K1 RaceGear

Our Story: From Indoor Kart Tracks to the Indy 500

Since 2004, K1 RaceGear has been driven by a singular passion: to provide the best possible racing gear for every driver at any age, from aspiring champions to seasoned veterans.

Our journey began at the indoor karting tracks of K1 Speed, to serve its pro shops and establish a relationship with drivers.

Our initial products included essential equipment like gloves, neck braces, and rib protectors. We felt this safety gear had to be affordable, ensuring the safety and comfort of drivers taking their first steps into the world of racing.

Evolving to Meet the Demand

As the needs of our drivers evolved, so did K1 RaceGear. We expanded our offerings to include abrasion-resistant outdoor karting suits, crafted with high-quality materials like Cordura® fabric.

Racers were quickly buying up the suits thanks to their value, but we recognized the need to cater to the demands of professional racing. Drivers couldn’t use our suits in their professional race series without CIK-FIA certification.

So, we fixed that.

Determined to provide top-tier equipment, we secured CIK-FIA certification for our competition karting suits, opening doors to the professional karting scene. The suits did well… so well, in fact, that our commitment to quality resonated beyond karting.

We began fielding requests from auto racing drivers, so we gained SFI certification. We designed Nomex® fire suits certified for sprint cars, SCCA sports car racing, and other professional auto racing disciplines.

As our company grew, so did our reputation for winning championships.

Celebrating Milestones with Champions

Our brand ambassador program has been a key part of our success. Here are just a few milestones we’ve celebrated with our racers this past decade:

2016: We witnessed history as 10-year-old Diego LaRoque, wearing a K1 RaceGear suit, became the youngest-ever World Champion in karting at the Rotax Grand Finals. We were also honored to be the official race suit of Team USA during the event.

2019: We proudly supported Matt Crafton as he clinched the 2019 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title, our very first major championship winner.

2020-2021: Kyle Larson came on board and dominated the dirt track racing scene in 2020. He then secured ten NASCAR Cup Series wins and the championship title in 2021, all while sporting K1 RaceGear.

2023: Our success continued with our first Daytona 500 win with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.

The New Echelon: Innovation and Open-Wheel Racing

In 2024, we embarked on a new chapter, making our top-level open-wheel racing debut in the prestigious Indianapolis 500 with Kyle Larson behind the wheel.

This exciting venture was bolstered by a major partnership with Freem, the leading Italian safety gear manufacturer. Our collaboration allowed us to produce cutting-edge racing suits utilizing state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Italy. This partnership also expanded our dealer network overseas, providing Europeans with more access to the brand that’s making waves in the United States.

The brand's momentum with Larson continued into 2025. Kyle Larson, wearing his K1 RaceGear suit, won the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship in a dramatic overtime finish at Phoenix Raceway. This victory marked the second Cup Series title for Larson and another major championship for the K1 RaceGear brand.

Beyond the Finish Line: Our Unwavering Commitment

We are proud to be one of the very few companies to outfit any driver, from kids at K1 Speed to NASCAR Cup Series champions. With priorities on safety, quality, and comfort, we ensure every driver feels confident and prepared to pursue their racing dreams.

Wear K1 RaceGear and join our list of champions today.

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