Despite Widespread Backlash, NASCAR Insiders Hail Their Favorite Darlington Paint Schemes

“I thought it lost (its luster) about four or five years ago.” Chase Elliott watered down the hype surrounding ‘Throwback Weekend’ at Darlington Raceway, and he was not alone. 19 NASCAR Cup Series teams elected against running old-school designs at the 10th anniversary of this event. An event that became iconic for its colorful cars had lost its shine.  Ranging from sponsorship concerns about trademarked looks to overused paint schemes, many reasons stood out. Yet at the same time, the other half of the Cup Series garage was mightily passionate.

Ryan Blaney, for instance, was very eager to represent his father’s legacy. The No. 12 Team Penske Ford carries the colors of his father, Dave Blaney’s 2006 Xfinity Series win at Charlotte. Joining Blaney and other drivers in this optimism were also two NASCAR insiders.

After all, Darlington Raceway is currently the second-oldest track on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. The ‘Lady in Black’ is celebrating her 75th anniversary this year. Back in 1950, its original owner, Harold, erected it in the middle of rural South Carolina. Already carrying a rich history itself, Darlington is perfect for paying tribute to the legends of NASCAR. Although half of the Cup Series field refused to participate, we saw some amazing paint schemes this year as well. For example, Kyle Larson’s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports car sported the colors of Terry Labonte’s special “Tony the Tiger” Kellogg’s scheme. Then Denny Hamlin paid tribute to Carl Edwards on his No. 11 Toyota.

But according to experts, a few of these schemes stood out. In a recent episode of Performance Racing Network (PRN), co-host Alexis Erickson threw the spotlight on two NASCAR schemes. She said, “Well, I thought the 2 of Austin Cindric’s throwback to Dale Earnhardt was really great. I also think…and a lot of people think it’s against the spirit of things. But Josh Berry’s throwback to the IndyCar, the Clark IndyCar that the Wood Brothers actually pitted and won an Indy 500 with – I thought was really cool too.”

Austin Cindric’s No. 2 Freightliner Ford Mustang sported a blue and yellow design. It was inspired by the 1979 and 1980 No. 2 livery driven by the late Dale Earnhardt. Then Josh Berry’s No. 21 livery had a snazzier, more retro look. It paid homage to the 1965 Indianapolis 500, where members of the Wood Brothers racing team were pit-crew members for Jim Clark’s No. 82 Lotus. It clinched the victory that day, netting Ford Racing its first Indy 500 triumph.

So PRN co-host Brad Gillie also agreed with Erickson’s ranking and added one of his own – none other than race winner Denny Hamlin’s. “Like, Josh Berry’s I am a bigger fan of in that regard because it has a great story. It was a throwback to a Carl Edwards office depot paint scheme. And it was the exact paint scheme – you looked at Denny Hamlin’s car and you knew exactly what that was. So those were probably my top three.”

As these NASCAR experts hailed Darlington’s retro tradition, other drivers also voiced similar opinions.

Recognizing the true reason behind it

While drivers are at the beck and call of sponsors, they are also at that of fans. Sponsors’ main issue with the throwback weekend was changing their branding for what is essentially a nod to another company. But behind the marketability of race cars lies a heavier reality that is the backbone of NASCAR – the nostalgia. The fans welcome the Throwback Weekend – its other features include a throwback parade from the Darlington town center to the track and a “NASCAR Alumni” gathering of retired drivers and old stock cars on display. In a recently conducted poll on X with more than 5,000 voters, 81 percent said they wanted to see Throwback Weekend remain as it is.

So some drivers scoffed at claims that all paint schemes are overused. Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch said: “Even if some of the drivers may think it’s overblown, it’s not for us. It’s for the people in the grandstands.” Brad Keselowski did not sport any throwback scheme and neither did the other two cars of his RFK Racing team. Even he detailed his reasons behind not going for it – but he could not deny the fans’ reception. He admitted, “Seeing the fans all dressed up in older gear reminded me Throwback Weekend is much bigger than paint schemes. This weekend connects new and old fans to our sport’s history in multiple meaningful ways for everyone to enjoy. I understand the frustrations of trying to execute a great scheme, but also think we should be careful to not dismiss the fans that absolutely love this race.”

Clearly, the Throwback Weekend was not a total dampener for the Cup Series garage. The 19 cars that participated brought smiles to the faces of diehard fans of the sport.