Lowe’s Motor Speedway announced Tuesday the total posted awards for May’s events at the speedway would reach a record $14.7 million. Between May 16th and May 25th, nine events will be held at the Lowe’s Motor Speedway and The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

As Cup Series points leader Jeff Burton explained, “It’s a good time to be a race car driver.”

“Things have changed so drastically that it’s hard to compare prize money from the early years of the sport to today,” H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway explained.

Wheeler used the example of NASCAR legend Ned Jarrett to illustrate the stark differences. From 1953 until 1966, Jarrett ran 352 NASCAR events, winning 50 races and two NASCAR championships. His total career earnings total during that time span totaled $348,961.

“That’s just $386 more than the total posted awards for the winner of this year’s Coca-Cola 600,” Wheeler explained.

Always an exciting and action-filled event, this years NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will be competing for a record $4,308,251. The driver to survive the “Beast of the Southeast” and the competition will take home a cool $1,012,975. Not too shabby for a night at the races.

One of the most illustrious and historic races on the schedule, the Coca-Cola 600 will pay a record $6,648,557 in awards. That total is a slim $4,219,759 more – that’s right, more – than the same race just ten years ago.

For a complete schedule of events and tickets to all the races at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, as well as The Dirt Track @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway, be sure to visit www.lowesmotorspeedway.com or call the speedway’s ticket office at 1-800-455-FANS.