This report looks at the best drivers in NASCAR. It talks about their wins and their money.

本報告將探討 NASCAR 中最優秀的車手，討論他們的獲勝紀錄及其收入。

NASCAR started as a small sport. Richard Petty won many races and became a legend. Later, Jeff Gordon made the sport popular for everyone.

NASCAR 最初是一項小眾運動。Richard Petty 贏得了許多場比賽，成為了一位傳奇。隨後，Jeff Gordon 讓這項運動變得大眾化，深受 everyone 歡迎。

Some drivers won many titles, like Jimmie Johnson. Other drivers won many races but did not win a title. Kyle Busch was a great driver in three different series.

有些車手贏得了多次冠軍，例如 Jimmie Johnson。其他車手雖然贏了很多場比賽，但未能獲得總冠軍。Kyle Busch 在三個不同的系列賽中都是一名出色的車手。

Winning races does not always mean more money. Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. made the most money. They sold many shirts and hats. Now, drivers make money by owning their teams.

贏得比賽並不總是意味著能賺更多錢。Jeff Gordon 和 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 賺得最多，他們銷售了大量的 T-shirt 和帽子。現在，車手透過擁有自己的車隊來獲利。

NASCAR changed over time. Now, making money is different from winning races.

NASCAR 隨著時間而演變。現在，賺錢的方式與贏得比賽截然不同。

This report examines the relationship between competitive success and the financial growth of the most famous drivers in the history of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR).

本報告探討美國股票汽車賽車協會 (NASCAR) 歷史上最著名車手的競賽成就與財務增長之間的關係。

The sport has changed from small regional races into a global professional business. Early drivers like Lee Petty and Herb Thomas built the foundation of the series. Later, Richard Petty set a huge benchmark with 200 wins and seven championships, although David Pearson was arguably more efficient in his wins. By the late 20th century, the sport became more popular nationwide due to the rivalry between Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison, and the professional image of Jeff Gordon.

這項運動已從小型區域賽演變為全球專業事業。早期的車手如 Lee Petty 和 Herb Thomas 為該系列賽奠定了基礎。隨後，Richard Petty 以 200 次獲勝和七次總冠軍樹立了極高的標竿，儘管 David Pearson 在獲勝效率上可能更高。到了 20 世紀末，由於 Cale Yarborough 與 Bobby Allison 的對抗，以及 Jeff Gordon 的專業形象，這項運動在全美變得更加普及。

In the modern era, better engineering and fairer rules have changed how drivers dominate. For example, Jimmie Johnson won seven championships, including five in a row, showing a great ability to stay at the top. On the other hand, drivers like Mark Martin won many races but never won a championship, which shows how unpredictable the points system can be. The recent death of Kyle Busch in May 2026 ended a career known for great versatility across three different series, with a total of 234 wins.

在現代，更好的工程技術和更公平的規則改變了車手的統治方式。例如，Jimmie Johnson 贏得七次總冠軍，其中包含五次連霸，展現了極強的頂峰維持能力。另一方面，像 Mark Martin 這樣的車手雖贏得許多場次但從未奪得總冠軍，這顯示了積分制度的不可預測性。Kyle Busch 於 2026 年 5 月逝世，結束了其在三個不同系列賽中以極高通用性著稱的職業生涯，共計獲勝 234 場。

Financial data shows that winning races does not always mean making the most money. According to Forbes, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. earned the most, with estimated totals of $425 million and $410 million. This wealth came mostly from selling merchandise during the sport's most popular time, rather than from race prizes. Furthermore, driver pay has decreased because of fewer corporate sponsors and the 2016 charter system, which changed how prize money is shared. Consequently, many drivers now focus on owning teams, such as Denny Hamlin, who is both a driver and co-owner of 23XI Racing.

財務數據顯示，贏得比賽並不總是意味著獲利最高。根據《富比士》報導，Jeff Gordon 和 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 獲利最多，估計總額分別為 4.25 億美元和 4.1 億美元。這些財富主要來自於該運動最鼎盛時期的周邊商品銷售，而非賽事獎金。此外，由於企業贊助商減少以及 2016 年特許經營制度 (charter system) 改變了獎金分配方式，車手的薪酬有所下降。因此，許多車手現在專注於經營車隊，例如 Denny Hamlin，他既是車手也是 23XI Racing 的共同所有者。

NASCAR's history shows a shift from individual records to a complex business system where financial success is no longer directly tied to winning races.

