Motorsports Stars Who Have Made It Big in Poker

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Motorsports stars make their living racing, so it’s no surprise that some gravitate toward the high-stakes world of poker. After all, both activities demand the ability to read opponents and make split-second decisions. Both racing and poker are often set in lush destinations and accompanied by lofty cash prizes as well.

For instance, last year’s Formula 1 season saw the McLaren team receive an estimated $161 million after winning the championships. Meanwhile, the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) had a total prize pool of $403 million. These prize pools were record highs for both sports as they continue to grow in popularity across the globe, with poker attracting the players from all walks of life.  

That said, while the card game is a casual pastime for many racers, a few have taken their interest to another level by more actively immersing themselves in the poker world. Below, we’ve listed three popular motorsport personalities who have shown their merits on the tracks and in high-stakes poker games.

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Jason White

American racer Jason White has established himself as a NASCAR staple. Since his first Xfinity Series starts in 1999, the driver has earned over 20 top-ten finishes. Most famously, he’s been an active force in the Craftsman Truck series, where he last raced in 2023.

Interestingly, though, reports say that White may actually make more as a poker player than as a NASCAR racer. In 2014, White was among the thousands of hopefuls in the WSOP in Las Vegas. Notably, he was joined that year by many industry icons, including Chris Moneymaker. Recognized as the man responsible for the ‘00s online poker boom, Moneymaker is one of the field’s biggest stars. So much so, that he was signed as a poker pro for Americas Cardroom. Considered the US’ leading online poker site, the operator boasts its own roster of poker elites who are known for their talent, influence, and contributions to the card game. During White’s 2014 run, not only was he able to play against opponents of the same caliber as Moneymaker, but he was even able to outlast another poker legend, Phil Ivey. Impressively, White succeeded in making it into the top 400 in the WSOP’s No Limit Hold’em Main Event. By the end, his winnings amounted to over $30,000. This was reportedly more than what he’d receive if he won one of his truck races.

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Giancarlo Fisichella

Although he officially retired in 2009, former F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella is still active in pro racing. Most recently, the Italian racer joined the Adelaide 500 in 2022 under Team BRM. Throughout his colorful career on the tracks, he has worked with established entities such as Ferrari, Benetton, Sauber, Renault, and Minardi.

Of course, Fisichella’s world-class associations don’t end there. In his capacity as a poker player, he’s been connected to other big industry names like PartyPoker. An online poker platform, the site is owned by the international gambling group Entain. In the 2000s and 2010s, they onboarded a number of celebrity endorsers, including racing professionals. Fisichella was one of these, and he was specially chosen considering his reputation as a card shark among his fellow drivers. At one point, another poker ambassador and racer, Jaime Alguersuari, even shared that the Italian was known to play extremely well during training camps. This consistent interest in poker should come as no surprise, given that in 2009, he allegedly found time to play at a daily tournament at the Melbourne Crowne Casino during the Australian Grand Prix. Per the Hendon Mob, Fisichella finished in an impressive second place.

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Fernando Alonso

Dubbed as Spain’s “match” for the legendary driver Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso has served as an idol for many of his racing peers. Active on the racing circuit since 1999, he’s won multiple championships, including winning back-to-back years at the FIA World Endurance Championship. Recently, racer Yuki Tsunoda even revealed himself to be one of Alonso’s fans. A rising star from Japan, Tsunoda has been driving for Red Bull. In an interview with Formula 1, the young driver cited Alonso’s performances as inspiration for his own strategies that helped him in races across Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

As a man of many talents, Alonso is also known for his poker prowess. According to reports, the Spaniard often visits casinos and holds private poker games. In 2012, he even shared a social media post after he cleaned out his friends in a personal poker match. A few years later, in 2014, he was said to have joined a Celebrity Poker Tournament, which is further testimony to his ability to keep up with other greats.