Motorsports journalist Jeff Gluck has criticized NASCAR’s lack of transparency regarding drivers’ earnings, a stark contrast to the openness seen in sports like golf, tennis, and Formula 1. Until 2016, NASCAR provided fans with detailed information about individual earnings. However, this practice ended with the introduction of the charter system, which guarantees teams entry into races and aims to provide financial stability but has made drivers’ financial data less accessible.
During a recent episode of The Teardown podcast, Gluck discussed fans’ interest in knowing more about drivers’ earnings and pushed back against NASCAR’s claim that fans are indifferent to financial details. “Fans definitely care,” he remarked. He explained that the charter system complicates payouts, with earnings coming from various sources, making it difficult to calculate straightforward amounts, such as per-race winnings.
Today, drivers generate income from multiple sources, including base salaries, performance bonuses, race winnings, sponsorships, and merchandise sales. Gluck argued that while NASCAR could still disclose individual earnings if it wanted to, the organization appears reluctant. He compared this to NASCAR’s decision to stop reporting attendance figures during a decline in the sport, suggesting they prefer to keep financial data out of focus.
Although NASCAR now shares the total purse for each race—a figure frequently highlighted by journalist Bob Pockrass—individual earnings remain undisclosed. Gluck expressed nostalgia for the days when these figures were public, describing it as a “cool” feature. However, he acknowledged that the complexity of the charter system has made financial transparency more challenging and harder to explain.
