NASCAR's highest paid drivers and most valuable teams
With sponsorship dollars driving the sport, Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are at the top of the pile.
Start: Jimmie Johnson leads
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Forbes has released two lists reflecting the business of NASCAR: the richest drivers and richest teams.
Neither list is very surprising for anyone who pays attention to the sport. On the driver front, Dale Earnhardt Jr. topped the charts earning $25.6 million in 2013 by Forbes’ count, making nearly as much in endorsement deals ($11 million) as his winnings/salary total ($14.6 million). Six-time champion Jimmie Johnson comes in a close second with $24.8 million in total income but only $6.5 million in endorsements. Jeff Gordon comes in third with a cool $18.2 million while team owner and driver Tony Stewart brought home $17.3 million last year, despite his season-ending injury in 2013. Rounding out the top five is Kyle Busch with $15.8 million in earnings, who races in all three of the premiere NASCAR series as well as owns his own Truck team.
Meanwhile, the highest grossing teams in NASCAR also fit expectations with Hendrick Motorsports topping the charts at $348 million, worth twice as much as any other team. Joe Gibbs Racing is valued at $171 million and third place on the list, Roush-Fenway Racing is worth $157 million. Fourth place is occupied by Stewart-Haas Racing with $148 million, up 20% from the previous year. Rounding out the top five is Richard Childress Racing with $128 million in earnings for 2013.
NASCAR's highest paid drivers:
1 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. - $25.6 million
2 - Jimmie Johnson - $24.8 million
3 - Jeff Gordon - $18.2 million
4 - Tony Stewart - $17.3 million
5 - Kyle Busch - $15.8 million
6 - Carl Edwards - $14.5 million
7 - Kevin Harvick - $14.2 million
8 - Denny Hamlin - $13.7 million
9 - Danica Patrick - $13.5 million
10 - Kasey Kahne - $12.6 million
NASCAR's most valuable teams
1 - Hendrick Motorsports - $348 million
2 - Joe Gibbs Racing - $171 million
3 - Roush Fenway Racing - $157 million
4 - Stewart- Haas Racing - $148 million
5 - Richard Childress Racing - $128 million
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