How does NASCAR pay drivers?

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briefing0007

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At this weekend's race Dale Earnhart Jr. started 15th, finished 5th and made $106,475. Reed Sorenson started 23rd, finished 31st and made $109,414? How does this make sense. It happens every race. Can anyone explain?
 
Most of the drivers don't worry about the "race" pay, they get most of their money from sponsers. Also a lot of the money is based on last years points.
 
Who knows? I think the only ones that know how is nascar affiliates. It changes from week to week. they can make the rules as they go along. Next week Jr. might make more than Reed depends on what mood affiliates are in. I do know tho that some drivers including Stewart,Kahne, and Gordon are guaranteed a 100k. I did hear a rumor that it goes by what you did your rookie year.
 
The first thing is Nascar does not pay drivers at all. Nascar pays the car owner.

The purse money comes from the track and various sponsors. The cars carry decals of sponsors that pay certain amounts only to the cars carrying the decal and/or using the product. Some programs only pay for prior winners. Some only pay to those who lead a lap or finish on the lead lap. Car manufactures pay money at some races, maybe Dodge put up money for this race,

The 88 car has the history of the 25 Casey Mear's car from last year. I am not sure what Sorenson's history is but the differences in history and product use/decal placement make up the differences in prize money paid to the car owner.

I am surprised by the differences in this case. I wonder if Hendrick gave up some decal room to get the two sponsors, National Guard and AMP. They may have paid way more than the prize money would have been over the year.
 
It depends on many things.
~First, there is a base purse amount for each position. ~Teams/drivers can also win bonuses for things like least amount of time spent on pit road, leading the most laps, etc...
~Contigency Sponsors. This is earned by decals on their car and supporting/using the product.
 
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