Darlington and the Southern 500 were the combo that initiated the movement towards the sports giant that NASCAR would become over the next 50 years. To honor the history of the legendary track, NASCAR drivers have began running throwback paint schemes that honor some of racing’s greatest drivers as well as the family ties within all of racing from the Monster Energy series to your local dirt track. With this epic race less than two weeks away, I bring you some of my favorite throwback retro paint schemes and the drivers I feel would be able to put such a great scheme in the front of the pack where everyone can see. Now that history lesson is over, lets get down to business.
7. David Blaney’s 2008 Cup Car
Ryan Blaney will be honoring his dads 2002-2003 scheme this year at Darlington, but I feel like this 2008 Caterpillar throwback car would look a lot better pushing 170+ through the corners of the Track too Tough to Tame. This scheme is also a little more recent and would resonate more with Blaney’s generation (that includes me so I am a little biased)..
6. Alan Kulwicki’s 1992 Championship Car
While I admire Chase Elliot’s commitment to honoring his father Bill’s Hall of Fame career, I can’t help but imagine how happy it would make the Hooters team, who are now with Chase, would be to see this throwback championship car on a NASCAR track after losing Alan Kulwicki in 1992 as well as this legendary scheme.
5.Hendrick Platinum Car’s
Jeff Gordon was one of four Hendrick drivers to run this Platinum paint scheme in 2004, the others being Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte, and Brian Vickers. It would be awesome to see Hendrick Motorsports bring these monochromatic schemes back for the Southern 500. Plus, what spotter wouldn’t love having four cars in shiny metallic silver with yellow numbers? Efficiency and style are an impeccable combo with these possible throwback schemes..
4. Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Oreo Scheme
This scheme could be ran by either by Austin Dillon or Daniel Hemric as both the No. 3 and No. 8 cars featured this paint scheme with Dale Jr. behind the wheel. Although not pictured, do yourself a favor and look up the Ritz car from this livery package too. You won’t be disappointed. Which leads me to believe why this would be an awesome throwback scheme.
3. Mark Martin’s Viagra Car
Eight-year old me couldn’t understand why you would drive for 500 miles with Viagra on your hood, but as I matured and discovered whiskey, I realized we all could use a little help sometimes. Ryan Newman and Roush Fenway Racing will be running an Oscar Meyer car this year to honor Martin and his old Valvoline car, but this scheme would definitely be a statement with any sponsor on the hood especially if the Rocket Man was able to pull off a win to clinch a playoff spot..
2. Jeremy Mayfield’s Pegasus car
Not one of Penske’s greatest driver choices, but easily one of their best design choices. Although this scheme is associated with a driver known for his use of speed off the track, it would look good on any of Penske’s cars as they reach top speed on the track at the Southern 500. Another Honorable mention throwback from the No. 12 car: Ryan Newman’s Alltel cars from the mid 2000’s, if you’re not familiar with these cars you should be.
1. Ricky Craven’s No. 32 Tide Car
Ignore the sick Rubbermaid car on the left and acknowledge the 2003 winner at Darlington, Ricky Craven and his Tide car on the right. This is still the closest (0.002 seconds) margin of victory in NASCAR history and was highlighted by the drivers and paint schemes involved. Not only is this a vibrant and aesthetically pleasing scheme, but it is also a part of the greatest finish to ever take place at “The Lady in Black” or any track for that matter and was Craven’s only win for PPI Motorsports. Not sure who could run this scheme best, but Go-Fas Racing currently owns the No. 32 and did bring back the pink and blue lightning Jeff Burton colorway last year with Matty D so this would be right up their alley if you ask me.
Conclusion
The Bojangles Southern 500 is one of NASCAR’s premiere events and it takes place at what is known as the oldest super speedway, Darlington raceway. In fact, Darlington’s first Southern 500 in 1950 is the point where many historians credit NASCAR’s turn towards an organized sport whereas before it was known more as a hobby for moonshiners, Although I think the races would be a lot more interesting if the drivers still had to haul 4 gallons of Carolina Clear through the course of a race. Also, the convenience of being able to pull a jar of shine out of your car and pass it around Victory Lane would be a winning tradition like no other. None the less here our the top seven throwback schemes I would like to see on some contending cars at Darlington.
