Inside the Million-Dollar Homes of NASCAR Legends

See how Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Rusty Wallace and other NASCAR drivers live.

Inside the Million-Dollar Homes of NASCAR Legends

NASCAR drivers can make quite a bit of money for blasting around the track at 200 mph and defying death. In 2012, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took home $26 million, for example, and in 2019, Danny Hamlin brought home $14.6 million.

That's a lot of cash for a single year's worth of work. But when the tires are worn and the brakes are done smoking, where do these speed freaks hang their jumpsuits?

Take a look inside the homes and mansions of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Rusty Wallace, Kyle Petty Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Richard Childress and Michael Waltrip.

Denny Hamlin Has Won Over $77 Million in Career Earnings Alone

Denny Hamlin has been racing since 2005 at the age of 24 and has earned over $77 million just in winnings alone. That's not including his sponsorships with companies like FedEx, his longtime sponsor.

In 2014, Denny Hamlin began building a massive, 30,000-square-foot-home in Cornelius, North Carolina, right on Lake Norman. Around 2016, he completed the beast.

This is what it looks like.

Denny Hamlin's Custom Estate

Hamlin purchased a 2.8-acre lot for $1.375 million in 2014 and hired Thompson Custom Building Group, Elite Design Group, Elan security systems and designer Scott Carpenter to build his dream house.

The home was designed to be a "little more modern, more West Coast" than is traditional for the area, Carpenter told Charlotte Magazine.

The Entertaining Room

Hamlin clearly wanted this house to have all the fixings, like an indoor virtual golf area, bar, pool table, and an entertainment system with one large television surrounded by four smaller televisions.

That's not all the televisions in this home, though. There are a total of 24 60-inch Samsungs located both indoors and outdoors.

But the real crown jewel of this room is the show garage.

The Indoor Garage

The all-glass, indoor showroom garage is a striking feature. The car showcased is his 2016 Daytona 500 winning car sponsored by FedEx along with two of his other prized vehicles.

The house has an integrated lighting system by Elan, which can be controlled via a smartphone app, so Hamlin can switch on these bright lights from anywhere in the world, if he wants to.

The Bowling Alley

The bowling alley commands you to bowl, but you can also putt in the adjacent indoor putting green.

Orange and purple accents, the same colors FedEx uses, were chosen for obvious reasons.

Trophies and Bowling

The bowling alley features a FedEx-purple bench seat, which also serves as a bar top.

This room doubles as a trophy room, with numerous trophies and emptied champagne bottles dotting the walls.

There's a Glass Elevator

Hamlin commissioned a steel and glass elevator for the house. It's an unusual feature that required commercial contractors.

"You just don’t see that in residential construction projects," Carpenter told Charlotte Magazine.

The Kitchen

The kitchen features two triangular islands and dark walnut flooring.

An array of stainless steel appliances will help out any chef (the Hamlins like Asian-style food), and there's an outdoor barbecue area right outside if they want to grill.

There's a Basketball Court

Hamlin also built a full-sized indoor basketball court, complete with LED scoreboards and a Denny Hamlin Racing logo. Large glass windows and glass doors provide views of the lake, and there's a full-sized gym in the adjacent room.

"I had an outdoor court, and that was fun for like two months of the year when the weather was good — it was either too hot or too cold, usually," Hamlin told NASCAR. "And then I decided I wanted to build my own house. It was high on my priority list to have a full indoor court," he explained.

Hamlin established a basketball league called the Hoop Group with 30 players. It even has a draft.

The Master Bathroom

The master bathroom is pretty nuts, with an all-marble walk-in shower, gas fireplace, free-standing modern tub and herringbone-patterned walnut floors.

There's a television in here, too, and in the background you can spot a large walk-in closet.

The Master Bedroom

When it's time to get some rest and recharge the batteries, this is where Denny Hamlin goes to sleep.

The Pool

Taking advantage of this property's spectacular views, the geometric pool is located in the back of the property. It's surrounded by just a few trees, leaving the view almost entirely unobscured.

We don't know how much this 30,000-square-foot property cost to build, but surrounding homes in the area sell for around $1 million-$1.5 million, and none of them are even close to having 30,000 square feet of living space.

Our guess is that this home would list for around $5 million-$7 million.

NASCAR Fans Love Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the most beloved figures in NASCAR and owns some of the coolest property.

The semi-retired racer has an estate in North Carolina that includes the recreation of an Old West town and a NASCAR graveyard.

