Well-paid drivers lead NASCAR’S most valuable team
Just had to share with you this information provided by The Associated Press:
“Hendrick Motorsports has passed Roush Fenway Racing as the most valuable team in NASCAR, according to Forbes' annual rankings.
“Hendrick is valued at $335 million, Forbes announced Tuesday. Roush Fenway, which topped the list in the first two years of the rankings, is second at $313 million.
“Joe Gibbs Racing ($184 million), Gillett Evernham Motorsports ($150 million) and Richard Childress Racing ($130 million) round out the top five.
“Three Hendrick drivers top Forbes' list of the highest-paid drivers. Jeff Gordon ($32 million) narrowly edged Dale Earnhardt Jr. ($31 million). Jimmie Johnson ($23 million) is third, followed by Tony Stewart ($19 million), who races for Gibbs.”
The biggest surprise to me is that Gordon is paid more than Earnhardt. No indication if these figures include shares of souvenir sales and personal endorsement deals.
It’s also interesting that of the top four drivers, only Earnhardt comes from the South. Gordon grew up in California and Indiana, Johnson is a Californian and Stewart is from Indiana.
