Kyle Busch Olympic-Themed Shoes Win For Coolest NASCAR Racing Footwear

From open-face helmets to full-face, and from T-shirts and blue jeans to fire-retardant uniforms, NASCAR competitors’ driving attire has evolved through the decades, but now it seems their shoes are becoming a little more stylish

At Indianapolis for the Brickyard 400, Ross Chastain was sponsored by Moose Fraternity and had the word Moose on his driver’s red uniform. His red-and-black driving shoes had a moose head on top of each shoe to match the one on his uniform. Kyle Busch’s shoes touted the 2024 Paris Olympics even though his travel plans during the series two weeks off didn’t include France.

“Just thought it would be neat to support our Team USA Olympians that are going over to Paris to play and compete,” Busch said. “Also, in the same breath, raise awareness for the Bundle of Joy Fund and do a little fundraiser with our fans … to try to raise some money for our upcoming gala that we have in October, and the recipients gifting that we do throughout the year.”

That’s very different from the plain, leather-soled shoes drivers wore in stock car racing’s formative years to protect their feet from the heat in the floorboard.

Seven-time NASAR champion Richard Petty wore boots and Dave Marcis became famous for his Wingtip shoes. Then, in the 1990s, NASCAR competitors began wearing shoes manufactured specifically for racing. Very little attention was given to their appearance as long as they matched the color of the driver’s uniform. Now, however, it seems they’re becoming a little more customized and, in some instances, more fashionable.