AMA Pro Racing has cited the economic downturn for cutting its season purse from $3.3m to $2.1m but has announced this year's Daytona 200 will be the richest in history.
Around $286,000 will be spread across the four AMA classes at the March race which makes it the richest Daytona race in history and it will be the first one to be run under floodlights.
"We are proud to offer record team support for the Daytona 200 weekend and an overall AMA Pro Road Racing season-long support package that is substantially larger than what was posted in 2008," said AMA Pro Racing President Roger Edmondson.
"We obviously were shooting for a greater total, and that will always be our goal, but the current economic situation just wasn't going to let us get there this year. Previously committed sponsorship dollars evaporated in light of the global downturn in the economy."
The 2009 combined total of over $2.1 million in team support is a full 50% greater than 2008's posted awards but has been decreased since the previously announced total.
The adjustments were necessary due to the ailing economy, which has prevented AMA Pro and many organizations from realizing their revenue goals for 2009.
