the daily newspaper will print the amount of money given the NASCAR
drivers after a race.  These amounts don't seem to have anything to do
with starting position or position won.  How are these monies decided
upon?

Hi dickipoo-ga:

Great question - with a much more involved answer than I would have
expected.

The short answer is that there is no one formula that will allow you
to determine how much each driver gets for each race.

The long answer is that the amount of money each driver gets depends
on a host of factors (including position won and starting position),
some of which may or may not be applicable for different races. The
following things may be taken into account when determining prize
money:

* Finishing position - the higher you finish, the more you get. There
are also sometimes differing rules for whether you are in the top 25,
25-40, etc.
* Leading laps - if you lead at least one lap, you get more money. If
you lead the most laps (regardless of whether or where you finish the
race), you get twice the bonus money.
* How you did in recent years - drivers with the best recent track
records (pun intended) get bonuses just for racing.
* Special corporate programs - Sometimes companies give bonuses for
other things. For example, Gatorade sometimes gives a bonus for the
leading three cars at the halfway point of the race (if they have the
Gatorade logo on their car door).
* Pole position - often bonuses are given for the top pole positions
regardless of how you do in the race.

So, a magic mix of all the above is why sometimes a driver who
finishes lower than another in a race makes more money. The only way
to find out *exactly* how the money is divided up in a particular race
is to get your hands on the official entry blank for that race.

Some pages where I found valuable information include:

http://www.nascar.com/2002/kyn/nascar_101/02/02/Money/index.html
http://jayski.thatsracin.com/pages/faqrace.htm

Search strategy on Google: How money is distributed in NASCAR

I hope this helps clear things up a little for you. 

Thanks. 

websearcher-ga

Although it could be argued that the above mentioned "Special
Corporate Programs" includes the contingencies, the description is
rather misleading.  Contingencies are responsible for all those little
bitty stickers on the front and rear fenders of the cars.  One easily
seen example is the Goodyear logo found above each wheel arch.  If a
NASCAR racecar has a sticker over each wheel arch and uses Goodyear
tires then the car is paid monies.  This is the same for every sticker
you see on the cars.

Since anyone can take advantage why doesn't everyone?  One famous
example is that you will not see any stickers for alchohol companies
on a car fielded by Petty Racing.  This precludes those cars from
receiving any contingency fees or other awards, such as the "Busch
Pole Award" for winning pole position on any race.  Richard Petty's
mother disliked the use of alcohol so her son simply refuses to
promote any alcohol companies.