Record purse for Coca-Cola 600

Lowe's Motor Speedway officials announced that Sprint Cup Series drivers will compete for a record $6.6 million purse in the May 25 Coca-Cola 600.

The $6,648,557 in total awards for the event is $78,929 more than last year.

"Things have changed so drastically that it's hard to compare prize money from the early years of the sport to today, but here's a fact that caught my eye," said H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway. "Two-time NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett ran 352 races between 1953 and 1966, winning 50 times, and his total career winnings were $289,146. That's $59,429 less than the total posted awards for the winner of this year's Coca-Cola 600."