It’s throwback weekend.
Every year when NASCAR rolls into Darlington for their spring race, the sport uses it as an opportunity to pay tribute to the sport’s history – and the teams get to break out some badass throwback paint schemes.
It’s pretty cool to see all of these old-school paint schemes, and if you’re a longtime NASCAR fan, they’re sure to trigger some hardcore nostalgia of some of your favorite drivers and their iconic rides. And if you’re new to NASCAR, throwback weekend is a great way to learn some more about the history of the sport.
In addition to all the throwback paint schemes, NASCAR legend Richard Petty will be waving the green flag to start the Cup Series race, and Bill Elliott (who is of course the father of Chase Elliott) will serve as grand marshal. Both Petty and Elliott, along with Bobby Labonte, will also join Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer in the TV booth.
So with all this nostalgia, let’s take a look at some of the best paint schemes that we’ll see out on the track this this throwback weekend:
Corey LaJoie
LaJoie is honoring country singer-turned-NASCAR driver Marty Robbins with his throwback scheme that pays tribute to the bright pink and yellow paint scheme that Robbins ran in the 1970s.
Brad Keselowski
Brad will be running a throwback to Mark Martin’s Viagra car from the early 2000s. And Brad is now a part owner of Martin’s former team, Roush Racing.
Chris Buescher
Buescher’s #17 car will also pay tribute to its former driver with a throwback to Matt Kenseth’s DeWalt paint scheme.
William Byron
The driver who took over Jeff Gordon’s ride will pay tribute to Gordon’s 2007 paint scheme in the #24 car.
Erik Jones
Jones will drive the iconic #43 car with a throwback look honoring Richard Petty, complete with the iconic “Petty blue” paint scheme.
Ty Dillon
And with the other Petty GMS Racing car in the field, Ty Dillon will run a throwback look honoring Lee Petty, Richard Petty’s father who participated in the first ever NASCAR race.
Ross Chastain & Daniel Suarez
The Trackhouse Racing teammates will honor another legendary father and son duo, throwing it back to the paint schemes that were run by Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. the first time the two ever raced against each other. The race was an exhibition held in Japan and featured both Senior and Junior driving Coca-Cola paint schemes – and Junior was even in the #1 car, the same number that Chastain will be driving this weekend in the recreated Coke paint scheme.
Kurt Busch
Busch and his #45 23XI Toyota will run a McDonald’s paint scheme that throws it back to Bill Elliott’s 1996 ride.
Alex Bowman
Bowman will run a throwback to Mark Martin’s 1993 Valvoline paint scheme, the same scheme that Martin drove to victory that year at Darlington.
Cole Custer
Custer will honor the late Jason Leffler with his #41 Stewart Haas Racing Ford this weekend. Leffler, who was tragically killed in a sprint car race in 2013, earned Haas CNC Racing (which later became Stewart Haas Racing) its first win during a Busch Series race at Nashville.
Matt DiBenedetto
Matty D drove a throwback scheme in last night’s Truck Series race honoring Sterling Marlin’s “Silver Bullet” paint scheme from his early-2000s Cup Series ride.
Chase Elliott
NASCAR’s most popular driver is running a NAPA paint scheme throwing it back to the car driven by Jimmy Means in 1993.
Denny Hamlin
Denny’s throwing it back to…himself. His paint scheme is the same one that he ran during his win in the 2016 Daytona 500.
Kyle Busch
For M&M’s last season in NASCAR, Kyle Busch will drive a throwback scheme that pays tribute to Ernie Irvan’s 1998 M&M’s car.
Harrison Burton
This one may be my favorite just because all of the memories of watching that old Jeff Burton paint scheme back in the day. Harrison Burton will be honoring his dad with a throwback to the 2000 Exide ride.
Justin Allgaier
Allgaier’s #7 Xfinity Series car will pay tribute to Dale Earnhardt’s 1984 Wrangler paint scheme – and it’s only fitting that Allgaier now drives for JR Motorsports, the team owned by Earnhardt’s son Dale Jr.
Tyler Reddick
Reddick is pulling double duty this weekend, and in the Xfinity Series race he’s driving this throwback to the legendary Bobby Allison’s paint scheme from the 1972 Southern 500 at Darlington.
Ty Gibbs
Gibbs will be driving a throwback to Bobby Labonte’s 2002 Interstate Batteries car, a paint scheme that Labonte ran for Joe Gibbs racing – owned, of course, by Ty’s grandfather. This also happens to be Labonte’s paint scheme the year Ty Gibbs was born, and damn now I feel old.
