No. 2: Dale Earnhardt Jr. ($21.2 million)
Being second on this list is not something that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is accustomed to but this is what happens when you miss 18 races in 2016.
The good news for Earnhardt Jr. is that he is back and despite being in a wreck in the Daytona 500, he still feels great and looks to have himself a good season in 2017. At one point there was concern that Earnhardt Jr. might not come back to racing. After all, when he originally went out with concussion-like symptoms it was expected he would miss a few races. Once those few races turned into 18, there was without question cause for concern.
That concern is mostly gone now as Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 team look to find their way back to victory lane, a place that he has not been since 2015. Once that is checked off the list you would have to assume the next goal would be to win a title. Should Earnhardt win a title in 2017 I would think he would walk away from the sport.