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On many occasions it appears that the red carpet was rolled out along pit road instead of race cars. Instead of the drivers being accompanied by their wife or girlfriend, they stroll down pit road with a Barbie on their arm...

Are We Watching NASCAR or Bravo?

by Kelly Crandall [HUMOR]

28

336 reads

Humor

October 29, 2008


On many occasions it appears that the red carpet was rolled out along pit road instead of race cars. Instead of the drivers being accompanied by their wife or girlfriend, they stroll down pit road with a Barbie on their arm.

And that Barbie, standing next to a dirty, fiery, 4,300 pound stock car, has perfect hair, clothes, and make-up. It’s an oxymoron.

If there’s a dress code in the garage or in NASCAR it would most likely consist of jeans, t-shirts, jackets, sweatshirts, sneakers, and firesuits.

What you don’t think about are designer clothes and heals. However, it seems that we better get used to it because there's a silent war going on between the real women of pit road and the "Plastics."

Now for those of you who have never seen the movie Mean Girls, the "Plastics" are the women who always look good. They have their hair and make-up done and it's done right and there's never a hair out of place.

Let the battle begin.

The first group are the racer women, the ones you can’t tell from their husbands. Take, for instance, Delana Harvick. Every weekend she wears a firesuit that matches her husband's and is seen on the pit box taking notes and lap times.

She is also deeply involved in the Nationwide Series operation as co-owner and with the Craftsman Truck Series. Last season with driver Ron Hornaday, Kevin Harvick, Incorporated won the Truck Series Championship.

Delana is not the only one who isn’t trying to turn heads. Katie Kenseth is regularly seen in jeans and a t-shirt, helping atop the pit box. There's also a picture of her sitting with her shoes off and using a pen with a big flower on top.

She knows how to stay in the background as her husband takes care of business.

But if you need a better picture than the two mentioned already, look no further than the reigning Daytona 500 couple of Ryan and Krissie Newman.

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28 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Patti Rodisch 8 months ago

    good article..yes the camera loves these women!!! I like Mrs. Harvick.. her and mrs. Newman both seem to know there not in hollywood, but at a race track..

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    • Kelly Crandall 8 months ago

      Thanks Patti-
      I too like both those women, they seem very down to earth and do great things away from the race track as well.

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  2. Michael Oleszek 8 months ago

    Its actually a 3,400 lb stock car, not to be picky

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  3. S M Napier 8 months ago

    It's been rumored the last couple of years, that NASCAR will be mandating that anyone on pit road will be wearing a fire-suit like Delana does and it would be a great move for safety. For the record, Delana looks cute in the suit, but she still can out dress the Barbie's when it's the proper occasion to do it.

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    • Kelly Crandall 8 months ago

      Very good point SM-
      It would be a great idea for firesuits because there is so much going on that anyone could be hurt. And yes, when the time calls, Delana can out dress them as well. She's a very attractive woman.
      Thanks for the comment.

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  4. Ray Bogusz 8 months ago

    After reading this article I've found myself wanting wonder bread...

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  5. J. Michael Morris 8 months ago

    I would watch NASCAR if each driver had a bikini clad pit crew. Maybe they are trying to attract more fans.

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    • Kelly Crandall 8 months ago

      Good point Michael.
      I tend to think that the woman can't stand not being in the spotlight because their husbands are getting all the attention. So they want their face on the camera.
      But maybe that's just me.
      Thanks for the coment

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  6. Heath Heidemann 8 months ago

    I strongly agree with this article!

    I cannot speak for everyone, but it seems to me that if a guy is a true, grassroots NASCAR fan, they would find Delana, Krissie, and Katie a LOT more attractive than Chandra, Ingrid, and lets throw in the reigning ex-Miss Gordon, Brooke in there. I would take Delana over any of the trophy wives anyday!

    There are the ones that are there because they belong, and truely, heart and soul want to be. Than there are the ones that look like they are there because they have to be.

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    • Kelly Crandall 8 months ago

      Thanks for the comment Heath.
      I'm glad you enjoyed the article. And now I'm going to say that I strongly agree with your point. You can tell the women who are there because they've grown to love the sport and then there are those who can't wait for the photo op.
      It's sad...

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  7. Saraswathi Siriginia 8 months ago

    I'd any day feel more comfortable with the Delanas and Katies...sorry, but I am a woman who loves fixing the cars and getting grease on my hands....

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  8. Kara Martin 8 months ago

    I love Delana, I hear people poke fun at her for wearing the firesuit, but she pays them no mind. She's got the right idea as does Krissy. Just like when I go to a race, I'm going for comfort not a fashion show. I see those girls in the stand in heels & I just sit back waiting for them to trip down the stairs as they teeter down them on those narrow spikes!

