Large purse for Samsung 500

Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage announced that the April 15 Samsung 500 Nextel Cup Series race will have a $7 million purse, the third-largest purse of the season. The total posted awards will be $7,253,642. "Part of what places the Samsung 500 alongside the other prestigious events on the Nextel Cup schedule – like the Daytona 500, the Brickyard 400 or the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte – is the purse," Gossage said. "This isn't just another race. When you focus the spotlight nice and hot, interesting things happen. People rise or fall facing the challenge, and either way it is dramatic to watch. People do crazy things for money."