The Million Dollar Club

H

HardScrabble

Guest
Some earlier discussions about the Winston Cup points fund in its first years and the amount of money it paid motivated me to go back through some records looking for the first driver to win a million dollars in a single season.

The first one I find is Darrell Waltrip, WC Champion for 1985. Total season earnings were $1,318,375. He had come close to the mark in 1982 win he tallied $923,151.

Interestingly the highest money maker for 1985 was not DW. It was Bill Elliot who totaled $2,433,187 a figure which includes the first Winston Million.

The lowest total for a WC champion since RJ Reynolds began its sponsorship program was Benny Parsons in 1973. His seasons work earned him a total of $182,321.
 
Ol BP prolly makes more than that with his announcing gig.
 
Originally posted by B.C. - 24
Ol BP prolly makes more than that with his announcing gig.
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All I know is I wouldn't pay him ONE red cent! BP sucks at his "so-called" ANNOUNCING gig! I WANT FOX!
 
Dupont I think you need to cut back on the bud. HS whats the most money a driver has won in one season???
 
Last season Smack.

2001 Jeff Gordon won $6,649,080.
 
I recall DW mentioning that during a broadcast this season, It seems as tho he said that Bill beat him to the Million $ mark by winning the Winston Million because DW himself was shy of the mark when Bill earned the title "Million Dollar Bill" I thought that was interesting then and nowit is some good food for thought. I recently read an article about R Wallace discussing the Football and Baseball type salaries and that drivers deserved some of those same salary considerations.

Kel
 
Mark martin has won the most this year hasnt he a little over 4 million
 
DJFan,

A couple of interesting comments on drivers salarys the past week. Not sure what has prompted the discussions suddenly, unless it was the Rudd salary deal. Rusty did talk about the drivers deserving thsoe type salaries and apparently Jeff Burton made some comment regarding a salary cap for drivers. Hope the whole deal ends right there, but I doubt it for some reason.
 
I dont think it should end personally. I agree with Rusty that if the owners are gonna keep referring them to quarterbacks for their teams they should be getting that kind of money. Yes I know this means the cost of events increases but these guys are risking their LIVES way more than any other sports figure. Jump up the percentage at least from the purse to take some of the pressure off the sponsor.

Kel
 
I don't see how the money could work out to those kind of numbers guaranteed. If ya figure a great sponsor shells out about 16 or 17 mill and a great season winnings are around 4 or 5 mill, throw in a couple of associate sponsors and maybe the total grows to say 25 or 30 mill. How can an owner "guarantee" the driver 15 to 20 of that? There are lots of opportunities for the top drivers to earn bucks outside the actual salary and purse money with royalties and appearances and such, but guarantees in the high dollar sports brackets don't seem feasible at this point.
 
Benny Parsons is one of the best commentators in the business. Anyone wanting FOX back has escaped from a mental hospital or maybe the Hollywood Hotel!:rolleyes:
 
Thank You Gordon Fan! Very nicely said!

How much money do you think Jeff Gordon get's from DuPont aside from the teams money?

I would think near 5 mill myself

That's why Brooke had to sign that paper
 
Originally posted by Gordon Fan
Benny Parsons is one of the best commentators in the business. Anyone wanting FOX back has escaped from a mental hospital or maybe the Hollywood Hotel!:rolleyes:
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WHAT? BENNY IS HORRIBLE! HELL, Wally and Allen have to correct him on his INFO all of the time!
 
I'll admit Benny makes mistakes, but they're innocent mistakes.

At least he isn't biased.
 
Originally posted by paul
I'll admit Benny makes mistakes, but they're innocent mistakes.

At least he isn't biased.
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Boogity Boogity Boogity Paul:D
 
smilie_explode.gif
 
Originally posted by paul
smilie_explode.gif
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My sentiments exactly.

Benny has his biases, he just covers them up a little better than others do.
 
Originally posted by paul
I'll admit Benny makes mistakes, but they're innocent mistakes.

At least he isn't biased.
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Duh...Benny's so dumb .....he doesn't know what biased means! But at least DW knows the correct time in how long it takes to change a battery! Certainly not an hour like BENNY seems to think. The dumb ass gets names wrong too! :confused: :headshake
 
Originally posted by DUPONT_24_fan
Duh...Benny's so dumb .....he doesn't know what biased means! But at least DW knows the correct time in how long it takes to change a battery! Certainly not an hour like BENNY seems to think. The dumb ass gets names wrong too! :confused: :headshake
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What's the "duh" for? You need to learn some manners.
 
Is Eli that announcer from TNN who does Arena Football now!
 
How about Buddy Baker? Then we would have to put up with

YYYEEEEOOOOWWWW!!!!!!! all the time.
 
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