R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, through its brand of cigarettes, has posted $7+ million in bonus awards for drivers this season. Of that sum, more than $5 million is allocated for the NWCS point fund, which remains the richest in the world of motorsport. That point fund will be divided among the top 25 drivers in the NWCS point standings at the conclusion of the Winston Cup season.

The NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion will claim the winner's share of the $5 million point fund on the stage of New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in December. This year the champion will receive a check for over $2 million when awarded the the coveted NASCAR Winston Cup by Reynolds Tobacco officials.

The battle for the NASCAR Winston Cup takes place in the 33 NASCAR-sanctioned point races from February thru November. The champion and all the other drivers in the top 25 of the final standings will receive bonuses for ranking among the best drivers in the world.

In 1998, the challenge of the Winston Million was revamped and renamed. The Winston No Bull 5 took effect in 1998, offering five drivers a chance to win a $1 million bonus in each of five prestigious events during the season. The program begins with the running of the Daytona 500, when top-five finishers of the previous year's DieHard 500 at Talladega will be eligible for the bonus. If one of them can win the season-opener, he receives the $1 million prize. In addition to the Daytona 500, the program includes the Coca-Cola 600, the Brickyard 400, the Southern 500 and the Winston 500. The top-five finishers at each of the designated events will be eligible to win $1 million if one of them can win the next designated event on the schedule.

The Winston, NASCARS all-star event has a brief but action-packed history dating back to 1985. The thrilling race returned to Charlotte Motor Speedway with more than $1 million in prize money on the line for drivers competing in the Winston Open and The Winston.