NASCAR Drivers Are Millionaires!

Did you know that the most searched athlete on Yahoo was Danica Patrick?  Of course you did... she is a lightning rod of media focus, and that's always good for the sport of NASCAR.

But did you also know that her estimated income last year topped out over $12M?  Yep, she's rich boys! (But not available... sorry)  But she isn't the richest of NASCAR drivers.  Not by a long shot.  (So she has a long way to go!)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. earned an estimated $28M last year, and his contract with Hendrick Motorsports is said to be at about $10M annually.

Jeff Gordon is reportedly bringing in the bucks, at $24M, and Jimmie Johnson pulled in $21M.

And despite Kasey Kahne not having a banner year last year, still earned himself $11M.

Despite some of the sponsor woes we've seen NASCAR experience and sponsors tune how they advertise themselves on the cars and track over the last few years, the good 'ol boys... strike that, the good 'ol drivers are still raking in the bucks.  Which explains how they can afford the Lear jets, helicopters and what not to get from track to track and other cool commodities.

Check out Yahoo's list:

1. Dale Earnhardt Jr. – $28 million
2. Jeff Gordon – $24 million
3. Tony Stewart – $22 million
4. Jimmie Johnson – $21 million
5. Carl Edwards – $15.5 million
6. Kevin Harvick - $14M
7. Kyle Busch - $14M  (This is probably pre-fines.)
8. Danica Patrick - $12M
9. Matt Kenseth - $11.5M
10. Kasey Kahne - $11M.

I can't find it, but I remember seeing an older article (a few months back) about some of the drivers who I didn't think even rated that well, still making around a million or more a year... I'm talking guys outside the top-35 in Sprint Cup and some of the  Nationwide drivers.

So they aren't suffering perse, in the upper ranks of NASCAR.


[ sports.yahoo.com: Forbes and NASCAR Driver Salaries ]