Do NASCAR drivers get a performance bonus? JGR official weighs in

Joe Gibbs Racing team President Dave Alpern recently shared insights into every week's payout and how the incentives are divided among each team member. Notably, the purse of every race varies depending upon the race and the final results.

JGR is owned by the famed NFL coach, Joe Gibbs, who founded the stock-car team in 1992. The Huntersville, North Carolina-based organization has won five Cup Series and four Xfinity Series championships. Apart from Hendrick Motorsports, the Super Bowl-winning coach's team is the only other organization, that fields four-car entries in the Cup Series. Moreover, as per Forbes, JGR is one of the richest NASCAR teams.

In a recent social media video poster by JGR, Alpern clarified a fan's question about a NASCAR driver's performance bonus, saying:

"Our drivers not only have a base salary, but yes, they get a portion of the purse just like the team does. So a driver has an incentive to win a race. So every week when we get the purse paid out, that purse gets divided. A portion goes to all the employees on an employee bonus. A portion goes to the team and a portion goes to the driver based on their weekly finishing position and their year end finishing position."

In a different Instagram video, Alpern stated that the purse varies for different races throughout the season. Notably, the Daytona 500, which is the highest-paying race, can define the team's finances for the rest of the season. He said:

"As you would guess, the highest-paying purse of the season is our first race, the Daytona 500. It’s so disproportionately high that where your team finishes in the Daytona 500, can really make or break your season, financially. So that’s a very important race. You also have the non-points races, like the All-Star Race, which pays a $1 million bonus for winning. Also, have the end of the year purse, which is dictated by your finishing position, but you also have the weekly purse, which varies based on the race."

NASCAR generates its revenue from various sources like broadcasting deals, sponsorships, licensing, merchandise, and, naturally, ticket sales.

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What is the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship purse?

While NASCAR drivers are expected to earn a payout every weekend based on their performance, winning the prestigious Championship title also comes with a significant reward.

Ahead of the Championship race at Phoenix, Fox Sports' renowned journalist Bob Pockrass gave an idea of the purse for the final weekend for all the NASCAR's national series.

"Purses for Phoenix championship weekend, including all payouts, all positions, year-end points fund contribution, contingency awards, all charter payouts for competing and historical performance: Cup: $11,700,064, Xfinity: $1,772,722, Truck: $822,570," wrote Pockrass on X."

Team Penske's Joey Logano clinched the 2024 Cup Series Championship, his third, and Roger Penske's third consecutive championship as an owner.