Drivers underpaid? Newsday says NASCAR drivers aren’t collecting nearly as much of their sport’s revenues as athletes in other sports. The story by Ken Berger says drivers received about 18% of the $1.869 billion generated this year in NASCAR’s top three series [Winston Cup, Busch and Truck], while the NFL, NHL, NBA and MLB pay athletes at least 50% of revenue in salaries governed by collective bargaining agreements. The story says that most of the 27 drivers who started all 36 Winston Cup races are believed to have collected $4 million to $5 million. It estimated that the average for Busch Series drivers was $250,000, while Craftsman Truck Series drivers were estimated to average about $100,000. The paper says Tony Stewart was the highest paid driver this year, collecting a $3 million base salary and $4.23 million for his share of the team’s winnings [50%]. It estimated the average salary for drivers in all three division was $1.17 million. NASCAR Vice President for Corporate Communications Jim Hunter told the paper that comparisons can’t be made with other sports: “Our drivers shouldn’t compare themselves, because you’re comparing apples and oranges. Everybody in our sport is an independent contractor and can go out and cut the best deal that he can.”(Winston Cup Scene Daily Newsletter)(12-9-2002)
