What’s Happening?

Race teams are some of the most creative organizations on the planet, especially when it comes to finding ways to save money. ARCA Menards Series driver and team owner, Greg Van Alst, showcased a controversial money-saving strategy, AI-generated paint schemes. Like anything AI-related, this was quite controversial amongst the fans, and these are some of the best responses.

I know this can be controversial but it helps a team like ours. From AI, to rendering, to race track.@PrescottTP_AZ@tirepros@ARCA_Racing pic.twitter.com/4JsBr6o7SN

— Greg Van Alst (@GregVanAlst35) March 11, 2024

• Greg Van Alst has been very vocal about the rising cost of racing in ARCA. He opened up about this in an interview with Fronstretch in 2023, where he admitted that he may not be able to run full-time because of how much it costs. Creating paint schemes via AI seems like another place his team can save some valuable money.
• Some fans were not too thrilled about this, particularly graphic designers. Many feel that this is an example of AI stealing jobs. Van Alst, however, provided some insight into why they used AI as a tool to make a paint scheme.
• Other fans were okay with something like this. They understand why this could help a small race team, and they felt the paint scheme looked solid on its’ own.

Fans Who Hate It

Some fans, particularly graphic designers, HATE this design. They feel that AI is stealing job opportunities from graphic designers, and many fans would gladly do this for no paycheck.

Zack_NASCAR_channel hates it. He is a graphic designer who is looking to potentially design a race car one day.

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Fourbitplayer thinks this is a bad move, even though they like Van Alst. Fourbitplayer gives a couple of suggestions for Van Alst to cut costs on a graphic designer.

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Xelanalpak quickly goes to AI taking jobs away from graphic designers. He’s not a fan of this move by Van Alst.

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If this is the future of motorsports, hayternal is not here for it. Could there be more AI-generated paint schemes in the future?

Justin gives this scheme the double thumbs down. Whether it’s for AI or the scheme itself is unclear.

Van Alst Responds to Fans

Greg Van Alst took to Twitter to tell his side of the story. What exactly went into this paint scheme, and why would he use AI to design a scheme?

Van Also responded to ZNC Designs, who made the same comment on Reddit. Van Alst explained that he used AI as a tool to help sell a sponsorship. The goal is seemingly to give more inspiration to what the scheme could be.

So I paid Team41 for a rendering then to do the wrap. It is a tool that can generate ideas. I was able to land this deal with this as a tool. I dont believe this tool eliminates the human element, but it can help the whole process.

— Greg Van Alst (@GregVanAlst35) March 11, 2024

Van Also further explains his side in response to a fellow Reddit commenter on X, Fourbitplayer. Van Alst explains that he would stop pursuing some sponsors who wanted renderings of what a car could look like. He also expanded on how he has used designers in the past.

The first thing every single potential sponsor asks is what could it look like. That would cost us so much time and money that it has made me not want to pursue sponsors. I have spent countless hours with a designer that even did work for free and have paid for designs.

— Greg Van Alst (@GregVanAlst35) March 11, 2024

Fans Who Understand It

Some fans were okay with Van Alst using AI. Given his position as a team owner, they understand that he needs to save some money. However, some are okay with it only to a point.

FridgusDomin8ot believes there could be a place for AI in designing paint schemes like this. However, there is a point where it becomes a problem when it becomes the final product.

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Redacted is okay with it for smaller teams. However, if it gets to bigger teams with more resources than teams like Van Alst’s, it can become a problem.

EveridgeRacing attempts to explain more about what the reasoning behind this scheme could be. He explains that using the scheme for a sponsorship sales pitch could have costs add up throughout a season.

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Charlie h. believes that as long as the design is good, that’s all that matters. He’s a fan of this design.

Boris believes that AI can be great for designing paint schemes. He’s a fan of this move.

AI paint schemes are now a thing in motorsports. The question is, are they here to stay? Not every fan likes the concept.