Throwback Weekend at Darlington is coming up, and one of the defining elements of the weekend is the Throwback paint schemes. Many fans adore seeing iconic paint schemes from the past on the track once again. However, the more obscure ones paint interesting stories about drivers that fans may have never heard. These are the most obscure Darlington Throwback schemes.
Denny Hamlin paid tribute to modified legend Ray Hendrick in the most perfect way possible in 2017, by winning the Southern 500. Nicknamed “Mr. Modified”, Hendrick won an estimated 700+ NASCAR-sanctioned races in his racing career. The flaming 11 on the side was a staple of the lower divisions during his era.
Hamlin paid great tribute to this scheme, and having the Number 11 on the side made it that much better. The scheme ended up in the place where it was most familiar, Victory Lane.
Chase Elliott has a large inventory of iconic paint schemes due to his dad, Bill. In 2017 at Darlington Chase took it all the way back to the beginning, to Bill’s first NASCAR start in 1976. Bill finished 33rd in his first career start, but, it launched a Hall of Fame career.
As far as how Chase did, he did much better finishing 11th in the 2017 Southern 500. Now, Chase has a Championship of his own.
Many younger fans may not know that IndyCar legend Al Unser Jr. attempted the Daytona 500 in 1993. Paul Menard, who grew up near Indianapolis, decided to throw back to the legend in 2016. While Unser did make the race in 1993, he finished 36th.
Menard did much better in this scheme in 2016. He finished 16th after qualifying 24th.
Now, we take a look at a 2024 throwback scheme. The Wood Brothers run a throwback scheme almost every week with that iconic red and white No. 21 car, but they went way back for this one. This black scheme came from Leonard Wood’s first race in 1953.
The Wood Brothers are NASCAR’s longest-standing race team. They’ve had the same look for so long, but, throwing it back to their roots is perfect for a “Grassroots” themed Throwback weekend.
Chase Briscoe paid tribute to his boss, Tony Stewart, in 2022. This one honors Stewart’s 2001 Indianapolis 500 run, the second attempt at the Double for Stewart. Stewart had a great day at Indianapolis, finishing 6th and leading 13 laps before heading to Charlotte and finishing 6th in the Coca-Cola 600.
Briscoe had a more forgettable day, finishing 20th in this scheme. However, it was cool to see this scheme back on track once again.
Which obscure schemes will continue to be added to the list this season?
Chris Gabehart has responded to Joe Gibbs Racing’s lawsuit, strongly denying the allegations and calling the claims “false,” “frivolous,” and “retaliatory” in a public statement released this Friday.
After the lawsuit became public, on Thursday, Gabehart spoke out for the first time, stating that he did not share any confidential JGR information with Spire Motorsports or any third parties and that he intends to prove that in court. He also said a third-party forensic review of his personal devices found no evidence supporting the accusations, adding that JGR declined an offer to examine Spire’s systems before filing suit.
“Yesterday afternoon, Joe Gibbs Racing filed a lawsuit claiming — falsely — that I shared JGR confidential information with Spire Motorsports and/or other unnamed third parties… I feel compelled to speak out today and forcefully and emphatically deny these frivolous and retaliatory claims.”
Gabehart said he will address the matter further in a formal legal response in the coming days.
You can learn more about the lawsuit, why it started and all the context surrounding it in the article linked below
Weather could play a major role in the NASCAR weekend at EchoPark Speedway, with current forecasts calling for a 40% chance of rain Saturday afternoon and increasing to 55% in the evening. While conditions are expected to improve, contingency plans are already in place in case races cannot be completed as scheduled
NASCAR has not announced any official schedule changes yet, as decisions will be based on how conditions develop in real time. With rain chances increasing through Saturday afternoon and evening, teams are preparing for multiple outcomes, and Sunday is expected to serve as the primary backup window if events can’t be completed as planned.
Conditions are constantly being monitored, but fans should be prepared for possible schedule adjustments throughout the weekend. We’ll keep you updated throughout the race weekend here on The Daily Downforce
Just when things finally seemed to calm down in the NASCAR garage, a bombshell dropped. Joe Gibbs Racing is officially suing former competition director Chris Gabehart, and the allegations are serious. Power struggles, confidential data, secret photos, and a potential move to Spire Motorsports.
From competition department tension to an $8 million damages figure, this lawsuit could have major implications beyond just one team. Gabehart helped elevate Denny Hamlin back into championship form and played a key role in JGR’s recent success, which makes this split even more shocking. This preview only scratches the surface. The full breakdown dives into the timeline, the alleged evidence, and what this could mean for the Cup Series balance of power moving forward. Watch the full video to learn much more
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