Dale Earnhardt was famous for not only his incredible driving success but also for his incredible paint schemes. While many know his most iconic paint schemes, there are some more obscure paint schemes as well. Today on what would have been Earnhardt’s 73rd birthday, we highlight the best Dale Earnhardt paint schemes.
There’s no marketing feat quite like ending up on the cover of a cereal box. Dale Earnhardt nabbed a sponsor from perhaps the most iconic cereal box of all, Wheaties. A corresponding orange car was used during the 1997 All-Star Race at Charlotte.
Throughout the late 1990s, Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt used the All-Star Race to experiment with paint schemes, like some other drivers at the time. He finished a solid 4th that night after leading 11 laps.
This paint scheme graced the track during the 1998 NASCAR All-Star Race, fresh off of Earnhardt’s Daytona 500 triumph earlier that year. The black and gold paint job is a classic look that was used on many cars in NASCAR’s early days. Unfortunately, the car did not see much action, as Earnhardt crashed out 9 laps into the main event.
According to Lionel Racing, it seems Austin Dillon will throw back to this scheme at Darlington Raceway in May. It was a scheme that started a longstanding partnership between Bass Pro Shops and both Earnhardt and Childress.
For most of NASCAR’s history, drivers didn’t race multiple schemes throughout the season. They found one sponsor with one paint scheme, and it was rare to see alternate schemes except on rare occasions. Dale Earnhardt and Richard Childress Racing turned that around at the 1995 All-Star Race with a silver Goodwrench Chevrolet.
It was a scheme no one expected to see. Earnhardt made it race well on-track as well, as he led 4 laps before contact with rivals Jeff Gordon and Darrell Waltrip caused a crash late in the race. The crash ended Earnhardt’s race.
Dale Earnhardt’s car was blue and white for the majority of his early career. Wrangler came on to sponsor in 1981, but, this scheme took off in 1984. That year, Earnhardt moved to Richard Childress Racing, piloting the now iconic Number 3 car.
Earnhardt won back-to-back NASCAR Cup Series Championships in 1986 and 1987. He also won 25 races with Wrangler colors in the 1980s. However, his next scheme took iconic to another level.
In 1988, Dale Earnhardt brought on a new sponsor, Goodwrench, with a new black paint scheme. The scheme fit Earnhardt’s nickname “The Intimidator” perfectly, and he few these colors during some incredible moments.
This included 4 Championships, 45 wins, and the 1998 Daytona 500. Earnhardt’s prime was in the black No. 3 car, and this is the scheme everyone associates him with. It’s become more than just Earnhardt’s most iconic scheme, it’s become maybe NASCAR’s most iconic scheme.
Dale Earnhardt had some incredible paint schemes. Not only his most iconic, but, even the obscure ones.
Lionel Racing finally confirmed the first wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics 1:64 scale diecast for Monday morning, with the line of retail-exclusive diecast featuring a new look for the new year.
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Chase Pistone, a former competitor on the short track racing circuit in addition to NASCAR’s National Series, has passed away. Pistone, now a successful Legends Car owner, was 42.
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Three races in, the 2026 season is finally starting to show its hand. COTA shifted narratives, exposed weaknesses, and raised new questions about contenders, pretenders, and everything in between.
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