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.
Richard Petty. Bobby Labonte. Bill Elliott.
The booth for Darlington is STACKED with Hall of Famers to join @ClintBowyer and @mikejoy500. Each former champion will call one stage.
Sunday at 3:30p ET on FS1, https://t.co/kL92FRtslr and the FOX Sports App» https://t.co/U4a0xtukwL pic.twitter.com/MzSLinlJ90
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) May 1, 2022
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.
Throwing it back like it’s 2004. #NASCARThrowback @SociosMS | @RFKracing pic.twitter.com/tSV0J9B8DJ
— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) May 6, 2022
Chris Buescher
Buescher’s #17 car will also pay tribute to its former driver with a throwback to Matt Kenseth’s DeWalt paint scheme.
My Mustang for Darlington 😎 pic.twitter.com/nTHOlAv2Ao
— Chris Buescher (@Chris_Buescher) May 3, 2022
William Byron
The driver who took over Jeff Gordon’s ride will pay tribute to Gordon’s 2007 paint scheme in the #24 car.
Ready to throwback to the great @JeffGordonWeb this weekend!
📍 @TooToughToTame
🗓 Sunday, 3:30 ET
📺 @FS1 #Goodyear400 | #NASCARThrowback pic.twitter.com/aRRSdBSJ0i— William Byron (@WilliamByron) May 6, 2022
Erik Jones
Jones will drive the iconic #43 car with a throwback look honoring Richard Petty, complete with the iconic “Petty blue” paint scheme.
Richard, is that you? 🔥#NASCARThrowback pic.twitter.com/xO3TorFSp3
— Petty GMS (@PettyGMS) May 6, 2022
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.
What an awesome throwback! I’m so grateful to get to honor Lee Petty’s Hall of Fame career! pic.twitter.com/o6F9VxyZmQ
— Ty Dillon (@tydillon) May 4, 2022
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.
Oh my 😍 — @TeamTrackhouse DID NOT disappoint! @JustinMarksTH stopped by The @DaleJr Download to tell us about their @TooToughToTame paint schemes.
LISTEN
Web: https://t.co/Bifc95ifTg
Apple: https://t.co/yWSE7hCgoi
Google: https://t.co/AOrz0CP3Ta pic.twitter.com/9avrsjckoe— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) May 4, 2022
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.
#NASCARThrowback weekend is here. I’m lovin’ it. pic.twitter.com/pVl51qDfg2
— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) May 7, 2022
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.
.@alex_bowman and the #Ally48 team carrying the @markmartin throwback colors will start 15th tomorrow at @TooToughToTame.
Tune in to @FS1 tomorrow at 3:30pm ET to catch all the action! pic.twitter.com/rKzPu2CZ4r
— Ally Racing (@allyracing) May 7, 2022
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.
This one is for you, LEFturn. pic.twitter.com/bbsVxK1xdE
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) May 4, 2022
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.
Heres Matt DiBenedetto's 2022 Sterling Marlin Throwback Scheme #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/6g88oYkGuZ
— Daniel Kriete (@DanielKriete4) May 6, 2022
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.
If you want to look good at @TooToughToTame then you’ve gotta look tough. @chaseelliott is throwing it back to ‘93 with a look inspired by Jimmy Means’ old NAPA car.#darlingtonthrowback #NASCARthrowback pic.twitter.com/Qw8GibFqys
— NAPA Racing (@NAPARacing) April 21, 2022
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.
🚨 THROWBACK 🚨 @ToyotaRacing is set to celebrate its 1,500th race in #NASCAR with special throwback schemes at @TooToughToTame to commemorate the milestone. @dennyhamlin will lead the campaign with a throwback to his 2016 #DAYTONA500 winning @FedEx livery. pic.twitter.com/ybGWPzQ3bX
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) May 2, 2022
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.
We've counted the votes and the people have spoken… @KyleBusch will be taking the 1998 @mmschocolate Throwback car to @TooToughToTame! It's a great looking car and we can't wait to see it in Victory Lane. Thanks to everyone who voted! pic.twitter.com/a3md6qjl7R
— M&M'S (@mmschocolate) April 14, 2022
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.
Father and son. ⚡️ @HBurtonRacing is throwing it back to @JeffBurton's old Exide scheme from 2000 for @TooToughToTame. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/O7mkf2guoy
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) April 20, 2022
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.
1984: Jeans Machine
2022: @Hellmanns Mayo Machine@J_Allgaier’s No. 7 to pay homage to Dale Sr. @TooToughToTame in May. pic.twitter.com/hJG9zjelEI— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) March 29, 2022
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.
Let’s go!!! Can’t wait for doubly duty this weekend! https://t.co/S2tzFRw3YH
— Tyler Reddick (@TylerReddick) May 3, 2022
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.
We’re having flashbacks to 2002. Britney and Justin broke up, and @TyGibbs_ was born. It was also the year that @Bobby_Labonte ran the @interstatebatts ‘Shark’ car. The classic scheme is going to make a return at @TooToughToTame with Ty behind the wheel!#TeamInterstate pic.twitter.com/GosXiaBYXt
— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) April 29, 2022