NASCAR: 5 highest paid Cup Series drivers of 2022

Highest paid NASCAR drivers: No. 1 – Kyle Busch

It should come as no surprise to anybody that Kyle Busch is the highest paid driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, and by a significant amount, nearly $4 million more than the next highest paid driver in the series.

Before the 2022 season, Busch was the only active driver with multiple championships to his name, having won the titles in both 2015 and 2019. The 2022 season was his 15th with Joe Gibbs Racing. Among active drivers, only Denny Hamlin has been with his team, also Joe Gibbs Racing, for longer.

With 60 victories, the 37-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada native is tied with Kevin Harvick for the most wins among active drivers. His career win total is good for a ninth place tie on the all-time wins list. Should he move up any further, he would pass seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt (76 wins).

In 2022, Busch won the dirt race at Bristol Motor Speedway, and in doing so, he became just the second driver to ever win at least one race in 18 consecutive seasons.

While there were several occurrences in previous seasons during which it looked like his streak might end, most recently in 2020 when it took him until race 34 of 36 to find victory lane, the driver of the No. 18 Toyota was able to keep it alive and has managed to tie the all-time record set by seven-time champion and 200-time race winner Richard Petty from 1960 to 1977.

Despite his success, there were questions throughout the 2022 season about Busch’s future in the Cup Series, specifically due to the fact that longtime sponsor M&M’s would be leaving after the season.

Busch ultimately moved on from Joe Gibbs Racing and joined Richard Childress Racing for the 2023 season. He is the only driver on this list who switched teams for 2023. Will he still be the sport’s highest paid driver, and he will he break Petty’s record?

Kyle Busch salary: $16,900,000

All money totals listed from Salary Sport.