Ward Burton finished 37th in the MBNA Platinum 400 at Dover International Speedway last Sunday. But he still pocketed $92,195.

Newburgh’s Ricky Craven finished 30 places higher but took home only $72,485.

Why the discrepancy?

Because there are a variety of different awards offering financial payouts to Winston Cup drivers in addition to the winnings they earn for their particular finish in a race.

For example, NASCAR media relations representative Mike Zizzo said there are two standard purses in every race: the regular race purse and a television award fund.

Both are solely dictated by a driver’s finish.

He said the winner of Sunday’s Pocono 500 will take home $41,845 from the regular purse and $69,000 from the television pay-out.

Last place will pay $15,664 and $19,000, respectively.

Then there are the contingency awards like the Bud Pole award, EA Sports Move of the Race, Gatorade Front Runner, Infogrames Pit Strategy, Outback Steakhouse Bloomin’ Favorite, Raybestos Rookie of the Race, True Value Man of the Race and Waste Management Picking Up Places Awards.

“All of these types of awards carry assigned decals,” explained Zizzo.

Not all of the drivers are eligible for all of the awards. If they don’t carry the decal, they aren’t involved in that particular competition.

For example, if a corporation sponsors a particular competition that pays bonus money to the race’s top five finishers but the fifth place finisher doesn’t carry the competition’s decal, the next highest finisher carrying the decal would be awarded the fifth place money.

The owners who have been in the sport the longest are eligible for more lucrative payouts, according to Craven public relations director Jeff Cheatham.

“That’s why Robby Gordon made more money than we did last week,” said Cheatham, referring to Gordon’s $89,121 payday for his eighth place finish for Richard Childress Racing, $16,636 more than Craven, the man who finished right in front of him.

“[Craven’s PPI Motorsports Team owner] Cal Wells has only been involved in Winston Cup racing since 2000. He’s a youngster [among the owners],” said Cheatham.

Zizzo added that the more successful drivers are eligible for more lucrative bonuses, also.

He added that there are some off-beat awards including ones that pay out to the drivers who finished in a specific position that wasn’t among the top 10.

“Most people assume the money just goes to the top five finishers but you could have an award given to the drivers who finish fifth, 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th,” said Zizzo.

One of the awards available to all of the drivers is the Winston Points Leader bonus.

“If the points leader wins a race, he would earn a bonus,” explained Zizzo. “The bonus fund is up to $90,000. If the points leader doesn’t win, we add $10,000 to the pot.”

Sterling Marlin is the current points leader.

Zizzo said if a driver takes over the points lead by winning a race, he would receive the bonus.

Cheatham said Craven is carrying all of the decals available to him on his Tide No. 32 Fort Taurus and his triumph at Martinsville last year, the first of his career, qualified him for some different awards this season.

Craven, who is currently 12th in points, has made $1,087,500 so far this season. There are 12 drivers below him in the points who have made more money.

But it appears Craven and his PPI Motorsports team, with three consecutive top 10 finishes, could be venturing into more profitable paydays if his success continues.

PASS heads to Montmagny Saturday

Unity’s Ralph Nason will entertain the Pro All Stars Series tour at his Autodrome Montmagny in Quebec for 150-lap races on Saturday and on July 6.

Those races had been originally scheduled for Scotia Speedworld in Halifax, Nova Scotia, but those were dropped.

“We’re very tickled to have the PASS tour,” said Nason, who owns Autodrome Montmagny, Unity Raceway and Caribou’s Spud Speedway. “We’re expecting a big crowd.”

What does it take to win at Montmagny’s three-eights of a mile oval?

“This track is fast. You’ve got to be fast,” said Nason, who will also have his regular racing card comprised of three classes.

PASS time trials will begin at 6:30 Saturday.

Turner’s Ben Rowe has a two-point lead over South Paris’ Sam Sessions atop the PASS points race.

Rounding out the top five are Johnny Clark of Hallowell, Chuck Lachance of Cushing and Dave Gorveatt of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

Nason also said he is optimistic that there will be racing at Spud Speedway this summer. He is trying to sell the track and is close to doing so.

Monster truck show resumes Friday

The Monster Truck Show at Speedway 95 in Hermon was postponed Thursday due to standing water in the infield.

They will still have shows on Friday at 8 p.m. and on Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Thursday night tickets will be honored at any of the other shows.