Watch: Daytona 500 Champion William Byron breaks down the dark reality of why NASCAR drivers are paid less nowadays

Byron pointed out that the theory that the driver’s salary has come down massively is false as the top racers are earning the same now as the star racers in the prime of the sport. But the remainder of the garage isn’t earning much and it has brought down the average value. This is because few drivers offer their services for very low salaries and it brings down the market. 

No, I think that’s mostly false. It definitely is false for the great drivers, or the guys that are winning races. I think that there’s a, and I heard Kyle [Larson] talk about this, there’s an average and I think that if we get drivers that come in that do race for whatever that number is and just kind of bring everything down; it’s important that we hold that value. Byron told Kenny Wallace.

William Byron details how to sort the issue

Byron, while discussing further on the topic pointed out that the NASCAR drivers have to take some measures to make sure the same isn’t happening. He wants them to use institutions such as the Drivers Council and get paid what they are worth.

It’s a performance sport, that will never change. Yeah, definitely the bottom line I guess and the overall average of the series has probably shifted over the last few years, but I think it’s important that when new drivers come in that they demand their value and I think that really kind of establishes it. Byron said. 

Alongside the drop in salary demands, another factor that caused a drop is the change in the sponsorship market in NASCAR. It has come to a point where drivers and teams have to grind week in and week out for new deals and it isn’t paying the same as it used to be.