Darlington is coming up which means only one thing: throwback weekend. Every fan debates which throwback scheme is better than the other. Well, I am here to give you my personal expert opinion on which ones are great, and which ones are not. Here they are ranked in order from worst to first.
The nod to what was supposed to be Harvick’s first NASCAR paint scheme before he was thrust into the 29 is cool in concept. Except this car looks nothing like that car. Sure it has a similar paint scheme design if you squint, but the colors are almost all completely different.
This is not a throwback scheme. Thankfully, Harvick is running the white 29 car at North Wilkesboro for the All-Star race, so the real throwback is in the works.
Before I hate on this scheme, let me add that Ryan Blaney honoring his dad, Dave, which is quite cool. Dave was quite the wheelman in World of Outlaws and even had some modest success in NASCAR too.
However, I had to squint to see any major difference in this scheme to Blaney’s normal Menards scheme. I wish they could at least change the shade of yellow to make it more true to what they are throwing it back to. Sentimental value is solid on this scheme, but the scheme itself is disappointing.
This pains me as someone who grew up as a Jeff Gordon fan. It is cool to see them bringing back an idea from NASCAR’s last major anniversary celebration. However, that is just the problem, it’s a recycled idea.
Add to that, this just is not a scheme that people think of when they think “Jeff Gordon.” Add to that Jeff Gordon ran out of fuel while leading when running the original scheme in the 1998 All Star Race. Just not something that is super intriguing to throw back to, but the scheme itself looks decent.
Another example of sentimental value being great on this scheme. Incorporating Stenhouse Jr’s mom’s grilled cheese recipe on the car is a nice touch. Also getting the official comment from Dale Jarrett on the scheme is cool.
The problem comes in the reveal. They announced the throwback to the same scheme another team was throwing it back to on the same day. That simply brings this scheme down a few notches.
The sentimental value on this scheme is pretty cool. Preece throwing it back to his dad is a great concept that I can definitely appreciate.
However, the scheme itself is just very bland. White with a little bit of blue just is not as visually exciting as other schemes. This is not bad, but it’s not anything to get people talking either.
Purely as a paint scheme, this car looks awesome. I would be a proponent of this scheme being run as the actual Mahindra Tractors scheme for the rest of the year if I could.
With it being a throwback to a more niche thing, it does not have the same sentimental value to fans that others do. For that reason, it brings this down a few notches.
A nice nod to Bobby Labonte’s scheme honoring Joe Gibbs being elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It’s red and white for the obvious nod to Gibbs coaching for the Washington Commanders (then the Redskins). Plus it is promoting a great organization in Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.
This will definitely appeal to certain fans. However, the lack of original logos and the scheme overall being a bit meh bring it down somewhat.
This is a solid throwback, plain and simple. Throwing it back to Roger Penske’s first NASCAR win in 1973 is a great thing to throw back to. This scheme was always one that I felt was underrated in NASCAR history as the AMC Matador is likely more iconic than the scheme itself.
It does not have the same wow factor as other schemes, and the lack of original sponsor logos does bring it down a notch. That being said, I am a fan of this scheme.
Throwing it back to Petty Blue will never get any qualms from me. Sure it is not flashy, but it’s Petty Blue at the end of the day.
It is plain, so that does bring it down a bit. Plus, because Petty Blue is usually on the track in some form, it does not have the same wow factor as other schemes. However, this is the exact route Legacy Motor Club should take with the 43.
After an initial freak out from realizing that a 2014 scheme can now be considered a throwback car, I have to admit this is a cool scheme. Jimmie Johnson always had cool patriotic schemes back in the day, and the 2014 Coca Cola 600 scheme is a great example.
This scheme has the unique ability to attract older and newer fans with sentimental value. The lack of original logos does hurt it some, but this is an awesome looking scheme.
Aric Almirola personally picked this paint scheme as he called it his favorite paint scheme. That is a cool touch. Plus, this was a great reveal, doing it at a minor league baseball game.
Add to that, throwing it back to Dale Jr’s iconic 2001 Pepsi 400 win makes this scheme check all of the sentimental value boxes. The lack of original logos does bring it down a tad, but do not let that distract you from the fact that this is a good throwback scheme.
There were few looks more iconic in the 2000s than Matt Kenseth’s DeWalt paint scheme. Bringing it back is always going to be a crowd pleaser. Plus the original logos make this scheme look closer to the way the original scheme looked on track than other throwbacks.
Again, the DeWalt colors have not changed much over the years, which keeps this scheme down a bit. However, there is enough difference on Bell’s current DeWalt car to justify this change.
This scheme’s reveal puts it high on the list. While the scheme may not resonate as much with fans, the sentimental value is awesome considering Bowman is honoring his spotter, Kevin Hamlin’s, Busch Series career.
