In the past two months, fans have learned more about NASCAR than ever before. The lawsuit played a major role in uncovering information, ranging from race teams’ jaw-dropping losses to overall payout distribution. Now, a veteran driver whose racing instincts remain strong beyond 70 added a unique angle to that conversation.

“It was a tight, tight budget. 15th, 20th, 25th would always pay a lot more, but you didn’t know where in hell you were running,” Ken Schrader said on Herm & Schrader. “You just kind of thought you knew where you were on, top ten, you could be pretty close. But I’m talking mid-80s. We were trying to win races to win. But we were a lot better off 10th, 15th, or 20th.”

In light of recently unveiled evidence of NASCAR’s finances, Schrader‘s revelation adds an enlightening perspective. The comparison between open and chartered teams was the main focus, but the payouts per race finish also clarified things. A 20th-place finish is 2.479% of the $118 million purse, so if an open team ran every race, they would take in $2.9 million, compared to $11-12 million for a chartered team.

Yet Schrader’s information thickens the plot, as racers in the past aimed for specific finishes rather than just the best finish.

NASCAR Xfinity veteran Kenny Wallace seconded Schrader’s revelation.

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“I always listened to you in the years past, you’re like, ‘Hey, I’m running 12th, this doesn’t pay anything, but the sheet said if I run 15th, I get a $1,000 more,'” Wallace said. “In the day, Kenny Schrader obviously raced for a living, and NASCAR would give us a sheet. Kenny realized that there was what we call bonus money for different spots. Well, 15th would pay more than 13th.”

NASCAR’s inaugural 2025 in-season challenge, however, was more focused on drivers who wanted to win. The format included 32 drivers in a single-elimination tournament over five races. The best finishes were to be given the biggest priority. Ty Gibbs ended up defeating Ty Dillon in the Champions Round and took home the $1 million prize.

During Schrader’s heyday, the focus on race finishes and purses was intense. The 70-year-old spent 29 years in NASCAR’s Cup Series. He won four Cup races, all for Hendrick Motorsports. He recorded 23 poles, 65 top-five, and 184-top 10 finishes. Schrader also won two Xfinity races, one Truck race, and 18 ARCA races.

And Schrader’s streak of racing excellence has not stopped, even at such a senior age.

The NASCAR veteran’s latest triumph

At 70, legendary racer Ken Schrader proved that age and speed are just numbers. He recently competed in the X-Modified division during the Wild West Shootout at Central Arizona Raceway and put on a glamorous performance to claim victory on Saturday night. He started seventh on the grid in the 25-lap feature, but ended the night beating 19th starter Jake Smith to the finish line. This only marks the latest milestone in a career of eclectic wins.

Schrader was the 1982 USAC Silver Crown Series Champion and the 1983 USAC Thunder & Lightning Sprint Car Series Champion. He is a 4-Crown Nationals Midget winner, a 4-Crown Nationals Silver Crown Winner, a three-time Copper World Classic Midget Winner, and a two-time Copper World Classic Silver Crown Winner. Schrader was also the 1985 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year and won the 1988 Talladega DieHard 500.

Clearly, the old flame for competing for race money still burns within Schrader. As he continues to amaze us with his races, he also enlightens us about NASCAR’s history.