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As the 2024 Cup Series Playoff season approaches in Atlanta, NASCAR has revealed the purse for the upcoming weekend. Esteemed journalist Bob Pockrass shared the details on social media.
The purse concept has been a part of NASCAR since its first season in 1948, with amounts varying based on the venue’s significance. For instance, payouts at major tracks like Daytona or Indianapolis are considerably higher than those at smaller venues such as Richmond or Bristol.
Prior to the introduction of the charter system in 2016, drivers had the opportunity to negotiate a share of the purse with team owners for race weekends. Now, under the new system, the prize money is awarded to the winning team, which then determines how to distribute it among its members.
With the first race of the elimination-style season on the horizon, NASCAR has announced the purse for both the Cup and Xfinity Series. The Cup Series will feature a total of $7,801,384, while the Xfinity Series will offer $1,480,058 in prize money. Bob Pockrass, a senior correspondent for NASCAR on FOX, has also confirmed these figures on X.
The purse for the Atlanta weekend encompasses all payouts across positions, contributions to the year-end points fund, contingency awards, and for the Cup Series, includes per-race payouts and historical performance payouts for charters: Cup: $7,801,384 Xfinity: $1,480,058.
Kyle Larson is anticipated to be the leading seed in the Playoffs, but 2024 regular season champion Tyler Reddick, along with Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott, are also strong contenders for this year’s title.
The Daytona 500 has set a new standard with an astonishing $28 million purse, making it the highlight of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series regular season.
Regarded as the pinnacle of NASCAR events, the Daytona 500 boasts a staggering prize pool of $28,035,991, ranking among the highest in the history of motorsport.
While the exact winner’s share remains under wraps due to the new charter system, estimates suggest it could range from $1.5 to $2 million. Michael McDowell, a fan-favorite champion in recent Daytona races, emphasized the significance of the ‘Great American Race’ in an interview with NASCAR.com:
“It’s the biggest race of the year for us and for the team from a payout standpoint. Winning the race and making the playoffs, financially what that does for you, it sets up the next few years – not just that year. If you’re going to win a race, this is the one you want to win, as far as the financial part of it goes.”
In addition to the legendary race in Florida, other lucrative events on the 2024 NASCAR schedule include the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and the recently held Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
The Coca-Cola 600 offered a total payout of $9,874,821, while the Cook Out Southern 500 provided a prize pool of $8,644,143 for the Cup Series. For the Xfinity series, the payouts were $1,383,384 and $1,303,907, respectively.