After securing $7.7 billion in media rights deals, NASCAR is growing faster than ever. With a recent uptick in viewership, a new generation of fans are hungry for the heart-pumping action of one of the largest spectator sports in America.
The highest-paid NASCAR drivers earn lofty wages in line with the sport’s rapid growth.
Kyle Busch tops the list as the highest-paid NASCAR driver of 2024. Busch earns $16.9 million driving for Richard Childress Racing. For the 38-race season, that equates to $444,736 per race.
On a track like the Daytona 500 which is 200 laps, Busch earns $2,223 per lap. As a two-time cup series champion with 231 career victories, Busch earns $3 million more than the next closest driver on the list.
Denny Hamlin is the second highest-paid NASCAR driver. His performance with Joe Gibbs Racing nets him $13.1 million each year. Hamlin is currently ranked third overall in the cup series with 447 points.
Third on the list is Kevin Harvick of Stewart-Haas Racing. Harvick was earning $10.9 million with an average finish of 14.5. He recently announced his retirement and will move to announcing this year.
RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski comes in as the fourth highest-paid NASCAR driver of 2024. The eleventh-ranked driver in the cup series earns $9.4 million or $247,368 per race.
He has six wins at Talladega Superspeedway, tied for second all-time with Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Rounding out the top five is Joey Logano. Logano earns $9 million driving for Team Penske.
Driving the number 22, Logano has won the cup series in 2018 and 2022. He was named the Sunoco Rookie of the Year award in 2009 for the strong start to his NASCAR career.
Hendrick Motorsports has the most drivers on the highest-paid NASCAR drivers list. Four of the top 25 earners drive for the organization. Joe Gibbs Racing and Stewart-Haas Racing are next closest with both having three drivers on the list.
Age is just a number.
Eight of the top 25 highest-paid NASCAR drivers are over the age of 35. Four of the top five are all over the age of 40.
At 29, Chase Elliott is the youngest NASCAR driver in the top 10 highest-paid drivers. He’s earning $8 million with Hendrick Motorsports.
Ranking the Highest-Paid NASCAR Drivers
Here is the list of the highest-paid NASCAR drivers of 2024 by salary. The list was compiled with data from Spotrac, NASCAR, and SalarySport.
- Updated: May 24, 2024
| Rank | Driver | Avg. Finish | Team | Total Compensation |
| 1 | Kyle Busch | 16.8 | Richard Childress Racing | $16.9 million |
| 2 | Denny Hamlin | 12.7 | Joe Gibbs Racing | $13.1 million |
| 3 | Kevin Harvick | 14.5 | Steward-Haas Racing | $10.9 million |
| 4 | Martin Truex Jr. | 11.2 | Joe Gibbs Racing | $10.4 million |
| 5 | Brad Keselowski | 17.1 | RFK Racing | $9.4 million |
| 6 | Joey Logano | 19.8 | Team Penske | $9 million |
| 7 | Kyle Larson | 14.1 | Hendrick Motorsports | $8 million |
| 8 | Chase Elliott | 9.8 | Hendrick Motorsports | $8 million |
| 9 | Daniel Suarez | 19.6 | Trackhouse Racing | $4.5 million |
| 10 | Alex Bowman | 12.7 | Hendrick Motorsports | $4.5 million |
| 11 | Ryan Newman | 27.9 | Rick Ware Racing | $4 million |
| 12 | Michael McDowell | 24.5 | Front Row Motorsports | $3.7 million |
| 13 | Austin Dillon | 25.9 | Richard Childress Racing | $3.5 million |
| 14 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 24.5 | JTG Daughtery Racing | $3 million |
| 15 | Erik Jones | 19.5 | Legacy Motor Club | $2.3 million |
| 16 | Bubba Wallace | 19 | 23XI Racing | $2.2 million |
| 17 | Ross Chastain | 13.5 | Trackhouse Racing | $2.1 million |
| 18 | Ryan Blaney | 16.9 | Team Penske | $1.9 million |
| 19 | William Byron | 15.2 | Hendrick Motorsports | $1.8 million |
| 20 | Ryan Preece | 23.1 | Steward-Haas Racing | $1.6 million |
| 21 | Chris Buescher | 16.1 | RFK Racing | $1.5 million |
| 22 | Tyler Reddick | 15.9 | 23XI Racing | $1.3 million |
| 23 | Chase Briscoe | 13.6 | Stewart-Haas Racing | $1.2 million |
| 24 | Timmy Hill | 36 | Power Source | $900,000 |
| 25 | Christopher Bell | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing | $800,000 |
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