The Victory Lane NASCAR Hat Dance

The NASCAR Hat Dance...every driver's dream!
Have you ever wondered about the endless parade of hats that drivers and pit crew members try on after winning a race? For those lucky drivers who have been lucky enough to make it to Victory lane, this ritual is called the NASCAR Hat Dance. Each sponsor who helps pay for the team will get their turn for a great photo opportunity with their sponsor logo cap on the winning driver's head.

A NASCAR official directs the photographers and team members counting outloud "One, two, three!" before team members yell out and raise their index fingers for the cameras in a celebration group photo. Then another set of hats is passed around for another photo opportunity...then another.

The hats are from the driver's sponsors, the race's sponsors and the sanctioning body of the race. More than two dozen photographers snap photo after photo of the winning driver and his team, car owner, family, car owner's family, each sponsor, the event sponsor, and the driver's car mfg representatives.

The NASCAR hat dance photo opportunity is one of the perks each sponsor gets for being involved with the team as it gives them their well-deserved moments of recognition. While for some drivers this may be an annoying experience, many more do understand how important sponsors are to the sport, and are very grateful for the opportunity.

Sponsorship of a NASCAR race team is an enormous investment in public relations and advertising. The sponsors, especially the primary ones, become one with the team and when a driver and his team have a great day; everyone ends up at Victory Lane.