Who knew sunglasses would become so important?
In the world of poker they are your best friend in concealing your play; in the world of lying they are the holders or your eyes' true emotion; and in the world of not wanting to stare into the sun they are your greatest asset.
In the world of NASCAR however, they should only be worn with proper etiquette—at least according to our friendly neighborhood broadcasters who call the races.
Every driver has been seen wearing sunglasses, and when they’re interviewed they keep they’re stylin’ shades on—all except for two drivers. And now the broadcasters have taken it upon themselves to remind us every chance they get.
Yes, Carl Edwards and Justin Allegier have caused Jeff Hammond and company to get uptight when drivers don’t remove their sunglasses when giving their interview.
Do they really have nothing better to do? And is it really that big of a deal?
It’s gotten so bad that instead of listening to what Carl Edwards is saying I find myself mentally screaming for him to keep them on just to see what their reaction would then be.
Dale Earnhardt’s image may have been the Man in Black but he was that man behind a pair of big black sunglasses which no one complained about. Sunglasses that became just as well-known and iconic as Earnhardt was.
Upon building statues of the great, his sunglasses are either on his face or seen hanging in his front pocket.
But now all of a sudden it’s become a big deal on whether or not a driver reveals his eyes.
Some people have even written in to Darrell Waltrip and others saying that drivers who don’t remove them are impolite and rude.
What?
It seems that you would rather listen to what the driver is saying than getting into a starring contest with them.
Also, lets be honest, some of them should keep them on.
But in today’s NASCAR there is an entirely different and monetary reason that drivers keep their shades on: advertising.
Many drivers, if not all of them, have an endorsement with a sunglass company. Therefore, the more the driver is seen wearing them, the more justice he is doing his contract, and the more consumers will want them.
After all, we are fans who will buy anything associated with our favorite driver.
"I have noticed that the guys are starting to wear wilder and wilder sunglasses. They're also getting bigger," said Martin Truex, Jr., who reps the popular Spy brand.
Kyle Busch might win the award for the biggest sunglasses in the garage. But he does seem to have the right idea. The bigger, the better; not only to save you from the sun but to protect you from any flying debris.
But just like everything in NASCAR, it can never be that simple.
Now, not only are drivers expected to say the right things and look the right way, but people want to implement rules to their sunglasses.
Doesn't NASCAR have enough rules? What are they going to do if a driver refuses to take them off? Fine them, like they did when drivers used to knock the Powerade bottles off their cars in victory lane?
Oh, poor old sunglasses—dear old friend who makes us look stylish and who guides us through the light—your intentions are well known but you’re now learning that NASCAR fans can be hard to please.
10 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jen Preston 7 months ago
I believe Edwards did leave his glasses on sometime last weekend- maybe during the ESPN pre-race show but don't quote me. I was actually very surprised he did it, because I notice him take them off every time. Personally, props to Edwards and Allegier for taking them off when they talk to the fans, but it doesn't really bother me if a driver doesn't. Why not rep your own style?
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Kelly Crandall 7 months ago
Thanks Jen-
I could care less either way if they leave them on or off. I'm not staring at their sunglasses. But it's just unbelievable and frustrating that the announcers make such a big deal out of it.
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Mary Jo Buchanan 7 months ago
I for one want to see a driver's eyes - it's just a trust thing I guess. So, I appreciate when the driver takes his glasses off and looks us all right in the proverbial eye.
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Kelly Crandall 7 months ago
I for one don't care what they do, I'm just sick and tired of the announcers making such a big deal out of it. We hear it every single week, it gets old.
Thanks for the comment Mary Jo
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S M Napier 7 months ago
Since Kyle Busch's girlfriend does tell him or takes him shopping for more stylish sunglasses. Maybe one of the announcers should tell him, "Dude loss the FLA. Retiree Glasses".
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Kelly Crandall 7 months ago
They really are huge
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Nate M 7 months ago
Well, Kyle Busch needs the Shades to hide them Bug Eyes. lol
Otherwise, You were Point on with the Sunglasses Contracts. Most of the time it is IN the Contract that they wear the glasses X% of the known TV time they are on.
Plus with NASCAR being so petty lately, Their Eyes might get fined for rolling when they make a comment or bug out, or anything.
As far the knocking the PoweAde off the car, I Dont agree with that. PowerAde was one of the Headline Sponsors of that event (I forgot which one). They Paid to have that spot. They "put in" on the winning purse, etc etc....
So yeah, I mean all of the announcers wore them on the track and during interviews.
So leave'em alone!
AS we all know if it werent the
Chevy Rock N Roll Pepsi Mt Dew Edelbrock Valvoline Sunoco Oakley Wrangler Budweiser 500 ...
It wouldnt be a race at all! =0)
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Kelly Crandall 7 months ago
Thanks for the comment Nate-
And I agree with you about the powerade bottles, it showed low class on both Johnson and Gordon to knock the bottles off, And then Gordon just refused to go to victory lane. I also think that Johnson covered them with a Lowe's sign.....
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M Brian Ladner 7 months ago
To begin, yes, I think the commentators going on and on about how much it means that Carl Edwards removes his sunglasses for an interview is really annoying. It's as though they believe it gives them a window into his soul. But they forget that if believability and integrity were somehow measured by how someone looked at you while speaking, the devil himself would remove his sunglasses to talk to you.
Lying through sunglasses is easy. Lying without sunglasses on is an art, and some have perfected it. Take for example the fact that Carl Edwards refused to say anything more about the dust-up between he and Harvick in the garage, and did so without his sunglasses. Harvick had no problem talking about it the next day, sunglasses or not. Carl has shown his "evil twin" side more than once, with or without glasses (at least I think he was wearing them when he played "made you flinch" with Kenseth).
I also noticed that Carl takes it to an extreme, as though he's got something to prove there. All during the race whenever Dale Jarrett would talk to their in-race reporter Edwards, Carl would flip up his reflective helmet shield while looking at his in-car camera, then flip it back down when it was ending.
As for Kyle, although I don't like the bigass gold shades all the time, it does save me from having to explain to my mom why he looks so tired all the time. I'm sure it does so for him, his team, his sponsors, and his girlfriend as well. ;-)
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Kelly Crandall 7 months ago
Great, great point Brian-
And love the commet about Kyle, that's priceless.
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