Top Seven highest paid drivers in NASCAR

Not far from making $14 million a year, ‘Cousin Carl’, like Kevin Harvick, makes a large majority of his earnings on the track.  Which might seem a bit odd considering Edwards gives the impression that he’s all over the place marketing-wise.  He had a less than successful year on the track last season but appears to have rebounded in 2013, so his income may be going up this year.He has $13 million reasons for being ‘Happy’.  A vast majority of Harvick’s earnings come from his winnings and salary.  However, that salary will be leaving Richard Childress Racing at the end of the year and joining Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014.  Happy's lame duck status at RCR should make things intriguing but so far, the team has looked good.  Sponsors tend to like Harvick and although it’s not known for sure, he will likely take some or all of his sponsorship with him when he moves to SHR.‘Danica’, as she is popularly known as, makes almost $13 million a year.  Her combined salary and winnings on the track are a tick less than what she makes in marketing herself off the track.  Danica drives for Stewart-Haas Racing and this is Danica’s first season as a full-time Sprint Cup performer.  She became the first female driver to ever lead a Cup race – not just any race but the revered Daytona 500.  Some feel Danica has brought a renewed interest to the sport, so it should be interesting to see how long the trendy and popular woman driver will be able to keep the pace going … both on the track as well as off.View the list »
2013 Daytona 500

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When it comes to motorsports, no division of the sport earns more dollars than NASCAR. And other than the association itself, the drivers take in the most profits from an individual standpoint.

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Forbes does a list of every conceivable possibility, including earnings by entities such as NASCAR teams are included. This brings us to the drivers who make more than the owners.

The list includes the winningest active driver in NASCAR along with a driver who has the most championships of any active driver. In fact, the top four drivers have a combined 12 NASCAR Sprint Cup championships between them. Yet, the top driver on the list doesn’t have a Cup title to his name.

Ah, but their name is what makes the difference. It pays to be popular because the number one and number seven drivers on the list make more money off the track than on and both of them will be vying this year to be the most popular driver. Those two drivers are mostly known by one name. No, it’s not ‘money’ … but maybe it should be. In fact, every driver on the list has a nickname.

By the way, Forbes has a list from last year for the world’s top money earners in sports that doesn’t contain any NASCAR driver in the Top 20.

Here’s the list seven through one.

Additional sources: NASCAR

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  • ‘Danica’, as she is popularly known as, makes almost $13 million a year.  Her combined salary and winnings on the track are a tick less than what she makes in marketing herself off the track.  Danica drives for Stewart-Haas Racing and this is Danica’s first season as a full-time Sprint Cup performer.  She became the first female driver to ever lead a Cup race – not just any race but the revered Daytona 500.  Some feel Danica has brought a renewed interest to the sport, so it should be interesting to see how long the trendy and popular woman driver will be able to keep the pace going … both on the track as well as off.
  • He has $13 million reasons for being ‘Happy’.  A vast majority of Harvick’s earnings come from his winnings and salary.  However, that salary will be leaving Richard Childress Racing at the end of the year and joining Stewart-Haas Racing in 2014.  Happy's lame duck status at RCR should make things intriguing but so far, the team has looked good.  Sponsors tend to like Harvick and although it’s not known for sure, he will likely take some or all of his sponsorship with him when he moves to SHR.
  • Not far from making $14 million a year, ‘Cousin Carl’, like Kevin Harvick, makes a large majority of his earnings on the track.  Which might seem a bit odd considering Edwards gives the impression that he’s all over the place marketing-wise.  He had a less than successful year on the track last season but appears to have rebounded in 2013, so his income may be going up this year.
  • One of the foremost faces of NASCAR over the past couple decades, the four-time champion has income estimated just over $18 million a year; and, he’s been one of the leading earners in NASCAR for quite some time.  With a long career in NASCAR, Gordon’s monikers over the years have changed but include: Big Daddy, Flash Gordon, Rainbow Warrior, The Kid and Wonder Boy (source: Yahoo! Sports).  Whatever you call him, make sure it includes winning driver and marketer.
  • ‘Smoke’ is pushing towards $19 million a year in salary and marketing dollars earned.  The Forbes story states he brings in sponsorship to the team rather than take them personally, so his young team can operate – otherwise, Stewart might be earning more.  A hardcore racer of the A.J. Foyt variety, Stewart has been able to work the marketing angles off the track as well as on.  He has a fairly new but successful race team, he personally is making excellent income and on top of all this, he’s winning races and championships (three in all).   
  • Whether on the track or off, ‘Five-time’ has reached super stardom, earning 23 million from his racing abilities as well as marketing with licensing and endorsements.  Lowe’s recently re-upped their commitment to the #48 team at Hendrick Motorsports (see related articles).  From 2006 to 2010, there was only one name to remember and that was Jimmie Johnson who won the Sprint Cup title every one of those years.  He has started this year with a win and after three events is currently the points leader.
  • The most popular NASCAR driver has translated that popularity into big dollars with just about $26 million in earnings this past year.  It’s been said that ‘Junior’ has rode on the coattails of his late father for all the popularity and monies he’s earned.  However, Sr. was never as sociable and friendly as his son who takes a home-spun down-to-earth style and makes it work in the marketing world where he earns more than he does in racing.  A third place points finish last season that saw him have troubles with concussions, shows that Junior is gritty and has what it takes to win on the track.  Either way, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is winner and wealthy because of it.
View the list

, Paso Robles Motorsports Examiner

Daryle Hier has been involved in business as an owner for 30 years with many of them involving the auto industry. He also has been a sports fanatic with motorsports and football as his true loves. Other interests include Hawaii and the California Central Coast. He is a Top 100 writer for...

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