Add to that the color scheme of black, red, white, and gold is sublime. This may be the best scheme in terms of pure looks.
Again, original logos for the win. Ricky Rudd’s #26 Quaker State Buick had plenty of moments in the sun on the track. I really do not have much to add on this other than it is a solid scheme. The meh reveal is what puts it a bit further down than it could.
When it comes to reveals, this is one takes the cake. A phenomenal reveal that appeals to fans and holds great sentimental value to Chase Elliot as well. Bill Elliot’s red number 9 with Ray Evernham put Dodge back on the NASCAR map, and revived Bill’s career.
It’s safe to say that this scheme introduced Bill to a new generation of NASCAR fans. However, the lack of original logos is the only thing that keeps this scheme from being on top.
UPS schemes were an iconic part of NASCAR during the 2000s, and UPS coming back for this one race is simply awesome. This may be the closest to an original scheme that a throwback has ever gotten. With that in mind, that makes this a perfect throwback scheme.
It checks all the boxes of senitmental value, looks, effort, and accuracy. With that, this is the car that has to take the cake, at least so far.
Following last week’s shocking lawsuit filed by Joe Gibbs Racing against their former Crew Chief and Competition Director Chris Gabehart, team owner and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr chimed in with his take on how the lawsuit will unfold.
Entering the 2026 NASCAR season, most fans felt that a messy season, which saw multiple lawsuits filed between teams and one including NASCAR itself, was in the review mirror.
This illusion lasted not even one week after the 2026 season opening Daytona 500, with Joe Gibbs Racing filing a lawsuit against their former Crew Chief and Competition Director, Chris Gabehart, claiming he stole sensitive information from the team before jumping to Spire Motorsports.
Though the two have yet to come to blows over the matter in court, this battle is quickly picking up steam, with JGR since adding Spire as a co-defendant, and Gabehart filing a fiery and accusatory response on Wednesday afternoon.
Prior to these new additions, NASCAR Hall of Famer and co-owner of JR Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt Jr., shared his thoughts on the lawsuit, alongside a prediction on how it will end, during the latest episode of his podcast, The Dale Jr Download.
What’s Happening? Joe Gibbs Racing has filed a lawsuit against former competition director Chris Gabehart, alleging he took confidential team information…
During this episode, Earnhardt provided some valuable commentary on the issue, though this did not come from his perspective as a driver. Rather, it came from his insights as an active owner in one of NASCAR’s highest divisions.
The long-time co-owner of JR Motorsports said that situations like this are the reason why teams make employees sign a non-compete clause, which would prevent them from working in a similar capacity in the sport for a period of time.
“The reason why they get them to do that is that they do not want to race against that information the very next week. Or the very next year,” Earnhardt said. “And so, while that person does sign the non-compete, they do have all that information.”
Ultimately, Earnhardt sees two sides to the conflict, saying that Gabehart did something that “has been going on forever” by taking his knowledge and skills to a new team after a rocky end to his time as JGR’s Competition Director.
In fact, as Earnhardt pointed out, losing a veteran, championship-caliber Crew Chief to the competition is something JRM went through just this past off-season, when former Xfinity Series Champion Jim Pohlman left the team for Richard Childress Racing.
While Pohlman is competing in the Cup Series for RCR, Earnhardt acknowledged that he is sure JRM is racing against some of the knowledge that the champion Crew Chief took with him, be that literally or metaphorically, on Saturdays, as RCR has a NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program.
“RCR hired Jim Pohlman. You don’t think I’m racing against some of this **** that Jim did here in the O’Reilly Series? We know that. We expect that.” — Dale Earnhardt Jr
But, in contrast, Earnhardt acknowledges that JGR isn’t trying to prevent Gabehart from working, but rather, to protect the millions of dollars they have poured into R&D.
The long-time short track racer also added that this is just part of racing in the highest form of stock car racing, saying that compared to local racing, or even the Truck Series, you probably wouldn’t see a lawsuit like this, but “when it’s $150 to $200 million a year,” the stakes are high.
Nonetheless, Earnhardt admits he is curious to see what is to come of the lawsuit, given the shocking claims that Gabehart was using company equipment to offload this information from JGR.
Unfortunately, in his eyes, those on the outside looking in at this lawsuit will probably never truly know what happened, as the NASCAR veteran thinks that Spire will try to settle.
“I think this settles. I bet [the] money guy at Spire says, ‘You know what? Let’s make this go away, let’s move on,’ and I think that we’ll never really truly know,” Earnhardt said.
