If you think NASCAR drivers only race for glory, think again. The total purse for this weekend’s Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway will leave your jaw on the floor—we’re talking about $9,797,935 in prize money that will be split among the 36 drivers racing in the Round of 12 playoff opener.
The Numbers Are Staggering
According to veteran NASCAR journalist Bob Pockrass, who revealed the purse details on social media, this year’s New Hampshire race features the biggest payout the track has seen in years. The $9.8 million total purse represents a massive 24% increase from last year’s $7,876,911.
What makes this number even more mind-blowing is what it includes:
- Performance payouts for finishing positions
- Contingency awards for various achievements
- Year-end points fund contributions
- Charter team payouts for competing
- Historical performance bonuses
Winner Takes Home Nearly $1 Million
While NASCAR doesn’t release exact winner payouts anymore, industry experts estimate the race winner will pocket between 8-10% of the total purse. That means Sunday’s victor could take home anywhere from $783,834 to $979,793 for a single afternoon’s work.
To put that in perspective, that’s more money than most Americans make in an entire year—earned in just 301 laps around “The Magic Mile.”
How Does This Compare to Other Sports?
The $9.8 million purse puts NASCAR’s New Hampshire race in elite company:
| Sport/Event | Prize Pool | Winner’s Share |
| NASCAR New Hampshire | $9.8 million | ~$900,000 |
| PGA Tour average event | $8-12 million | ~$1.4 million |
| Tennis Grand Slam | $65+ million | ~$2.3 million |
| World Chess Championship | $2.5 million | $1.35 million |
What makes NASCAR different is that all 36 drivers get paid, not just the winner. Even the last-place finisher walks away with a significant paycheck.
The Playoff Pressure Multiplier
This isn’t just any regular season race—it’s the Round of 12 opener in the NASCAR playoffs. That means four drivers will be eliminated after the next three races, adding enormous pressure and making every dollar even more valuable.
Current Round of 12 Standings:
- Denny Hamlin – 3,034 points
- William Byron – 3,032 points
- Kyle Larson – 3,032 points
- Christopher Bell – 3,028 points
- Tyler Reddick – 3,006 points (elimination line)
The bottom four drivers after Charlotte will miss the Round of 8, making this nearly $10 million prize pool even more critical for their championship hopes.
Why New Hampshire Gets This Much Money?
Several factors contribute to the massive purse:
Track History: This is New Hampshire’s 58th Cup Series race and its first playoff race since 2017, making it a special occasion worth celebrating.
TV Revenue: The race airs on USA Network in prime Sunday afternoon viewing, generating massive advertising revenue that trickles down to the purse.
Charter System: The new charter system guarantees larger payouts to the 36 chartered teams, significantly boosting the overall purse size.
Playoff Premium: NASCAR adds extra money to playoff races to reward the elite drivers who made the postseason.
The Favorites to Cash In
With nearly $10 million on the line, several drivers have realistic shots at the big payday:
Christopher Bell (+325 odds) – The defending race winner and current points leader
Denny Hamlin (+425 odds) – Three wins at New Hampshire in his career
Chase Briscoe (+525 odds) – Hot off his Bristol victory and championship run
Bell has been particularly dominant at New Hampshire lately, winning last year’s race and holding seven total victories across NASCAR’s top three series at the track.
Truck Series Gets Left Behind
While Cup Series drivers are fighting over nearly $10 million, the NASCAR Truck Series race on Saturday has a dramatically smaller purse of just $782,900. That’s actually down from last year’s $1,270,055, showing how much of a gap exists between NASCAR’s top tier and its developmental series.
The Bottom Line: Life-Changing Money
When fans see drivers pushing their cars to the limit at 130+ mph around New Hampshire’s flat corners, remember there’s nearly $10 million reasons why they’re giving everything they have. For some teams, a strong finish could fund their entire operation for months.
The Mobil 1 301 isn’t just about advancing in the playoffs—it’s about securing generational wealth in a single afternoon. And with numbers like $9,797,935 up for grabs, every position matters more than ever.
Sunday’s race starts at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network, and now you know exactly what’s at stake when the green flag drops.