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Purse values in NASCAR's Cup Series have been rising in recent years. Although racing occurs on 23 tracks annually, only a few are known for providing high prize money.
Like Formula 1 and Le Mans Prototype (LMP) race cars, NASCAR's stock car development also required a lot of money. Teams (including drivers) receive a substantial sum from the purse offered by NASCAR, which is determined by the race sponsors.
Some key factors that influence the prize amount are the size and popularity of the racetrack and the number of sponsors available for the race. Based on the finishing position, the said amount is distributed among the squads. Generally, the winning share accounts for 20% of the entire purse value, making it crucial for teams to perform at their best every race weekend.
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While the amount on most tracks ranges from $3,000,000 to $7,000,000, some circuits have a more hefty payout. Here's a look at the top 5 NASCAR tracks with the highest purse value in the 2024 Cup Series season so far.
#5. GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway
Purse value: $8.2 million.
Popularly known as the 'Dega' among fans, the 2.66-mile-long Talladega Superspeedway is known for creating multi-car wrecks almost every year. The 2024 GEICO 500 was no exception. A defensive maneuver by Michael McDowell on the last lap of the race impacted the entire field.
Amidst the chaos, Tyler Reddick was able to find a way, thereby winning the race on the last lap. He was closely followed by Brad Keselowski and Noah Gragson.
#4. Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway
Purse value: $8.6 million.
With the first race taking place in 1950, Darlington Raceway is one of the oldest tracks on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. The 1.366-mile egg-shaped circuit also happens to be the sport's first Superspeedway. It is one of the toughest tracks to make an overtaking maneuver. This was proven during the Cook Out Southern 500 race.
After taking the lead in the closing stages of the race, Chase Briscoe was able to defend a fierce charge from Kyle Busch in the final 17 laps. This allowed the Stewart-Haas Racing driver to claim a stop in the 2024 Playoffs, pushing the likes of Bubba Wallace and Busch out of contention.
#3. Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Purse value: $9.6 million.
The inaugural Brickyard 400 race took place at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1994. Since then, the 2.5-mile-long rectangular oval track has become a crown jewel in the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. This year, the 30th-anniversary race saw a late lunge from the then-championship leader Kyle Larson.
By defending the position against the likes of Tyler Reddick and Ryan Blaney, the #5 Hendrick Motorsports driver was able to add another win for the 2024 season to his name. Through the course of the 167-lap race, Larson only led the seven laps, which came during the closing stages.
#2. Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway
Purse value: $9.9 million.
The 1.5-mile-long Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts the legendary Coca-Cola 600 race every year during the Memorial Day weekend. The race is also a part of the iconic Hendrick 1100 run, commonly known as the double duty. While Kyle Larson was set on attempting his first-ever double duty in May this year, his maiden run was interrupted by rain during both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600.
With the weather worsening in Charlotte, North Carolina, NASCAR officials were forced to call off the race on lap 249. This helped Christopher Bell win the race and secure a slot in the Cup Series playoffs.
#1. Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway
Purse value: $28 million.
The Daytona 500 is by far the most popular race on the NASCAR calendar. Taking place at the iconic 2.5-mile-long tri-oval track, it is one of the most sought-after events annually for racers and fans alike. However, at a whopping $28 million, the 2024 Daytona 500 set a new record by becoming the largest purse in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series so far.
With a wide layout, Daytona is known for creating three wide scenarios throughout the race. Despite an incident with Brad Keselowski and a red flag in the closing stages, William Byron took the lead and the win this year, ahead of Alex Bowman and Christopher Bell in the final two laps.