His North Carolina Compound

Earnhardt Jr.'s owns an 11,784-square-foot mansion on 72 acres of land located in Mooresville, North Carolina. He calls it "Dirty Mo Acres," and it's worth around $5.2 million

There aren't many photos of the home's interior, but that's OK.

The coolest stuff is on the outside.

An Old West Town

On the grounds of Dirty Mo Acres is this Old West "town." It's a series of small buildings created to look like the place where outlaws and lawmen fight at high noon.

Population: 88

The town is called Whisky River, it has a church, and the population is 88 — Earnardt Jr.'s number, of course.

The Bar Is Real

While the storefronts are just non-functional, movie-studio facades, there's a full-fledged bar called the Silverado Saloon.

It's not exactly historically accurate — we don't believe there were pinball machines in the 1800s — but it's one helluva place to throw a party.

The NASCAR Graveyard

Earnhardt Jr. collects crashed race cars and dumps them in the woods of Dirty Mo Acres. They're just the frames, of course, but it's cool nonetheless.

This is the No. 88 Hughes Construction Chevrolet, which Alex Bowman crashed during the Ticket Galaxy 200 at the Phoenix International Raceway in November 2016.

There's a Garage, Too

Also on the property is a huge garage that is stuffed with trophies, racing helmets and driving jumpsuits. And, of course, cars.

If you want to see more about Earnhardt Jr.'s real estate, including a more in-depth look at Dirty Mo Acres, a fixer-upper in Key West Florida and a really cool treehouse, check out our feature on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s real estate empire.

Rusty Wallace Made $50 Million in Career Earnings

NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace may have ended his career a little too soon for his liking, but you wouldn't know it to look at his digs.

The 64-year-old driver-turned-announcer made $50 million in career winnings during his 26-year career.

In 2019, he put his home in the mountains of North Carolina on the market.

Rusty Wallace's House

The scenic retreat house is located in Linville Ridge, a small mountain resort town in Avery County.

Wallace also owns a house by Hamlin, on Lake Norman.

Simple Comforts

Wallace sold this 3,567-square-foot Linville Ridge house in early September 2020 for $1.175 million. Wood is this home's main accent, with hardwood flooring throughout and a wood-paneled ceiling.

The home has four bedrooms and four bathrooms, which was more than enough space for him and his wife, Patti.

Their three kids — Greg Katie and Steven — are all grown up. Steven is a race car driver as well.

The Dining Room

The house has a stately dining area located between the kitchen and the living room.

The home is positioned on a hill, providing sweeping mountain views in the dining room.

The floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace can hold a grand fire for those cold North Carolina nights.

The Den

This cozy den features a built-in entertainment center and a wet bar.

Wallace last raced at the 2016 Ferrari Finali Modiali at Daytona and finished 10th overall and third in the North American class. He was 60 years old.

He is still one of just 10 drivers to win at least 55 top-level NASCAR races.

Lots of Space

The home is located on a 3.25-acre lot surrounded by trees in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Kyle Petty Has a Net Worth of $25 Million

Retired NASCAR driver and humanitarian Kyle Petty has a net worth of $25 million. He hasn't yet been included into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, but there's still time for that.

The son of the legendary Richard Petty has eight career Cup wins and multiple houses, including a sprawling farm estate in Trinity, North Carolina.

Kyle Petty's Farm

Known as Adaumant Farm, Petty and his ex-wife, Pattie, own this 380-acre lakefront compound that doubles as an event center.

Once for Sale at $5.5 Million

The estate features a four-bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom 4,000 square-foot country ranch-style house situated on the banks of a large pond.

Petty and his wife of 33 years divorced in 2012. They listed this estate in 2016 for $5.5 million in 2016, but records indicate that the property failed to sell.

Grazing Grounds

Petty married Morgan Castano, executive director of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America in 2015.

The estate features a riding ring and a 25,000 square-foot barn, which has been converted into a wedding reception and entertainment area.

The Barn

The barn is a big appeal for wedding planners. Once a fully functional horse barn, it has been transformed into a country chic reception area with covered porches that would make Joanna Gaines proud.

The Reception Room

The barn is massive and can hold more than a few legendary NASCAR families. It includes two kitchens, a mezzanine, sitting areas and a band room, according to the farm's website.

Petty's last race was in the 2008 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500. Petty is involved in numerous charities, including the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America.