NASCAR 的歷史顯示，其重心已從個人紀錄轉向複雜的商業系統，財務成功不再與贏得比賽直接掛鉤。

This report examines the intersection of competitive achievement and economic trajectories among the most prominent figures in the history of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR).

本報告探討了美國股票汽車賽事協會（NASCAR）歷史上最著名人物的競爭成就與經濟軌跡之間的交集。

The evolution of the sport is characterized by a transition from regional, manufacturer-supported competitions to a global professional enterprise. Early figures such as Lee Petty and Herb Thomas established the operational foundations of the series, while subsequent eras saw the emergence of dominant dynasties. Richard Petty's record of 200 victories and seven championships remains the primary statistical benchmark, though David Pearson's higher win-to-start ratio suggests a peak of superior efficiency. The late 20th century witnessed a shift toward national visibility, facilitated by the competitive rivalry between Cale Yarborough and Bobby Allison, and the subsequent mainstreaming of the sport via the polished public image of Jeff Gordon.

這項運動的演變特徵在於從地區性、製造商支持的競賽，轉型為全球性的專業企業。早期人物如 Lee Petty 和 Herb Thomas 奠定了賽事的運作基礎，而隨後的時代則見證了主導王朝的崛起。Richard Petty 200 次獲勝與七次奪冠的紀錄仍是主要的統計基準，儘管 David Pearson 更高的勝場比率顯示出其巔峰時期的卓越效率。20 世紀末，在 Cale Yarborough 與 Bobby Allison 的競爭對抗推動下，賽事開始獲得全國關注，隨後透過 Jeff Gordon 精心塑造的公眾形象，使這項運動進入主流視野。

Institutional parity and engineering advancements in the modern era have altered the nature of dominance. Jimmie Johnson's seven championships, including five consecutive titles, demonstrate a capacity for sustained excellence despite systemic efforts to prevent such dynasties. Conversely, drivers like Mark Martin achieved significant victory totals without securing a championship, highlighting the volatility of the points system. The recent passing of Kyle Busch in May 2026 concludes a career defined by unprecedented versatility across three national series, totaling 234 victories.

現代時期的制度對等與工程進步改變了主導地位的性質。Jimmie Johnson 的七次奪冠（包括連續五次冠軍）證明了儘管系統性地試圖防止王朝出現，他依然具備維持卓越表現的能力。相反，像 Mark Martin 這樣的車手雖然贏得大量勝利，卻未能獲得年度總冠軍，凸顯了積分制度的波動性。Kyle Busch 於 2026 年 5 月的逝世，為其在三個國家級賽事中展現出前所未有全能表現的職業生涯劃下句點，他總計贏得 234 場勝利。

Fiscal analysis reveals a divergence between on-track success and total earnings. Data attributed to Forbes indicates that Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are the highest cumulative earners, with estimated totals of $425 million and $410 million, respectively. This wealth was primarily generated through merchandise licensing during a period of peak commercial expansion rather than race purses. The subsequent decline in driver compensation is attributed to a reduction in corporate sponsorship and the 2016 implementation of the charter system, which redistributed purse funds and diminished championship bonuses. Current economic models have shifted toward ownership equity, as exemplified by Denny Hamlin's dual role as driver and co-owner of 23XI Racing.

財政分析顯示，賽道上的成功與總收入之間存在分歧。根據 Forbes 的數據，Jeff Gordon 與 Dale Earnhardt Jr. 是累計收入最高者，估計總額分別為 4.25 億美元與 4.1 億美元。這些財富主要是在商業擴張巔峰期透過商品授權產生，而非來自賽事獎金。隨後車手薪酬的下降歸因於企業贊助的減少，以及 2016 年實施的特許經營權制度（charter system），該制度重新分配了獎金並減少了冠軍紅利。目前的經濟模式已轉向所有權股權，例如 Denny Hamlin 同時擔任車手與 23XI Racing 共同所有者的雙重角色。

NASCAR's legacy is defined by a transition from individual statistical dominance to a complex corporate structure where financial success is increasingly decoupled from race victories.

NASCAR 的遺產被定義為從個人統計數據的主導，轉變為一個複雜的公司結構，其中財務成功與比賽勝利之間的脫鉤程度日益增加。