and his late grandson, Adam, was the first fourth generation racer in NASCAR history.
8. Dale Earnhardt Sr. – $70 million
Dale Earnhardt Sr. is definitely one of the most famous NASCAR drivers of all-time. He won a huge list of accolades, championships, and awards during his career, and his style of driving lead to him being nicknamed The Intimidator. His seven Winston Cup championships tied him with Richard Petty for the most wins in the history of NASCAR. The world came to know Dale Earnhardt Sr. as a first-rate racer, and his passing during the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 is a moment that’s seared into the history of professional racing. Since then, he has been inducted into several halls of fame and his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., has continued the family’s racing legacy.
7. Kevin Harvick – $70 million
Kevin Harvick is a full time driver of the No. 4 Chevrolet SS in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, as well as a part time driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro in NASCAR’s Xfinity Series. He holds the all-time Cup Series win record and is the Xfinity Series’ third winningest driver. Kevin Harvick’s dream of becoming a race car driver goes back to when he was in fifth grade, and his father helped him enter the sport when he was a bit older. Racing legend Rick Mears was Kevin’s favorite driver when he was a kid, and Kevin has drawn inspiration from him during his career.
6. Mark Martin – $70 million
Mark Martin is a living legend and one of the most world’s most storied NASCAR drivers. He had a career that spanned over 30 years and included over 880 races. Few drivers have raced into their later years, but Mark Martin was on the track as recently as 2013. He hasn’t officially gone into retirement, but he is set to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2017. Much of Mark Martin’s wealth came from being involved in NASCAR, but he’s also the owner of four car dealerships.
5. Tony Stewart – $70 million
The only person to win an IndyCar and NASCAR championship is Tony Stewart. He’s become known around the world for his incredible racing talent and major wins. In 600 races over his long career, Stewart has earned 49 victories. Tony Stewart made a significant part of his money from endorsement deals with various companies. He also has his own Sirius Satellite show, Tony Stewart Live, which he co-hosts with NASCAR reporter Matt Yocum.
4. Ken Schrader – $75 million
Ken Schrader has a long racing career — he’s not only a NASCAR vet, but he’s also a current part-time ARCA Series racer and he races at Eldora Speedway in the Camping World Truck Series. Battle chess free download. Considering Ken Schrader’s age, 61, it’s quite a feat to still be going strong after so many decades in the sport.
Ken Schrader’s NASCAR career lasted from the early 1980s to 2013, and in that time he’s enjoyed immense success. In addition to his racing wins and accolades from fans and other NASCAR drivers, Schrader is an astute businessman. He owns Missouri’s I-55 Raceway, and is also part owner of Macon Speedway along with Tony Stewart, promoter Bob Sargent, and race car driver Kenny Wallace.
3. Jimmie Johnson – $120 million
Jimmie Johnson is one of the richest NASCAR drivers of all time, and he’s one of the most well-recognized race car drivers in the world. Success may seem to come naturally for Jimmie Johnson, but it didn’t come easy. His love for racing began when he was just 4 years old, and he started entering off-road series after graduating from high school. In the years since he has recorded a huge number of achievements, wins, and awards. Jimmie Johnson has also been apart of many of the most memorable moments in NASCAR’s history, and the star driver isn’t exactly a stranger to controversy.
Johnson has made enough cameos in television shows, movies, music videos, and video games that he’s something of a pop culture figure. Few players have been as marketable as Jimmie Johnson is, which is part of why he’s worth $120 million. Outside of his endorsements, business ventures, and awesome racing career, Jimmie Johnson is a charitable athlete who donates millions annually and often participates in charity events. He has his own successful nonprofit, The Jimmie Johnson Foundation, and he’s also partnered with other recognized groups such as Habitat for Humanity, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the American Red Cross.
2. Jeff Gordon – $150 million
Jeff Gordon now works as a Fox NASCAR announcer, but most people know him as the driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet from when he was still racing. The first taste of racing that Jeff Gordon got was when his stepdad bought him a BMX bike when he was four — after that, nothing could stop him from pursing his passion. He went after it with zeal and the rest truly is racing history. Jeff Gordon is one of the most esteemed NASCAR drivers and he’s cemented his place in pop culture as well. Many in the US who know little to nothing about race car driving still know the name “Jeff Gordon” — he not only helped make the sport more popular in the US, Gordon has been portrayed in everything from magazines and documentaries to cartoons and game shows. When it comes to business he plays it very smart, which has allowed Jeff Gordon to amass a fortune worth $150 million.
1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. – $300 million
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is racing royalty, and his father’s legacy helped him climb the heights that he’s reached today. That’s not to say that Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t put in his share of work to achieve his successes — far from it. In fact, he’s more than proven himself on the track and has truly done justice to the Earnhardt name. Dale Jr. has been voted NASCAR’s “Most Popular Driver” a consecutive 13 times from 2003 to 2015.
Perhaps the most devastating moment in his time spent racing — the 2001 Daytona 500 crash that killed his father, Dale Earnhardt Sr. — shaped Dale Jr.’s career more than anything else. He emerged that day with grace and incredible composure and made a name for himself in the best way. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the most recognized celebrity athletes in the world, and he also has a knack for doing business. Some of Dale Jr.’s ventures include owning racetracks, a media production company, auto dealerships, and a bar named Whisky River that has multiple locations. All of this, plus his money earned from racing, puts Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the top of the list of wealthy NASCAR drivers.
