Lanyards the new "it" item for women at the racetrack

NASCAR divas are upping their fashion ante inside and around the track with beads this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway; and no they're not the beads you find around the necks of topless women in the infield after dark.

They are colorful beaded lanyards becoming commonplace on the traditionally fashion-backward scene of NASCAR.

Athena Barber

First, one needs to know that lanyards in NASCAR are like belts to pants -- very necessary and needed to hold hot passes, credentials and whatnot.

But like belts, they don't only come in black or brown.

Today's lanyards are strung with opalescent crystals, sterling sliver ornaments and multicolored beads.

"I love them, because they come in all colors. You can get one to match every outfit," said Athena Barber, girlfriend of Clint Bowyer, driver of the No. 07 Chevrolet. "I get my lanyards at Hallmark."

Jennifer Powell, 27, of NASCAR public relations and Lisa Schmitz, 26, media relations representative for driver Casey Mears, both have worn beaded lanyards for the past couple of seasons.

"You can personalize your standard track outfit," Schmitz said. "It dresses up the black I have to wear all of the time."

So where is everyone getting the bejeweled beads? Again, not the beer-belly toting tools in the infield with signs that read ... well, you've seen them before.

Amy Walsh is the major bead pusher around the NASCAR garage these days.

The 33-year-old member of the Hendrick Motorsports team outfits the likes of Katie Kenseth; Erica Dewey (Kyle Busch's better half); and several NASCAR employees.

"I made one and then people just started asking me for them," Walsh said. "I probably spend 20 hours a week making all kinds of different jewelry."

If enough demand is created, Walsh said she wants to see her creations next to the driver and team lanyards made of ribbon and logos at souvenir haulers around the tracks.

Demand shouldn't be a problem with the influx of fashionable threads now available for NASCAR's growing female fan base.

Walsh said the word is spreading, especially among the fashion conscience NASCAR driver girlfriends and wives.

And apparently, the lanyard Walsh made for Katie Kenseth became quite the good luck charm. So much that Kenseth rarely took it off after she wore it during a Richmond race in 2002 where her husband, Matt Kenseth, found himself in Victory Lane.

In that case, some other NASCAR spouses may want to give Walsh a call so she can quickly string some beads together.