Sandpaper on Pedals.. Nascar..??

Is that what that was?? I was watching a show the other night on stock cars, and they where showing this racer using the clutch/shifter very fast, i noticed what looked like black sandpaper on all 3 pedals. What is that, thats actually a goos idea cause you get no slip i assume. I'd like to try that with some 3m outdoor no-slip stuff.

It's probably some kind of material like this: http://www.kingmotorsports.com/product.asp?product=200
I know it's a Mugen product but it's probably the same material.

Skateboard grip tape.