What’s Happening? Former Joe Gibbs Racing Crew Chief and Competition Director Chris Gabehart has filed a new response slamming JGR as…
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While he may not have the accolades of some of the top names in NASCAR, collectors in the NASCAR community are starting to take notice of some outrageous resale prices for Carson Hocevar merchandise. So what exactly is going on here?
Of every subgroup within the NASCAR community, be that gamers, car fanatics, or just motorsports fans, there is perhaps no group more passionate than NASCAR collectors.
Whether it’s cards, sheet metal, merch, or diecast, NASCAR collectors have built a sprawling community of their own across the online NASCAR world to discuss everything you can imagine, from diecast production rumors to what collectables are fetching the highest prices.
A major topic of discussion in the NASCAR collector community this week, specifically in a now-deleted post to the r/NASCAR subreddit, was some sky-high prices for memorabilia of one of the NASCAR Cup Series’ most talked-about drivers, Carson Hocevar.
It’s no surprise that fans are clamoring for more Hocevar collectables. After all, he might have one of the most well-received personalities and racing styles in sports’ recent history, with many fans taking to his unapologetic racing and outgoing personality.
Of course, he has his detractors, as, at the same time, some of his fellow drivers have warned of some form of karma catching up to the former Rookie of the Year down the road.
But, if there were ever any doubt as to whether or not “Hurricane” Hocevar was shooting up the popularity charts in the grandstands, look no further than some of his merchandise being sold on sites like eBay.
For example, a Chili’s snapback hat that is similar to one that retailed for $50 on Spire Motorsports’ website before quickly selling out was recently resold on eBay for $122.50.
Now, a 145% increase is a lot for an unsigned, or non-race used hat (that also features no reference to Hocevar, Spire, or even the No. 77 team) might seem like an outlier, but what about a 1:64 scale diecast?
Well, prices are shooting up in that department as well, as an eBay auction for a 1:64 scale diecast of his 2025 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet, which Lionel retailed for $11.75, sold for $41.00 just this morning.
If you think that’s a high price to buy a 1:64 at, what about 1:24 scale diecast? Well, this time you might want to sit down, because, on Wednesday afternoon, a 1:24 scale diecast of Hocevar’s Zeigler paint scheme from his 2024 Rookie of the Year season sold for $449.99.
Now it’s fun to window shop these wild prices, but they may leave you asking why they’re selling for that much.
Now, there are a lot of reasons why NASCAR merchandise will spike in value, and looking at the forces that are behind Hocevar, there is little to suggest that these high prices are going down anytime soon.
First, given his recent performance, some fans could see buying now as an investment, hoping that these items could pull a pretty penny down the line should Hocevar develop into a title contender.
This is similar to how a driver like Kyle Larson has seen their early merchandise (such as diecast from his days at Chip Ganassi Racing) skyrocket in value as his success and popularity have grown in and even outside of the NASCAR community.
Of course, not every NASCAR collector is in it for the current or future value of the item. For example, there are completionist collectors who collect every diecast or hat they can find for one specific driver or team.
Finally, there are those who, plain and simple, like Hocevar, and want to show their pride in whatever they can.
After all, whether it’s his social media presence, his on-track actions, or off-track persona, Hocevar is proving to a lot of drivers in the garage that personality goes a long way.
But, nonetheless, these different groups have all combined to make a highly competitive marketplace for Hocevar’s merchandise, pushing prices to levels that, just a handful of years ago, seemed highly unlikely for the upstart Rookie just promoted from the Craftsman Truck Series.
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iRacing has finally given NASCAR fans a first look at the in-game model of the NASCAR Ram Truck slated to join the racing sim’s lineup in the near future.
Though iRacing says the Ram model is still pending approvals, this announcement marks a major milestone for Ram in its 2026 return to NASCAR, as this is the first appearance the brand will make in motorsports gaming in well over a decade.
Of course, the next major question facing Ram will be its inclusion in iRacing’s next edition of their console-based NASCAR game series, which most expect to be titled NASCAR 26.
iRacing was open about its use of models from its self-titled subscription-based online racing service for NASCAR 25. But, as of press time, they have yet to announce any details about the next game, although it’s fair for players to assume the Ram model used for iRacing will likely be used in the next NASCAR console game.
The NASCAR news for iRacing Season 2 didn’t stop at Ram, as iRacing also confirmed that the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, a new addition to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule in 2026, will join its track list during Season 2.
iRacing also confirmed tweaks to the in-game physics of both the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, focused on updating the series’ in-game drafting model.
But the biggest news of all (beyond Ram, of course) is that iRacing plans to have NASCAR’s San Diego Street Circuit at Naval Base Coronado ready for play before the end of the 2026 season, with the Development Update claiming they are targeting a release date sometime in June.
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