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How money is distributed in NASCAR
October 28, 2002
9:21 AM EST (1421 GMT)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Who wins what amount of money from competing in a
NASCAR Winston Cup Series race can seem like a complicated process -- with
the most compelling question being how a driver that finishes far back can
win more money than a driver that finishes in the top 10?
An example would be the 2002 Old Dominion 500 at Martinsville Speedway,
where Jimmie Johnson won $49,550 for his sixth place finish, while Jeff
Gordon won $90,753 -- the fifth highest payout in the race -- for his 36th
place result.
The biggest reason for the money disparity is in the bonus programs that
Gordon, as the defending champion and driving for one of the leading
winners in the series, Hendrick Motorsports, is eligible for more special
award plans than a newer team, such as Johnson's first-year operation, is.
As convoluted as it seems, the process is actually fairly simple and is
regulated by the entry blanks that the NASCAR Competition Department
issues in advance of each event.
Each race carries a purse figure, or its "posted awards."
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The purse is comprised of a number of segments, including the racing
purse; television awards; NASCAR Winston Cup car owner special award
plans, including the Winner's Circle Program; and a list of qualifying and
special awards that may or may not be paid depending on the eligibility of
the driver finishing in the appropriate position.
The racing purse breakdown designates a set amount for positions 1-43 that
decreases on a sliding scale. "Television Awards" are also posted for each
position, using the same sliding scale from first to 43rd.
NASCAR Winston Cup team owners may participate in special award plans,
such as "Plan 1," which allows for a set figure for each owner. Car owners
participating in Plan 1c win money for their finishing position in
relation to the other owners in the plan, again on a decreasing scale.
Those owners participating in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Car/Champion
Owner Program are also entitled to additional awards, per the regulations
of the program.
Among the largest special awards at each race are the NASCAR Winston
Leader Bonus, Time Trial Awards and the Gatorade Front Runner Award.
The Winston Leader Bonus is a modern day version of "Studebaker money."
The money is available to the race winner IF he is also leading the
Winston Cup standings after the event. If the winner is not the point
leader, the money -- which accrues at the rate of $10,000 per event -- is
not paid.
The Gatorade Front Runner Award, $10,000, goes
to the driver that leads the most laps in the race, regardless of
finishing position.
Most of the other manufacturers' and special award prizes are contingent
on using the products and displaying uniform patches or decals.
At certain events special prizes are awarded to the leader of each lap in
the race.
These days, about 75 percent of the posted awards are paid after each
event, per the official NASCAR race report. The balance of the posted
awards is the "Manufacturer's Point Fund Awards," a prorated share of
nearly $15 million in manufacturer and sponsor funds that are distributed
at the end of the season.
While a certain portion of each purse is guaranteed to be paid after the
event, some of the cash is what formerly was referred to as Studebaker
money, placed in the purse simply for appearance sake.
The term refers to money offered on a purse, say "$10,000 to the winner if
he is driving a Studebaker." The $10,000 would be reflected in the total
posted awards, making them more impressive, but the chance of a Studebaker
winning would be miniscule. |
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