Many people credit this type of behavior to the big money and media coverage that has invaded professional sports. Most athletes make millions of dollars to play just a few months a year. Maybe some athletes have developed outrageous attitudes to match their outrageous salaries. I agree that big money is responsible, at least in part, for the change in athlete's demeanor. Long gone are the days when class acts like Tom Landry strolled the sideline in his famous suit and hat.
Sponsors shell out millions of dollars to place their logo on a racecar.
Almost every regular Winston Cup driver earned at least one million dollars during the 2000 season. The winning payouts for the Daytona 500 are astronomical compared to only a mere 20 years ago. So make no mistake about it - the money is there, just like in the other sports. I know these examples sound silly, but that's the point. These types of attitudes are virtually nowhere to be found in stock car racing.