NASCAR is one of the biggest branches of motorsports in America, and it’s only getting more popular. And when it comes to drivers, Kyle Larson is definitely one of the most popular ones. Ever since winning the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021, he has proved that he is a beast behind the wheel. Even in the Netflix show, NASCAR: Full Speed, Larson has a huge role as one of the most dominant drivers in the sport. Now he has become a celebrity in the sport, so that should mean all cameras and paparazzi, right? Maybe so, but not this time.

Kyle Larson was recently spotted in on the streets of Chicago, and although the person who recorded the driver noticed him, many others didn’t. What’s more surprising is that he walked across a few people in the full-blown NASCAR uniform, rocking a firesuit and a cap, but still, no one batted an eye. With the race being the Grant Park 165 on the Chicago Street Course, Larson was walking down the street with a fair amount of people there, but surprisingly no one recognized him.

NASCAR is an all-American sport, and although its popularity is at an all-time high, many people are not into this brand of motorsports. When the video of Larson being blindsighted was uploaded to X by Kenny Wallace, many fans started taking to the comments section to talk about how this was something they did not enjoy seeing. Larson is one of the fan favorites, and to see that no one was surrounding him, he made the post state the caption, “This is why we must do better for our sport of @NASCAR.” After stating that he is one of the sport’s greatest drivers, Wallace demanded, “His face is a must to be recognized.“

Many fans took to the comments section and expressed their disappointment with the drivers not getting the spotlight, despite the sport becoming more popular. So let’s see what they have to say.

Kyle Larson deserves more attention, according to NASCAR fans

One comment pointed out that not even Larson’s racing suit, which should be recognizable, made people notice him. This suggests a gap in how well-known even top drivers are among the general public. The comment stated, “Not even his face. His suit should be recognizable.”

Another comment criticized NASCAR’s marketing strategy, implying that the organization tries to push certain drivers into the spotlight while others go unnoticed. This approach might make it seem like only a few drivers are prominent. They also compared NASCAR events, especially those in big cities like Chicago, to corporate parties, similar to the atmosphere at Formula 1 events.

This sentiment suggests that such events might not resonate with the average fan. Their comment read, “Just proves a lot of things: 1) NASCAR tries to force its ‘faces’ through its advertising; you’d think there’s only a handful of racers; and 2) events like Chicago are nothing less than a big party for the corporate types, kind of like the TRASH you see at F1 events.”

There was a sentiment that most people in the U.S. are no longer familiar with drivers from any racing series, not just NASCAR. They explained that by saying, “What can you say? Most people in the US no longer have a clue when it comes to drivers in any race series.”

Another issue brought up by fans was the constant changing of sponsors, as that plays a huge role in team identity. Each sponsor adds their logo and flavor to the car and the jumpsuit, and that was explained in the comment saying, “Sponsors change every week, so it’s hard to generate brand/driver loyalty or recognizability.”

Another comment pointed out that while NASCAR effectively markets itself, manufacturers, and teams, it falls short in promoting the drivers themselves. This lack of focus on individual drivers could contribute to the general public’s lack of recognition, leading a popular driver like Kyle Larson to go unrecognized in a crowd. “NASCAR markets themselves, manufacturers, and teams but falls short of promoting the drivers.”

That being said, have you ever noticed a NASCAR driver out in the public? Let us know about your experience, if you have any, in the comments below.