Recently released documents from NASCAR have disclosed a striking pay disparity between the two top-tier divisions, showing that NASCAR Cup Series driver earnings are almost six times higher than those in the Xfinity Series. This revelation emerged on November 21, 2025, as NASCAR made select sealed records public in the midst of a lawsuit involving 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports.
Significant Financial Divide Between Cup and Xfinity Series
According to statistics circulated by stock car racing analyst Bob Pockrass, Cup Series drivers command a far greater income than their Xfinity Series counterparts, despite competing at the same race venues. The Cup Series grid consists of 40 drivers, while the Xfinity Series features 38 participants. However, the financial rewards remain vastly different, with Cup Series drivers earning between $300,000 and $400,000 per event, and Xfinity Series drivers taking home about $60,000 to $70,000 each race.
This disparity is even more glaring at major events. For example, at Daytona International Speedway, the total purse for Cup Series teams exceeds $28 million, as opposed to just over $3.5 million for those in the Xfinity Series. On a per-driver basis, participants in the Cup Series typically receive an average payout of $411,000, contrasted with an average of approximately $68,000 for those in the Xfinity ranks. The financial gap highlights the contrasting status and commercial value of the series under the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing.
Cup Series Payouts Fall Short of Formula 1 Team Earnings
The financial records made public also compared NASCAR driver and team earnings to those of Formula 1. Exhibit 21 within the documents indicated that, from 2017 to 2022, Formula 1 teams received over 40 percent of the total revenue generated, while NASCAR teams collected roughly 22 percent in the same period. This signals a broader trend of NASCAR payouts lagging behind other top global motorsports regarding their share of generated income.
Leadership Addresses Lawsuit and Changes in Prize Allocations
On the legal front, NASCAR wound up in a courtroom struggle after 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports refused to sign a recent charter agreement, prompting Cup Series teams to file an antitrust lawsuit against CEO Jim France for alleged monopolistic practices. NASCAR president Steve Phelps, during a discussion with AP News, voiced his perspective on the governing body’s efforts to resolve the legal conflict before its court date in December 2025.
“We are trying our hardest. I am trying my hardest both as a fan as well as the commissioner of this sport that I’ve loved since I was 5 years old. While two out of the 15 teams may not share that view and seem set on an unfortunate court battle, I hope that we can all agree that our racing is as good as it has ever been and we care about how we serve our fans, especially as we look forward to capping off our season by celebrating new champions across all of our national series.” – Steve Phelps, NASCAR President
In anticipation of the December 1, 2025 trial, NASCAR adjusted the charter agreement for the first time since it was established in 2016. These revisions included modifications to how prizes are distributed among teams, with detailed breakdowns also made available to the public as part of increased transparency.
Broader Significance for Teams, Drivers, and Motorsport Industry
The evidence of pay disparity underscored by the recently published documents provides insight into ongoing debates about fairness and resource allocation within professional stock car racing. As the legal proceedings advance and NASCAR undertakes modifications to its charter and reward systems, stakeholders such as Jim France, Steve Phelps, team owners, and drivers remain at the center of the conversation. The outcome of the lawsuit and the impact of any further adjustments could reshape team finances, driver incentives, and perhaps the future direction of the sport itself. The developments underscore an intense period of scrutiny and contemplation within NASCAR as new champions prepare to be celebrated across its national series.
Some other interesting charts among Friday filings:
-Cup v Xfinity purses in 2024 (Cup includes fixed payouts Cup teams get for each race)
-Split of NASCAR payouts to tracks/teams from TV deal
-NASCAR's comparison of overall payouts to teams over the years
-NASCAR v F1 payouts pic.twitter.com/cciRkHqqyJ— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 24, 2025
