Ranked! Who is the highest paid NASCAR driver at the moment?

Ranked! Who is the highest paid NASCAR driver at the moment?

Claudia Kogi
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:14 PM

Several race contests are sanctioned by the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing NASCAR, a prestigious organisation that welcomes drivers and teams. However, most sports fans have taken to social media to enquire about the highest-paid NASCAR driver and how much the highest-paid NASCAR driver makes.

highest-paid NASCAR drivers ever
Austin Dillon and Daniel Suarez race during the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on 16 October 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Sean Gardner
Source: Getty Images

While the lowest-paid NASCAR driver makes between $100,000 and $500,000 yearly, the professionals can make millions over the same period. The finest NASCAR drivers must practice relentlessly, compete at the highest level, and win many races to earn millions. The highest-paid NASCAR drivers are truly global superstars who lead extravagant lifestyles on and off the track.

Top 10 highest-paid NASCAR drivers of all time

Aside from the most common name on the NASCAR scene, Kyle Busch, other legendary NASCAR drivers are rocking those steering wheels to their bank accounts. Check out some of the highest-paid NASCAR drivers and get answers to questions such as who the current highest-paid NASCAR driver is right here and now.

Name of the driver

Amount paid

Daniel Suarez

$4.5 million

Kurt Busch

$7.5 million

Chase Elliott

$8 million

Kyle Larson

$8 million

Joey Logano

$9 million

Brad Keselowski

$9.4 million

Martin Truex Jr

$10.4 million

Kevin Harvick

$10.9 million

Denny Hamlin

$13.1 million

Kyle Busch

$16.9 million

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10. Daniel Suarez - $4.5 million

highest-paid NASCAR driver
Daniel Suarez walks the grid during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on 15 October 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Sean Gardner
Source: Getty Images

Daniel Alejandro Suárez Garza is a Mexican professional stock car racing driver. He is a full-time competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series, operating Trackhouse Racing Team's No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

The first non-American to win a significant NASCAR National championship, Suárez previously participated in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he won the series championship in 2016 with Joe Gibbs Racing.

Full name

Daniel Alejandro Suárez Garza

Date of birth

7 January 1992

Age

30 years of age as of October 2022

Car number and team

No. 99, Trackhouse Racing Team

Cup series win(s)

1

Net worth

$5 million

9. Kurt Busch - $7.5 million

highest-paid NASCAR drivers ever
Kurt Busch walks the grid during qualifying for the Cup Series M&M's Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono Raceway on 23 July 2022 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Photo: Logan Riely
Source: Getty Images

Kurt Thomas Busch is an American professional auto racing driver. He is a full-time competitor in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD for 23XI Racing. He is the most experienced current driver regarding career stats, and the longest-tenured driver overall. He is Kyle Busch's older brother, a two-time Cup Series winner.

Full name

Kurt Thomas Busch

Date of birth

4 August 1978

Age

44 years of age as of October 2022

Car number and team

No. 45, 23XI Racing

Cup series win(s)

34

Net worth

$7 million

8. Chase Elliott - $8 million

who the current highest-paid NASCAR driver is
Chase Elliott waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on 16 October 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Sean Gardner
Source: Getty Images

William Clyde "Chase" Elliott II is an American professional stock car racing driver. He drives the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports and races full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series. As the youngest champion in that series and the first rookie to win a NASCAR national series title, he won the 2014 NASCAR Nationwide Series championship. The American racer achieved Hendrick Motorsports' first Cup Series title since 2016 in 2020.

Full name

William Clyde Elliott II

Date of birth

28 November 1995

Age

26 years of age as of October 2022

Car number and team

No. 9, Hendrick Motorsports

Cup series win(s)

18

Net worth

$12 million

7. Kyle Larson - $8 million

highest-paid NASCAR drivers of all time
Kyle Larson walks onstage during driver intros prior to the Cup Series Bank of America Roval 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on 9 October 2022 in Concord, North Carolina. Photo: Jared C. Tilton
Source: Getty Images

Kyle Miyata Larson is an American professional auto racing driver. He drives the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series full-time. Larson has had great success in dirt track racing both before and during his time competing in race cars, taking home victories at prominent competitions like the Kings Royal, Knoxville Nationals, and Chili Bowl Nationals.

To win the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and being named Rookie of the Year, Larson also won the 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series, the 2014 Cup Series, and the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series.

Full name

Kyle Miyata Larson

Date of birth

31 July 1992

Age

30 years of age as of October 2022

Car number and team

No. 5, Hendrick Motorsports

Cup series win(s)

18

Net worth

$12 million

6. Joey Logano - $9 million

Joseph Thomas Logano is an American professional stock car racing driver. He participates in the NASCAR Cup Series full-time, driving the No. 22 Ford Mustang for Team Penske. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup champion for 2018 is Logano. From 2009 through 2012, he formerly raced the No. 20 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing, earning two victories, 16 top-five finishes, and 41 top-ten finishes.

