Joey Logano won the 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race, leading a record 199 of 200 laps. This was probably not the storyline that was floating in your head, was it? Despite Logano’s big achievement, two of his Cup Series rivals stole the limelight with a sensational incident post-race. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. engaged in a wild brawl with Kyle Busch, and tempers were flaring all over the place. Amid that brawl, one thing stood out in a unique, eyeball-grabbing way- Stenhouse Jr.’s neon camo shorts.

As we head to the 2025 festivities, drivers and fans are pumped about novelties. From an extended race to phantom cautions, a lot of new changes have affected the All-Star Race this time. However, one thing remained unchanged – Stenhouse Jr’s shorts! So, what is the mystery behind this piece of clothing?

Kyle Busch may get dazzled by those shorts

Well, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. got them as a romantic gift. Madyson Joye Stenhouse, the Hyak Motorsports driver’s better half, bought those neon shorts for him. But who knew that a simple, homely present could turn into a quiet participant in a chaotic incident? Well, looks are deceptive, they say. Those shorts debuted in the public eye at the 2024 All-Star Race, and now Ricky Stenhouse Jr. intends to make a celebrity out of them.

Last year, Kyle Busch turned Stenhouse on lap 2, and the latter wrecked. After Busch finished 10th and headed to his pit stall, the fireworks began as Stenhouse landed an upper cut on the two-time champion’s cheek. From Stenhouse’s father’s suspension to the $75,000 penalty, a lot of things resulted from the incident. But what clearly stood out in people’s eyes were those iconic shorts.

“Those are kind of cool,” Kevin Harvick had commented on a flight with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. last year. The 2014 Cup Series champion was genuinely curious whether those shorts were floral or of a different design. So Stenhouse is determined to keep the spark of that piece of clothing alive. In an interview with journalist Dustin Long, Stenhouse revealed the big announcement: “You know, I still have them. I might bring them out. We’ll see. Yeah, I might bring them out on Sunday, but you know, just for fun. So we’ll see.” Lo and behold, Stenhouse has already been spotted wearing those infamous shorts at North Wilkesboro Speedway! Corey LaJoie posted a photo, “Looks like @StenhouseJr put on his fightin britches today.”

The fighting spirit has not gone out in Ricky Stenhouse Jr, either, and if things don’t go Kyle Busch’s way, Ricky is ready to be in the line of fire. This year’s All-Star Race will feature a promoter’s caution, and drivers like Kyle Busch objected to that. The Richard Childress Racing driver hinted at wreaking havoc himself before the phantom caution appears: “Do we want to put money on if I create a natural caution or I let Marcus throw a caution?” However, his arch-rival from 2024 is already gearing up in his battle gear. Stenhouse threw a warning at Busch on X: “Just a heads up, may want to pick a different driver this year.” Clearly, the neon camo shorts are already supplying Stenhouse with the fuel required to set off another chaotic brawl.

Despite the legend of the shorts feeding another fighting storyline, things have actually softened up. The drivers who threw fisticuffs at each other a year ago admitted to settling things.

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No brawl in sight this year

Time can thaw heated conflicts, and so can a determined resolve to make things better. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has not been without controversy in 2025. When NASCAR headed to Bowman Gray Stadium for the Cookout Clash race, Stenhouse wrecked a track legend. Burt Myers, a local grassroots legend, was hit by Stenhouse on the backstretch and sent spinning into the SAFER barriers. Fans grew louder in their boos against Stenhouse back then.

What is more? The same markers are still there at North Wilkesboro, setting the stage for another confrontation with Kyle Busch. Stenhouse is wearing his shorts, and the trailer, the scene of the altercation, is in the same spot. However, the same fiery tempers may not be the same during the All-Star Race. That is because of cordially restored relations and wiser perspectives.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. recently told NASCAR that he has straightened things out with his brawl partner. “Oh yeah, we’ve talked. I mean, I’ve apologized to him for like, ‘hey, sorry that kind of got out of hand.’ And on the other hand, he’s like, ‘yeah, it’s kind of deserving, right?’ So he knew what he did on purpose, and so I would say we both probably could have done things different, but yeah, just part of it.”

Even Kyle Busch admitted that he is cool with his rival: “I haven’t looked back on any of it, but him and I have just soft-spoken, just kind of how we were beforehand. If there’s occasions where we’re next to each other at driver intros, you know, it’s no big deal. Just is what it is. Move on and put that behind us.”

So, all well-wishers of another All-Star brawl, you may tone down your hopes. The fighters in the ring are ready to retire. But who knows? Maybe either Kyle Busch or Ricky Stenhouse Jr may get involved in another chaotic incident, but with other rivals? Let us know what you think.