Hmm….Winner’s payout least ever: For winning the 2000 Brickyard 400, Bobby Labontes share of the purse was $831,225. For winning Sundays race, Jeff Gordon received $428,452. So, in other words, in this the first year of NASCARs grand and glorious TV deal, winning the Brickyard 400 is worth about half as much. According to the speedways Fred Nations, this years purse did not contain a $250,000 winners bonus previously contributed by PPG Industries (also Labonte’s take was swelled by a $190,000 Winston Leader bonus, Gordon got $20,000). Also, Nations said the new NASCAR TV deal had “no appreciable effect” on the size of this years purse. However, it should be pointed out that, in 1994, when Gordon won the first Brickyard 400, the winners share was $613,000, or $184,454 more than this year. The following year, Dale Earnhardt won $565,600, and Dale Jarrett won $564,035 in 1996. Ricky Rudd earned $571,000 in 1997, and in 1998, when the Brickyard 400 was a part of the No Bull Five program, Gordon earned $1,637,625. Jarrett earned $712,240 in 1999. So, the 2001 Brickyard 400 winner earned $135,583 less than any previous winner of the event.(Gaston Gazette)(8-6-2001) (8-5-2001) see the July 30-Aug 5, 2001 Archived News Page Jayski’s Silly Season Site Main Page This page designed by Jayski LLC, 1996-2012© All Rights Reserved. Jayski’s® is a registered trademark of Jayski LLC Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form without permission or credit.
