I'd love to think that the Daytona 500 Halfway Bonus might cause some drivers to jockey for a point position. It used to be good to see the drivers try to claim the halfway bonus in the "old" days. Not sure in this day of the million dollar driver and owner motor coach and personal endorsements that the halfway bonus will do the trick. Now if we weren't buying and selling points and had a bunch of drivers who'd raced their way into the field, the bonus might stir 'em up to mix it up. Not sure. What do you folks think?
Feb 1, 4:20 PM EST
Daytona 500 purse a record $19 million
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- The Daytona 500 will boast a record purse of more than $19 million, and the winner of NASCAR's biggest race is guaranteed a minimum $1.4 million.
Daytona International Speedway also announced Wednesday a $200,000 bonus for the driver leading at the halfway point of the race.
The "Daytona 500 Mid-Race Leader Award" will not be automatically awarded if the race is under caution at lap 100. The bonus will then be rolled over and paid to the driver leading the race at the completion of the fifth consecutive green flag lap following the caution.
Daytona president Joie Chitwood believes the bonus is incentive for drivers to race up front and not lay back in the Feb. 26 season-opening race.
2012 The Associated Pres
--
"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 04/02/17 11:28:34AM