It has raised $19 million for Victory Junction, a children's charity established by the Petty family after Kyle's son, Adam, died in a crash in 2000 at the Busch 200 race.

Kevin Harvick Took Home $13 Million in 2019

Kevin Harvick is one of the highest-paid race car drivers in the world, taking home $13 million in 2019.

The 44-year-old race car driver took a few million of that and bought a beautiful house off the South Carolina coast in early 2020.

Kevin Harvick's Home

Harvick picked up this 3,400-square-foot cedar shake house for $3.165 million in February 2020.

It's located on Kiawah Island in the prestigious Ocean Park neighborhood.

The Living Room

Harvick has been racing in NASCAR since 1995 and has over 100 wins with over 700 races in his entire 20-year career.

He's worth around $70 million.

The Kitchen

The kitchen features a center kitchen island with a wraparound marble countertop and a double-wide sink.

A marble backsplash complements this centerpiece, and the stainless steel appliances are all top-of-the-line, featuring name brands like Sub-Zero, Bosch and Scotsman.

The Dining Room

The house is very beach, and it appears to be a vacation property.

It might be a bit small for Harvick if we consider his previous property, which was a 12,000-square-foot mansion located in Oak Ridge, North Carolina, that he and his wife sold for $2.3 million in 2015.

The couple also owns a 10,000-square-foot home in Charlotte, North Carolina, which they bought for $3.35 million in 2014.

The Porch

The classic, shady Southern porch is screened in to keep the mosquitoes at bay and features a vaulted roof and toned wood flooring. It's located on the second story.

Head out the door and down the steps, and you'll be at a very relaxing pool.

The Pool

The lounging pool is small but sweet, and the views are amazing.

This looks like pure bliss.

Jeff Gordon Is Worth About $200 Million

Jeff Gordon is one of the greatest and most popular drivers in NASCAR history.

He's in third place on the all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins list with 93 wins and has earned an estimated $515 million in winnings and endorsements throughout his career.

With that money, he bought one of the most exclusive properties in Manhattan.

Jeff Gordon's Home at The Whitman

It's located here, in this unassuming, red-brick building called the Whitman, located across from Madison Square Park.

The building has only four condo units. Chelsea Clinton lives on the fourth floor and paid $9.25 million for it in 2013 (which indicates this place has tight security).

Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez bought the penthouse unit here for $20.16 million in 2014 and are now selling it for $24.99 million.

Luxury for the Richest

Gordon and his wife, model Ingrid Vandebosch, purchased the second-floor unit in 2013 for $10 million.

The couple had just made bank off a condo at 15 Central Park West, which Gordon bought for $9.7 million in 2007 and sold for $25 million just six years later.

A Lot of Space

The condo has four bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms and should measure around 5,000 square feet, the same square footage as the first and third floors.

The interior was custom designed by luxury developer Pembrooke & Ives and Kristine Greenblatt.

Walk a Block in the Hallway

The condo's most dramatic feature might be this extremely long hallway, which is well over 100 feet long.

"People always think there’s a mirror," Gordon told Departures, who did a profile piece on the condo.

The rug is 102 feet long.

The Kitchen

The kitchen is super sleek and modern, with a double built-in oven, seamless fridge and enormous kitchen island with three large pendant lights.

According to Departures, the stools are by Erik Buch with Donghia leather.

The Kids' Room

Off the kitchen is the children's room with a chalkboard wall.

Gordon has two kids, 10-year-old Leo Benjamin Gordon and 13-year-old Ella Sofia Gordon.

The Living Room

Gordon retired from full-time racing in 2015 and is now a Fox NASCAR announcer.

He's also an executive at Hendrick Motorsports, which is worth somewhere around $350 million.

The Dining Room

Pretty much everything in the house is a piece of designer furniture.

That chandelier, for example, is an Agnes Chandelier from Roll & Hill that costs $11,760.

The Master Bedroom

The master bedroom has a non-working fireplace, built-in shelves and vintage furniture.

Vandebosch had a hand in designing the entire department, while Gordon asked where the outlets went.

Richard Childress Made His Mark on NASCAR History

Richard Childress was a good racer in his day, placing in the top 10 a total of 76 times in the NASCAR Cup Series.

But his real claim to fame came off the track, where he made a significant mark on NASCAR history.

Richard Childress' Former Home in Florida

Childress sold this 4,793-square-foot house located in Port Orange, Florida, in September 2020 for $1.295 million.