Full name

Joseph Thomas Logano

Date of birth

24 May 1990

Age

32 years of age as of October 2022

Car number and team

No. 22, Team Penske

Cup series win(s)

30

Net worth

$44 million

5. Brad Keselowski - $9.4 million

Bradley Aaron Keselowski is an American professional stock car racing driver, team owner, and entrepreneur. He participates in the competitions full-time, driving the No. 6 Ford Mustang for RFK Racing organisation, which he also co-owns. He was the owner of the sport's Camping World Truck Series team Brad Keselowski Racing, which ran two full-time trucks.

Full name

Bradley Aaron Keselowski

Date of birth

12 February 1984

Age

38 years of age as of October 2022

Car number and team

No. 6, RFK Racing

Cup series win(s)

35

Net worth

$45 million

4. Martin Truex Jr - $10.4 million

highest-paid NASCAR drivers of all time
Martin Truex Jr walks the grid during practice for the Cup Series Hollywood C*sino 400 at Kansas Speedway on 10 September 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo: Chris Graythen
Source: Getty Images

Martin Lee Truex Jr is an American professional stock car racing driver. He participates in the NASCAR Cup Series full-time, driving Joe Gibbs Racing's No. 19 Toyota Camry. In addition to winning the Xfinity Series twice, in 2004 and 2005, he also won the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title. There are several active or former NASCAR drivers in Truex Jr.'s family.

Full name

Martin Lee Truex Jr

Date of birth

29 June 1980

Age

42 years of age as of October 2022

Car number and team

No. 19, Joe Gibbs Racing

Cup series win(s)

31

Net worth

$30 million

3. Kevin Harvick: $10.9 million

how much the highest-paid NASCAR driver makes
Kevin Harvick walks onstage during driver intros prior to the Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on 16 October 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Sean Gardner
Source: Getty Images

Kevin Michael Harvick, nicknamed The Closer and Happy Harvick, is an American professional stock car racing driver. He participates in the NASCAR Cup Series full-time, driving the No. 4 Ford Mustang for Stewart-Haas Racing.

Harvick won the 2007 Daytona 500, the 2001 and 2006 Xfinity Series, the 2014 Cup Series, and the 2014 Xfinity Series. Harvick now owns the Cup Series victory record at Phoenix Raceway with nine victories. With 119 total national series victories, Harvick is presently third all-time in NASCAR history, trailing only Kyle Busch and Richard Petty.

Full name

Kevin Michael Harvick

Date of birth

8 December 1975

Age

46 years of age as of October 2022

Car number and team

No. 4, Stewart-Haas Racing

Cup series win(s)

60

Net worth

$30 million

2. Denny Hamlin: $13.1 million

highest-paid NASCAR drivers of all time
Denny Hamlin sits in his car during practice for the matches South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on 15 October 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Jonathan Bachman
Source: Getty Images

James Dennis Alan Denny Hamlin is an American professional stock car racing driver and NASCAR team owner. He drives the No. 11 Toyota Camry in the NASCAR Cup Series full-time and the No. 54 Toyota Supra in the NASCAR Xfinity Series on occasion for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Together with Michael Jordan, a member of the basketball Hall of Fame, he co-owns and runs 23XI Racing. Along with Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, and Sterling Marlin, he is the fourth driver to win the Daytona 500 in consecutive seasons. He has triumphed in 46 NASCAR Cup Series races, including the event in 2016, 2019, and 2020.

Full name

James Dennis Alan Hamlin

Date or birth

18 November 1980

Age

41 years of age as of October 2022

Car number and team

No. 11, Joe Gibbs Racing

Cup series win(s)

48

Net worth

$65 million

1. Kyle Busch: $16.9 million

who the current highest-paid NASCAR driver is
Kyle Busch looks on during qualifying for the Cup Series Yella Wood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on 1 October 2022 in Talladega, Alabama. Photo: Chris Graythen
Source: Getty Images

Who is the current highest-paid NASCAR driver? Kyle Thomas tops the list. He is an American professional stock car racing driver and team owner. He races full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing, and occasionally in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, piloting the No. 51 Toyota Tundra for Kyle Busch Motorsports.

The Truck Series is organised by KBM using several vehicles. In addition to winning the 2015 and 2019 Cup Series, Busch won the 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series. Another former WWE 24/7 Champion is Busch.

Full name

Kyle Thomas Busch

Date of birth

2 May 1985

Age

37 years of age as of October 2022

Car number and team

No. 18, Joe Gibbs Racing

Cup series win(s)

60

Net worth

$80 million

The highest-paid female NASCAR driver of all time

While some would think that it is a men's sport, women have now known their way around these steering wheels, and as a result, they have achieved vast milestones as far as the sport is concerned. As of 2022, Danica Patrick is considered the highest-paid female NASCAR driver, with a net salary of $60 million.

From the above list, it is clear that these highest-paid NASCAR drivers are doing quite well for themselves. However, there is a significant danger involved. Unfortunately, fatalities have happened in NASCAR, which has long been considered a risky sport. The sport and the motorsport industry have made safety advancements recently, and the circuits have been made less dangerous.

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Authors
Claudia Kogi photo
Claudia Kogi
Claudia Kogi is a Kenyan content creator with over 3 years of experience. Claudia joined Sportsbrief.com as a writer in January 2022, covering sports and relatable content.
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