    Comfort for me anyday!

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    • Kelly Crandall 8 months ago

      Thanks Kara-
      Delana definitely has the right idea when it comes to comfort and safety on pit road. She's not looking to impress anyone or looking for the camera.
      I'm with you, comfort for me anyday!

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  9. Mary Jo Buchanan 8 months ago

    Kelly, Having been on pit road for a race or two, I can most certainly attest to what you have written. There are the "practical", sensible wives and girlfriends (many of whom you've mentioned) and then there are the glamour girls, dressed to kill. When we were on pit road at Pocono, we were actually stunned to see the glamour gala being held by Chandra and Jimmie Johnson - there were such beautiful people there that I thought someone was surely going to walk around with wine and trays of finger sandwiches.

    When you get your hot pass, it specifically says that you must wear long pants, shirts covering shoulders, and no open toed shoes. How some of these drivers' wives and girlfriends get away with what they are wearing - or why they would even choose to when there is dirt, and grease, and tires everywhere - is beyond me. Make them comply with the dress code just like us peons have to do!!

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    • Kelly Crandall 8 months ago

      Thanks Mary Jo-
      That's a great point and I tried looking to see if NASCAR does indeed have a dress code. It did say that you needed to wear the things that you mentioned I just forgot to put it in the story. However, you would think that it's implied.
      I have no idea why these women want to wear their best clothes when at a race track. That to me just seems like they are definitely looking for the cameras.
      It really gets frustrating when you watch this and all you see are fashion clothes and now with the no excitement, as if they are walking down a runway.
      GO AWAY.
      I want racing......

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  10. Andy Stotts 8 months ago

    While I agree with your article 100% i would like to stick up for the current Mrs Jeff Gordon. She is not usually fashion plated and ususally wears jeans and a t-shirt with a jacket. chandra should wear a firesuit too, but she would probably look like Jimmy, no butt.

    There are normal people and then there are the ones trying to get attention. Let the cars do the talking.

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  11. L.J. Burgess 8 months ago

    nnnnnnaaaahhhhh...I like 'em in heels and I like 'em the way they like to be...whatever they like is fine with me.

    I'm purty sure that Mrs. Harvick has been on the pit box and dressed for it since she could walk. The Shell deal is just this year's accessory. I'm thinking she was a 'racer' looong before she met Mr. Kevin.

    We could look it up...

    Why can't these girls just be who they are? Dresses, heels, firesuit, sneakers...whatevah. I mean who's expectations are they indebted to?

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  12. racethis 50 8 months ago

    Thanks Kelly and I do understand the point of the story. I'm a little naive I guess and it's hard for me to fathom why anyone would want that lifestyle of travel and uncertainty if they weren't there for the right reasons. You do have the experience and I respect your views knowing that you have probably seen the gamut of these "girls" and I haven't.

    I did enjoy article, just wanted to say that what you see doesn't ALWAYS tell the whole story, although I am sure you are right about a good part of it :) It would be nice to know a little more about all of these ladies and get to know the "real person" behind the high heels in the pits!

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    • Kelly Crandall 8 months ago

      I'm glad you enjoyed the article. That's the point!
      Unfortunately, since I don't know these women personally (yet), all I have to go on is what I see.
      And like you said, I don't think I did too bad, after all, how you carry yourself tells a lot about you.

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  13. racethis 50 8 months ago

    Side comment: That is sad for Dale Jr. When you have a successful , high profile career, you never do know who is genuinely interested in YOU as a person , in the dating game. Which brings me to my last point, the NASCAR women, who have made a name for themselves in acting, modeling or whatever, experience EXACTLY the same phenomenon as Dale Jr...not knowing if a suitor is interested in the "fame" connection or ther girl. I know it's always been a consideration for Kelsea and she isn't even nationally known, but it's the part of the package of being in the public eye.

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    • Kelly Crandall 8 months ago

      Good point.
      Everyone gets all mad because they always see a different woman with Jr. but it's because he dates so many of them because he obviously hasn't found the right one for the right reasons.
      I'm sure your daughter will be just fine since Jeffery isn't that big of a star yet. However if she then started dating him after he became big, that would be a different story =)

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  14. racethis 50 8 months ago

    Very true, he's just a "boy" ha. I almost interjected that so at this point, it's no different than her young career. Now, as for Jr... I believe I read somewhere, once upon a time "When you continue to do the same thing over and over and expect a different result, that's insanity." My "Mamma" radar says, he's looking in all the wrong places, for the wrong qualities and probably keeps dating the same kind of girl (also high profile and gorgeous)... It's not working, he needs to readjust his selection criteria and he may come away with a genuine winner :)

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