HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 18: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 FedEx Express Toyota, and Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 M&M's Toyota, take the green flag to start the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
NASCAR championship contenders discuss the big prize money payout
Shane Walters
Sports are big business; There’s a lot of money on the line at Homestead-Miami Speedway
On Sunday, four drivers are set to race for the NASCAR championship. Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida hosts the final race of the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.
Who’s racing for a championship? Martin Truex Jr, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick.
How do they win? It’s simple, the final four come into the final race tied for the title. The highest finisher of the four in the race, will be declared the champion.
There’s a shiny trophy on the line. But, there’s also a huge check on the line as well.
Who pays the NASCAR point fund? NASCAR, of course.
Where does that money come from? It comes from tv revenue from the season.
Advertisements and tv deals generate tons of revenue during their four hour segment on Saturday nights or Sunday afternoons.
65% of that TV revenue goes to the tracks themselves. 25% of the TV money goes to the teams via the point and race funds. NASCAR keeps the remaining 10% for themselves.
Jimmie Johnson noted a decrease in the NASCAR point fund
NASCAR doesn’t state the exact amount of the championship funds. Drivers used to have tallied race earnings visible to the public as they get paid per race on top of the season-ending point fund. NASCAR stopped releasing those numbers after the 2015 season.
Jimmie Johnson is a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. He collected the championship payout, five times in a row.
However, when he won it most recently in 2016, he noted that the payout was down significantly since he previous won the title in 2013.
That just told us that less people are watching NASCAR TV content from 2013 compared to 2016.
2018 was a low point as far as NASCAR viewership. But, the TV numbers have leveled out and are no longer decreasing in 2019.
How much to win the 2019 NASCAR championship?
“It’s exciting, there’s big strategy involved,” Kyle Busch said during an interview with Fox Business.
“Of course there’s a lot of money that takes place too. There’s a lot of money up from grabs, being able to go out there and win the race, win the championship.”
“But, also with the sponsors and everybody that’s involved in our sport. It’s a big industry.”
Of the four drivers competing for the championship this weekend, Martin Truex Jr is the most recent to win a title. He claimed the championship with the now defunct Furniture Row Racing team back in 2018.
So, how much does a NASCAR driver get for winning the championship?
“That’s funny,” Martin Truex Jr said. “I don’t even know. To win the championship, it’s a big payday. It’s gotta be worth a few million.”
“It’s gotta be a 2-3 million dollar swing,” Kevin Harvick jumps in. Between winning and losing.”