It’s quite fitting that Eldora Speedway of all places will play host to the richest prize in Sprint Car Racing history ($1,002,023) when the Eldora Million, streamed exclusively on FloRacing, takes center stage on July 12-13.

Before Tony Stewart bought “The House that Earl Built” in 2004, it was Earl [Baltes] himself who promoted the first six-figure payday for Sprint Cars when he unveiled the Historical Big One in the summer of 1993. Now, 30 years later, “The Big E” is once again making history with a seven-figure check looming next week.

Since Earl changed the game three decades ago, the sport has slowly been progressing to this moment – as it is healthier than ever. By seasons end, there will have been exactly 50 Sprint Car events in history to offer more than $100,000 to the winner. 11 of those 50 will have come within the last three years and three of the four highest payouts in history are available in 2023 alone.

July 24 – 2nd High Bank Nationals at Huset’s (SD) – $250,000-to-win

July 13 – Eldora Million at Eldora (OH) - $1,002,023-to-win

July 15 – 40th Kings Royal at Eldora (OH) - $175,000-to-win

August 12 – 62nd Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) - $185,000-to-win

After Eldora’s innovative event in 1993, Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway followed suit with the first $100,000-to-win Knoxville Nationals in 1995 and has steadily grown the purse for 29 years. The Grandaddy of ‘Em All jumped to $125,000 in 2001, then $140,000 in 2005, then $150,000 in 2007, paid out $176,000 with lap money in 2021, and now offers $185,000-to-win with a whopping $15,000-to-start.

Until two weeks ago, when the World of Outlaws and Tod Quiring paid David Gravel $250,000 at Huset’s High Bank Nationals, it was actually a NON-WING SPRINT CAR RACE that was the highest-paying in history. That was of course the iconic 2003 Mopar Million which paid Jac Haudenschild $200,000-to-win and even gave Stevie Smith $125,000 for second and Dickie Gaines $100,000 for third.

VIDEO: Take a look back at highlights from the 2003 Mopar Million.

To date, 20 drivers have won a six-figure Sprint Car race with 11 of them doing so twice. Even so, nobody cashes big checks like Donny Schatz. He’s won a whopping 12 six-figure shows between the Historical Big One (2002) and Knoxville Nationals (2006-09, 2011-15, 2017, 2022) totaling $1.765 Million dollars in first-place earnings alone – that’s not counting his other 300+ wins.

The other 10 drivers with multiple massive paydays include Steve Kinser (4), Mark Kinser (4), Danny Lasoski (4), Kyle Larson (2), Brad Sweet (2), Tim Shaffer (2), Jac Haudenschild (2), Dave Blaney (2), David Gravel (2), and Brent Marks (2).

Lately, the big ones have been split up with some increased parity as nine drivers have taken the last 11 six-figure paydays. Larson (2021) and Marks (2022) are the only to double up in that time frame.

What’s crazier to think about is these season-defining paydays we’ve been talking about pale in comparison to the life-changing amount on the line at Eldora next week. It would take you six Knoxville Nationals titles to total more than the $1,002,023 available at the Eldora Million.

If you can’t be at Eldora to witness the highest-paying event in dirt racing history next week, you’ll want to tune into FloRacing on July 12-13 to watch it happen live.

To get you warmed up, here is a complete history of Sprint Car Racing’s 47 six-figure paydays to this point.

1993 Historical Big One at Eldora (OH) – Jac Haudenschild won $100,000

1994 Historical Big One at Eldora (OH) – Kenny Jacobs won $100,000

1995 Historical Big One at Eldora (OH) – Steve Kinser won $100,000

1995 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Steve Kinser won $100,000

1996 Historical Big One at Eldora (OH) – Mark Kinser won $100,000

1996 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Mark Kinser won $100,000

1997 Historical Big One at Eldora (OH) – Dave Blaney won $100,000

1997 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Dave Blaney won $100,000

1998 Historical Big One at Eldora (OH) – Dale Blaney won $100,000

1998 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Danny Lasoski won $100,000

1999 Historical Big One at Eldora (OH) – Kevin Gobrecht won $100,000

1999 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Mark Kinser won $100,000

2000 Historical Big One at Eldora (OH) – Steve Kinser won $100,000

2000 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Mark Kinser won $100,000

2001 Historical Big One at Eldora (OH) – P.J. Chesson won $100,000

2001 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Danny Lasoski won $125,000

2002 Historical Big One at Eldora (OH) – Donny Schatz won $100,000

2002 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Steve Kinser won $125,000

2003 Historical Big One at Eldora (OH) – Daryn Pittman won $100,000

2003 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Danny Lasoski won $125,000

2003 Mopar Million at Eldora (OH) – Jac Haudenschild won $200,000

2004 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Danny Lasooski won $125,000

2005 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Kraig Kinser won $140,000

2006 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Donny Schatz won $140,000

2007 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Donny Schatz won $150,000

2008 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Donny Schatz won $150,000

2009 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Donny Schatz won $150,000

2010 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Tim Shaffer won $150,000

2011 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Donny Schatz won $150,000

2012 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Donny Schatz won $150,000

2013 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Donny Schatz won $150,000

2014 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Donny Schatz won $150,000

2015 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Donny Schatz won $150,000

2016 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Jason Johnson won $150,000

2017 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Donny Schatz won $150,000

2018 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Brad Sweet won $150,000

2018 Sprint Car World Championship at Mansfield (OH) – Tim Shaffer won $100,000

2019 Kings Royal at Eldora (OH) – Brad Sweet won $175,000

2019 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – David Gravel won $175,000

2021 Kings Royal at Eldora (OH) – Tyler Courtney won $175,000

2021 Kings Royal at Eldora (OH) – Kyle Larson won $175,000

2021 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Kyle Larson won $176,000

2022 High Bank Nationals at Huset’s (SD) – Sheldon Haudenschild won $100,000

2022 Historical Big One at Eldora (OH) – Brent Marks won $100,000

2022 Kings Royal at Eldora (OH) – Brent Marks won $175,000

2022 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) – Donny Schatz won $175,000

2023 High Bank Nationals at Huset’s (SD) – David Gravel won $250,000

2023 Eldora Million at Eldora (OH) - $1,002,023-to-win on July 13

2023 Kings Royal at Eldora (OH) - $175,000-to-win on July 15

2023 Knoxville Nationals at Knoxville (IA) - $185,000-to-win on August 12