Record purse for Coca-Cola 600

Nextel Cup Series drivers will battle for a record $6.5 million during the May 27 Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway while total posted awards for the track's schedule of May events is more than $14.5 million.

Eight races will be run at Lowe's Motor Speedway and The Dirt Track @ Lowe's Motor Speedway between Friday night, May 18, and Sunday evening, May 27, and each carries a record purse with a total of $14,524,532 up for grabs.

Already one of the richest races on the NASCAR circuit, the $6,569,628 in total awards for the Coca-Cola 600 is $136,947 more than was posted for last year's event and $4,481,404 more than competitors raced for in the 600-mile event 10 years ago.