LMS Charlotte 600 prize money announced

Record $6.6 Million Purse for May 25 Coca-Cola 600 As Total Prize Money for May Events Approaches $14.7 Million

CONCORD, N.C. (April 29, 2008) - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers will battle for a record $6.6 million during the May 25 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway while total posted awards for the track's schedule of May events is nearly $14.7 million.

Nine races will be run at Lowe's Motor Speedway and The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway between Friday night, May 16, and Sunday evening, May 25, and each carries a record purse with a total of $14,692,658 up for grabs.

Already one of the richest races on the NASCAR circuit, the $6,648,557 in total awards for the Coca-Cola 600 is $78,929 more than was posted for last year's event and $4,219,759 more than competitors raced for in the 600-mile event 10 years ago.

"Things have changed so drastically that it's hard to compare prize money from the early years of the sport to today, but here's a fact that caught my eye," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway. "Two-time NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett ran 352 races between 1953 and 1966, winning 50 times, and his total career winnings were $289,146. That's $59,429 less than the total posted awards for the winner of this year's Coca-Cola 600."

Competitors participating in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the Sprint Showdown on Saturday night, May 17, will compete for a record $4,308,251 with the All-Star Race winner guaranteed a minimum of $1,012,975.

In addition to the posted prize money, $1,780,853 in television awards for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will be distributed through the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Car/Champion Owner Program.

NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers will battle for a record $1,287,710 during the CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 on Saturday night, May 24. The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 presented by Circle K NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event on Friday night, May 16, adds $560,747 to the total prize money.

The Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series returns to The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway on Friday night, May 23, for the Rite Aid Outlaw Showdown. The late model stock cars of the Goodyear FASTRAK Challenge are also on the card and the two divisions will race for $76,540 in posted awards.

The inaugural Pennzoil Victory Challenge features a $10,000 purse which will go to the winner's designated charity while 600 Racing's new Thunder Cars will race twice with drivers battling for $10,000 in each of the 34-lap events on the 1.5-mile superspeedway.

Tickets for all May events, including the May 17 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race and the May 25 Coca-Cola 600, can be obtained online at www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or by calling the speedway ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.

-credit: lms