He owned the home for seven years, picking it up in 2013 for $995,000.

The house has four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms.

Country Club Living

The home is located in Spruce Creek, an exclusive fly-in community with an airport, 700 hangars and a 4,000-foot runway.

The Mediterranean-style house was built in 2002 and features marble flooring and a large light fixture in the entryway.

Legendary Management Skills

Childress' real success in NASCAR came from management, beginning with Richard Childress Racing in 1969.

He signed several legends and incredible drivers, including Dale Earnhardt, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton. Today, Childress is worth about $250 million.

This home was never his main place. Instead, it was likely a little vacation property he could fly to whenever he felt like.

The Dining Room

Childress' main home is a mansion in Davidson County in North Carolina.

In 2017, three masked men attempted to break into the house one Sunday night, smashing a window and setting off an alarm.

Childress, who was then serving on the board of the National Rifle Association, fired shots at the would-be-robbers, who ran away.

The Kitchen

The kitchen is replete with marble countertops and features an oblong central island, a Thermador, commercial-grade six-burner gas stove with double ovens and a large range.

The Porch

The back of the house has almost floor-to-ceiling-length glass, which looks out to the closed-in porch, which in turn has nearly floor-to-ceiling-length glass.

It seems a little redundant, but it's probably good protection against hurricanes.

The Master Bedroom

Childress is not without his controversies. He once put Kyle Busch in a headlock and punched him after Busch deliberately bumped Joey Coulter's car.

In 2015, Richard Childress Racing was fined $75,000 and given a 50-point penalty for deflating tires during a NASCAR Sprint Series race.

The Master Bathroom

Childress, now 75 years old, has two grandsons, Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon, who are also NASCAR drivers.

The elder Childress owns the Richard Childress Racing Museum and Childress Wines in Lexington, North Carolina.

The bathroom to this place is very large, with a step-up tub near a large picture window and a toilet hidden away in a water closet.

Beautiful Views

The home abuts a country club lake and sits on one-third of an acre of property.

The house sat on the market for 75 days and sold for the exact asking price, so it was certainly priced correctly.

Michael Waltrip Is Worth $35 Million

Michael Warton won the 2001 Daytona 500, but it was something of a hollow victory, as Dale Earnhardt died on the race's last lap.

He struggled with his teammate's death, and his career slumped following the tragedy, although he became popular with fans as time went on and he continued to race.

Michael Waltrip's House in North Carolina

Waltrip purchased this ranch home in Cornelius, North Carolina, for $700,000 in 2019.

The house is a modest 3,366-square-feet and has three bedrooms with two-and-a-half bathrooms.

The Entryway

Large French doors with decorated glass panes lead into the 1994-built home, which was remodeled before Waltrip purchased it.

The house is located in the Peninsula Club area, a golf course located north of Charlotte and near Lake Norman.

The Kitchen

The kitchen features an oversized kitchen island and quartz-topped counters, two sinks, pendant lighting and a Thermador double-oven with a herringbone-patterned backsplash.

The Breakfast Nook

Waltrip raced in NASCAR for 33 years, achieving four wins and four poles in the NASCAR Cup Series and earned over $51 million during his career.

Waltrip owns another, much larger home in Sherill's Ford, North Carolina.

A Cozy Living Room

The house has a cozy living room and features porcelain tile flooring, the same that's found in the kitchen.

The fireplace is a high-efficiency gas one, which is made for heating up the place and not just looking good.

Although it does that, too.

High Ceilings

This living area features hardwood floors and soaring, coffered ceilings with built-in speakers.

Two sets of French doors lead outside to the outside deck and barbecuing area.

The Master Bedroom

The bedroom has floor-to-ceiling transom windows and a carpeted floor.

The Master Bathroom

In the master bedroom, there's a large oval soaking tub, walk-in shower and heated floors. There's even a warming towel rack for extra comfort.

The Pool and Spa

Out back, the house has a freeform pool and spa located on the property's half-acre grounds.

The home is located on an inner peninsula that branches into Lake Norman, and it's close enough to smell the fresh water.

A Special Cut

We're not sure exactly where Waltrip spends most of his time — he also has a brewery in Texas to manage — but he seems to be enjoying himself here in Cornelius.

He posted this photo to Instagram, saying, "I just gave myself a haircut and it makes me wonder.... Was 'Dumb and Dumber' a Christmas movie? Because if so I’d rank it up there with 'Elf.'"

He's much better at driving than haircuts.