l came across an interesting article by Raygan Swan at nascar.com. It was about NASCAR drivers and their ever present sunglasses. It was a pretty good read actually, but I’m somewhat disappointed by it as well.
I’m disappointed, not because my favourite sunglass wearing driver Dale Earnhardt wasn’t mentioned in the article for his sunglasses too, but because it is never pointed out and gave credit to the one who brought big money sponsorship for wearing sunglasses into NASCAR. And that was Dale Earnhardt of course. That is why I’m disappointed, no credit given.
Sure Richard Petty wore the sunglasses with the little STP logo in the corner of one lens, but that was him, he never got paid to wear them in the 70’s and 80’s (at least not that I know).
It wasn’t until Dale Earnhardt started to endorse Gargoyles Eye-wear that the sponsorship dollars came pouring in. Rusty Wallace quickly followed with his Oakley endorsement, as did DW.
Even Dale Jr. wore Gargoyles before his now familiar Spy Wear sunglasses.
Good article, but Dale Earnhardt and Gargoyles should have been mentioned.
One other thing to note about sunglass wearing drivers; don’t you think Kyle Busch is trying to be a little like The Intimindator” by wearing those gold lens glasses just like the Gargoyles Dale wore?
Kyle Busch Photo Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Dale Earnhardt Photo Credits: Don’t know, help a guy out will ya?
