December 15th, 2008 
T.C. Well… I do. But don’t worry, it isn’t some horrible disease or condition. I promise. What it is, is all the race team and sponsor gear we all collect through the years working for different teams and having different sponsors.
Over the years, teams and sponsors have turned crew guys into walking, branded, marketing tools. Along with using the driver, racecar, team transporter, and pit boxes to display company logos and info, teams can put sponsors on crew shirts, pants, hats, and firesuits. There becomes little doubt who we represent.
Besides just crew uniforms and firesuits, we collect and receive all manner of other items. I’ve been given team and sponsor hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, beanies, jackets, pants, bags, shoes, and even sunglasses. You name it, I’ve got it. And a lot of it is high quality, name brand stuff.
The question becomes though, once we move on to another team, or sponsors change, what is the rule for wearing old stuff?
First, I won’t wear old stuff to the track. The teams give us new stuff, I’ll wear the new stuff. You always want to do the best possible job representing the companies that pay the big bucks to keep us racing, and I feel like its out-of-place and disrespectful to wear old stuff out.
But if I’m working out, lounging around the house, working in the yard or in the garage, or out for a run, the old stuff is fair game. Some of it is pretty comfortable, and if I’m never going to need it at the track again, why not continue to wear it at home? I mean, it was free after all. And its fairly certain that we are going to get more in the future anyway.
I don’t necessarily think other people agree with me though, because I have been given crap in the past for wearing old stuff. My response is always, hey, they gave it to me. It’s mine. I’m going to wear it.
So what do you think? I know we have a lot of female readers. Ladies, am I breaking some sort of fashion law? Should I just Goodwill this stuff, or is it kosher to continue wearing it?
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Other than the used clothes, why not put together some kind of contest and give it away?
On the other hand you could donate it to a group that would give it away to the needy. There’s a lot of groups that are always looking for donations.
Breaking a fashion law? No, I don’t think so, but then again, I don’t really follow trends… I like to create my own style.
Breaking team law… I think so. For instance, if my driver leaves his team and sponsor to move on to a new one (*cough*TONYSTEWART*cough*), I won’t be wearing his old number again in public, so I would expect the team members to do the same.
There’s no faux pas on your part. It’s free *gifts* to do as you please. Maybe some people have given you a hard time about it is because they have superstition’s about that kind of stuff. Those beliefs do run rampant in NASCAR as most other sports. No worries! You could just give it away on this site, LOL.
If you are on your own time I don’t see what the big deal is if you are out doing yardwork or working out or just lounging in old stuff- my uncle’s line of work he comes in contact with a lot of swag that he passes down to my father and brother…and they usually wear it til it wears out (he only gets hats and the occasional shirt).
I know it may sound unethical and all, but I have one word for ya TC…
eBAY
If you feel bad about the crazy money the fans will pay for your old cast-offs, donate the money to the Victory Junction Gang camp.
Hey, think of it as celebrating the history of NASCAR! : )
When Kasey’s sponsor went from Dodge to Bud, I lucked out because his number didn’t change and the color was still red! : )
I totally agree with you. Personally, I’m not one to quit on a garment just because it has a little age to it.
Hey! I still wear My Clevite Engine Parts hat and they were bought out last year by “Mahle”
I’m no fashion expert, but as long as you don’t wear it when you are representing the team, I think that it is ok. I’ve been trying to figure out what I am going to do with all my t-shirts and hats now that the sponsor has switched teams.
Gonna get a little girly and sentimental here. If you are looking to do something with all the shirts and stuff but want to keep them, there are companies that will take your shirts and make them into a blanket or quilt. Might not be something that you would hanging around the house, but it is an option.
TC-Wear “all” of your swag w/ pride. It’s a sign of who you are, where you’ve been and I am sure full of memories.
Yeah, what Neon said. If you are on your own time and not representing your team, you can wear whatever you want. Especially if it’s comfy and still has a lot of life left in it. How *wasteful* to do otherwise!
Swag, it’s yours to do what you want with. Wear it don’t wear it. It up to you. I wear mine wih pride.