NASCAR: Top 5 highest paid Cup Series drivers of 2020

Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images) /
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Kyle Busch, NASCAR
Kyle Busch, Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR – Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

Highest paid NASCAR drivers of 2020 – 1. Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch, who drives the #18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, comes in at #1 on this list after earning a total of $17.8 million throughout the 2020 season despite the fact that he failed to make it past the round of 12 of the playoffs.

Busch’s playoff elimination in 2020 marked the earliest ever elimination for a reigning champion, and he had never been eliminated before the Championship 4 as a former champion.

It took him until the 36-race season’s 34th race to finally find victory lane. But when he finally did so, it marked the 16th consecutive winning season for the two-time champion, which is good for a third place tie on the all-time list.

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At 35 years old, the Las Vegas, Nevada native is well positioned to break the all-time record. He trails only Richard Petty (18 seasons) and David Pearson (17 seasons) on this list.

Busch had qualified for the last five Championship 4s entering the 2020 season, but his 2020 season was one to forget in many ways.

His late win helped to propel him to a seventh place tie in the championship standings with teammate Martin Truex Jr.; he hadn’t finished that low since he finished in 10th in 2014, which was the last time he had secured only one victory. He won at least four races per year from 2015 to 2019.

The winningest driver across the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series (213 wins) will be looking for a bounce-back year in 2021.

Next. Top 10 NASCAR drivers of all-time. dark

The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series season is scheduled to get underway this weekend with the 63rd annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Fox is set to broadcast this race live beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 14.