10 NASCAR Drivers Who Went “Broke”
NASCAR Drivers Who Went "Broke"
Jeremy Mayfield
10. Chad McCumbee
Chad McCumbee showed real promise in both ARCA and NASCAR, but he spent most of his time with small, underfunded teams that couldn’t attract the sponsorship he needed. As expenses piled up and opportunities dried out, McCumbee quietly slipped out of the national spotlight, unable to financially sustain a long-term NASCAR career.
9. Patty Moise
One of the pioneering women in NASCAR, Patty Moise tried to keep her racing dream alive by fielding her own car. But running a team without consistent sponsorship drained her resources year after year, eventually forcing her to step away as the financial burden became impossible to overcome.
8. Morgan Shepherd
A fan-favorite veteran, Morgan Shepherd spent decades funding his own team out of pure passion rather than financial stability. His tiny budget meant running outdated equipment, borrowing parts, and scraping by each season, ultimately leaving him in long-term financial strain from trying to stay in the sport he loved.
7. Randy LaJoie
A two-time Busch Series champion, Randy LaJoie faced financial problems after several off-track business ventures failed to take off. Combined with personal setbacks and lack of steady income after his peak racing years, LaJoie found himself navigating severe financial stress well after retirement.
6. Norm Benning
Norm Benning built a reputation on grit and determination, often keeping his Truck Series team alive with his own wallet. But racing on that “never give up” mentality meant pouring thousands of personal dollars into equipment, travel, and repairs until the financial hole became too deep to climb out of.
5. Derrike Cope
Despite winning the 1990 Daytona 500, Cope struggled for decades with sponsorship issues, failed team ownership ventures, and aging equipment that cost more than it produced. Over time, these ongoing expenses pushed him into repeated financial struggles as he fought to stay in the sport.
4. Mike Harmon
Mike Harmon’s situation spiraled due to a mix of financial problems and major legal disputes, including a high-profile property battle that cost him heavily. Combine that with the expense of running an underfunded Xfinity team, and Harmon found himself drowning in financial issues with little relief.
3. John Wes Townley
Townley came from a wealthy family, but his NASCAR career was built on spending massive amounts to secure rides without consistent results. Between wrecks, controversy, and poor financial oversight, he burned through millions — eventually hitting a financial and personal breaking point.
2. Brian Rose
Once a rising Truck Series talent, Brian Rose’s entire life collapsed when he faced severe legal trouble, including federal charges and jail time. As his legal battles mounted, his money evaporated, leaving him bankrupt and completely removed from any future in professional racing.
1. Jeremy Mayfield
Jeremy Mayfield’s downfall remains one of NASCAR’s most dramatic. After his 2009 suspension for violating the sport’s substance policies, he went to war with NASCAR in court — burning through everything he owned on lawsuits, attorney fees, and settlements. The financial freefall ended with bankruptcy, repossessions, and the loss of his home and racing career.