Johnson ranked second with total earnings of $19.2 million, as he finished a disappointing 10th in the final Cup standings. Johnson signed a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports last year to drive the No. 48 car through at least 2020. The new deal should keep him at the top of driver earnings chart with Earnhardt's retirement.
Rounding out the top five are Kyle Busch ($14.7 million), Denny Hamlin ($14.6 million) and Kevin Harvick ($13.6 million).
The sport’s most valuable team, Hendrick Motorsports, filled its two open driver slots, Earnhardt and Kahne, with 19-year-old William Byron and 24-year-old Alex Bowman. Top drivers used to race well into their 40s, but Johnson and Kevin Harvick are now the oldest in the sport at 42.
One driver who failed to crack the top 12 in 2017 but will shoot up Forbes’ next look at the top-earning drivers is Elliott. He replaced Gordon in the famed No. 24 car in 2016 (Elliott moved to the No. 9 car for 2018 for Hendrick). Elliott didn’t reach the winner’s circle in 2017, but his merchandise flew off the racks and sales ranked second behind only Earnhardt. Elliott signed a four-year contract extension in June with Hendrick that boosts his salary to the mid-seven figures range.
'>Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired at the end of the 2017 Nascar season after nearly two decades in the spotlight as the most famous progeny in the sport. Earnhardt failed to reach Victory Lane last year, but he cemented his spot at the top among fans with his 15th straight year, winning Nascar’s Most Popular Driver award. He was named on 68% of the votes cast by fans.
Earnhardt also nabbed another title before taking his talents to the NBC broadcast booth. The 43-year-old recaptured his place as the highest-earning driver in his swansong season after a one-year hiatus where Jimmie Johnson usurped him. Earnhardt earned $22 million in 2017 by Forbes’ count, thanks to Nascar’s highest salary and top merchandise sales.
Earnhardt was Nascar’s top-earner for seven straight years until 2016, when a concussion sidelined him for the final 18 races of the season and Johnson captured his seventh Cup championship, plus the roughly $2 million Cup title bonus (Jeff Gordon was the last driver to surpass Earnhardt before that).
Dale Jr. posted only one top-five finish in 2017, but fans gobbled up his merchandise along each stop on the Nascar circuit. Earnhardt’s No. 88 car commanded nearly $1 million per race from sponsors, pushing his driver salary to the top of the charts. The two-time Daytona 500 winner also generated roughly $4 million from personal endorsement partners like Nationwide, Chevrolet, Goody’s and Wrangler.
Nationwide has been an Earnhardt sponsor since 2008 (it added a primary car sponsorship in 2014). In January, Nationwide announced plans to continue to use Earnhardt as a company spokesman in a multi-year deal.
Earnhardt's estimated career earnings of $410 million from salary and endorsements, as well as his cut of winnings and merchandise sales, rank second all time among drivers. Only Gordon earned more.
Johnson ranked second with total earnings of $19.2 million, as he finished a disappointing 10th in the final Cup standings. Johnson signed a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports last year to drive the No. 48 car through at least 2020. The new deal should keep him at the top of driver earnings chart with Earnhardt's retirement.
Rounding out the top five are Kyle Busch ($14.7 million), Denny Hamlin ($14.6 million) and Kevin Harvick ($13.6 million).
Nascar has a bevy of up-and-coming drivers in Kyle Larson, Austin Dillon, Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney. But the retirement of Earnhardt, Gordon, Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Danica Patrick and Matt Kenseth in recent years leaves a gaping hole in the sport.
Those six drivers all ranked among the top 10 in merchandise sales in 2013. Ratings for the 2018 Daytona 500 on Fox—won by Dillon with Wallace in second—were off 23% compared to the prior year and the lowest ever for Nascar's signature race. Ratings were less than half from a dozen years ago on NBC.
The retirements of the sport’s old guard give team owners a chance to reset salaries, a necessity with sponsorship money off for most cars. The top 12 drivers earned $155 million last year, down 20% from 2009. The total will drop again next year with Earnhardt, Patrick and Kenseth leaving the sport, as well as Kasey Kahne taking a huge pay cut in moving from Hendrick Motorsports to Leavine Family Racing.
Every driver contract is different, but experienced drivers traditionally commanded salaries of roughly one-third of the sponsorship dollars committed to the car. Drivers were also entitled to a cut of race winnings and merchandise.
Sponsor money is off and team owners are cutting the percentage allocated to driver salaries. The car is more important than the driver, and funds are allocated that way. Incoming drivers are getting six-figure salaries with a cut of other revenue, but their total comp tends to be in the low millions, far cry from Nascar's heady days. Incentives are playing a bigger role in contracts more than ever before.
The sport’s most valuable team, Hendrick Motorsports, filled its two open driver slots, Earnhardt and Kahne, with 19-year-old William Byron and 24-year-old Alex Bowman. Top drivers used to race well into their 40s, but Johnson and Kevin Harvick are now the oldest in the sport at 42.
One driver who failed to crack the top 12 in 2017 but will shoot up Forbes’ next look at the top-earning drivers is Elliott. He replaced Gordon in the famed No. 24 car in 2016 (Elliott moved to the No. 9 car for 2018 for Hendrick). Elliott didn’t reach the winner’s circle in 2017, but his merchandise flew off the racks and sales ranked second behind only Earnhardt. Elliott signed a four-year contract extension in June with Hendrick that boosts his salary to the mid-seven figures range.