Will race for food: Past champions compare checkbooks with today’s Nextel Cup drivers

Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005 | 9:16 a.m.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The subject of Daytona 500 payouts came up during Tuesday's "Gathering of Champions" at the Short Track Summit, which was attended by 10 former 500 winners, including Junior Johnson and Marvin Panch.

It was noted that Johnson earned $19,600 for his 1960 victory and Panch was paid $21,050 for winning in 1961. Buddy Baker, who won the race in 1980 (and earned $102,175) pointed out that the last-place finisher in last year's Daytona 500 pocketed a cool $216,997.

"I've got the ultimate poor man's story," Richard Petty chimed in. "I ran the first 15 years of my career -- won over 100 races, three or four championships, two or three Daytona races -- before the racecar won the first million dollars.

"The champion (last year, Kurt Busch) won three races and the championship and over $9 million. If I had won like that now the way they're paying, I could hire all these boys up here to run around in Brinks trucks to carry all the money in."

Petty, a seven-time Daytona 500 winner and seven-time NASCAR Cup champion, was joined on the dais by former Daytona 500 winners Johnson, Panch, Baker, Mario Andretti, Pete Hamilton, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Sunday's Daytona 500 will carry the biggest purse in the history of stock-car racing at more than $17 million. The winner is guaranteed a minimum of $1,430,000 and the last-place finisher will take home at least $219,931.

ELUSIVE VICTORY: Much is being reported during Speedweeks of Rusty Wallace's 0-22 record in the Daytona 500, but Wallace doesn't have the longest such winless streak among active drivers.

Kyle Petty has competed in 23 Daytona 500s without a victory, the longest victory drought in the "Great American Race" among active drivers.

Terry Labonte, who is running a limited schedule this season and not competing this weekend at Daytona, is 0-for-26 in the 500, and Mark Martin and Ken Schrader are both winless in 20 Daytona 500 starts.

Dave Marcis holds the all-time record for most Daytona 500 starts (33) without a win.

BACK ON TRACK: After two days off, the NASCAR Nextel Cup drivers returned to Daytona International Speedway today for two final practice sessions before Thursday's twin 150-mile qualifying races, which will set positions 3-43 in the field for Sunday's Daytona 500.

Only the front-row starting positions were set in Sunday's qualifying; Dale Jarrett will start from the pole and Jimmie Johnson will start from the outside of Row 1.