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NASCAR goes back in time with retro paint schemes at Darlington

Over half the Sprint Cup field will run special throwback designs for the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

Action Sports Photography

The Southern 500 at Darlington is one of the most prestigious races in all of NASCAR and this year, a new tradition has been started as the race returns to its traditional Labor Day Weekend date. Most of the cars entered will be running some kind of retro, throwback paint scheme.

The event itself is still a week away, but 30 designs have been released, plus a special look for the Goodyear tires. Be sure to VOTE HERE for your favorite scheme after checking out the following gallery. 

Darlington throwback schemes

Celebrating a 25 year partnership between Miller and Penske, Brad Keselowski's scheme goes back to the No. 22 Miller High Life car NASCAR HOFer Bobby Allison made famous in the 1980's.

Brad Keselowski, Team Penske Ford
Brad Keselowski, Team Penske Ford

Photo by: Team Penske

 

Austin Dillon's retro look is a reminder of the very beginnings of Richard Childress Racing. Back when his own grandfather was behind the wheel of the No. 3 and before anyone in NASCAR even know the name 'Dale Earnhardt.'

Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Kevin Harvick's golden No. 4 mimics the look of the first can of Budweiser ever produced. He is the reigning Sprint Cup champion and also the defending winner of the Southern 500.

Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
Kevin Harvick, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Kasey Kahne's No. 5 scheme has a special meaning to Rick Hendrick. Geoff Bodine drove a No. 5 with this same look during Hendrick Motorsports' first season, back when they were known as All-Star Racing.

Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kasey Kahne, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Press Image

Trevor Bayne's look echoes back to one of the most recognizable paint schemes in the history of Roush-Fenway Racing, driven by Mark Martin.

Trevor Bayne, Roush-Fenway Racing
Trevor Bayne, Roush-Fenway Racing

Photo by: Press Image

Take a close look at the side of Alex Bowman's car. This stock car is attempting to be a modified, while keeping all its bodywork. Tommy Baldwin's (team owner) father was a well-known modified racer and his nickname 'Tiger Tom Baldwin' can be seen above the door of this No. 7 car, the same number he ran.

Alex Bowman special throwback paint scheme
Alex Bowman special throwback paint scheme

Photo by: Tommy Baldwin Racing

Sam Hornish Jr.'s ride is made to resemble the Winn-Dixie machine Martin drove to 39 of his 49 Xfinity victories.

Sam Hornish Jr., Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
Sam Hornish Jr., Richard Petty Motorsports Ford

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Danica Patrick's bright green and orange No. 10 will take on a much darker look at Darlington, playing off the nickname for the famous race track (The Lady in Black), but it also brings us back to the black/green color combo seen on her older GoDaddy cars.

Danica Patrick, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
Danica Patrick, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Denny Hamlin's No. 11 colors are inspired by another No. 11 car - the one NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough carried to the win at Darlington in 1974.

Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

The original logo for Bass Pro Shops adorns the hood of Tony Stewart's Chevrolet.

Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
Tony Stewart, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Stewart-Haas Racing

Earlier this month, the NASCAR community lost Buddy Baker and Clint Bowyer will pay tribute to him through a paint scheme Buddy ran back in 1974 while driving for Bud Moore.

Clint Bowyer, Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
Clint Bowyer, Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota

Photo by: Michael Waltrip Racing

Greg Biffle's paint scheme is a throwback to nearly a century ago, complete with the colors of Ortho's first sales cars and the original company logo. And the number is a throwback to Tiny Lund's ride from the mid-1950's.

Greg Biffle, Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Greg Biffle, Roush Fenway Racing Ford

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s No. 17 mimics the signature blue and gold No. 17 David Pearson piloted to two of his three championships in 1968 and 1969.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Roush Fenway Racing Ford

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

You have to look hard to see what's so special about Ryan Blaney's car. The car depicts the Wood Brother's 65-year history in NASCAR with over 2,000 images within the Snap-On design.

Ryan Blaney, Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Ryan Blaney, Wood Brothers Racing Ford

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

This No. 22 Ford Fusion of Joey Logano is a throwback of a different kind - it has nothing to do with NASCAR. This scheme is a throwback to to the Shell-backed Porsche 962C, which is best known for its participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1988, three cars with this design took to the famed Circuit de la Sarthe with drivers such as Mario and Michael Andretti, Derek Bell and Bob Wollek.

Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Without reading the side of this car, you may think Jeb Burton is driving a car backed by CAT. Well that's because his father Ward ran this scheme throughout most of his career with Caterpillar as a sponsor, including when he won the 2002 Daytona 500.

Jeb Burton, BK Racing Toyota
Jeb Burton, BK Racing Toyota

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

The colors, sponsor and number are different, but Chase Elliott's No. 25 is a play off the same design his famous father Bill had when the Winston Million in 1985, such as the angled sponsor name at the rear of the car.

Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Paul Menard's No. 27 isn't just an old Menards look - it's the color scheme his father's open-wheel car ran in the early 1970's.

Paul Menard, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Paul Menard, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Ryan Newman's Caterpillar-backed No. 31 is what the company's heavy equipment looked like in the 1970's. 

Ryan Newman, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Ryan Newman, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

This color scheme for Josh Wise was involved in arguably the most incredible moment in Darlington history when Ricky Craven drag-raced Kurt Busch to the finish line in a spectacular photo finish, full of contact back in 2003. 

Josh Wise special throwbakc paint scheme
Josh Wise special throwback paint scheme

Photo by: Press Image

The Skoal Bandit is back! Mike Bliss' No. 33 is throwing back to the days of Harry Gant, Hal Needham and Burt Reynolds. East bound and down to Darlington Raceway.

Mike Bliss, Chevrolet
Mike Bliss, Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Landon Cassill's patriotic No. 40 is a throwback to the car Sterling Marlin ran at Kansas following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.

Landon Cassill, Hillman Circle Sport LLC Chevrolet
Landon Cassill, Hillman Circle Sport LLC Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

If you remember Haas CNC Racing (before Tony Stewart), then you probably remember this car. Kurt's look is the same Jack Sprague ran back in 2002, the year the team made its NASCAR debut.

Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet
Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Mello Yello returns to the track with Kyle Larson. This look was incredibly popular after the Days of Thunder movie with Tom Cruise, but continued to be put in the spotlight by Kyle Petty from 1991 to 1994.

 

Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Not much has to be said about this one ... Richard Petty's iconic blue and red STP-sponsored No. 43 folks.

Aric Almirola, Richard Petty Motorsports Ford
Aric Almirola, Richard Petty Motorsports Ford

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Michael Annett's scheme goes back to the early days of Pilot (long before merger) when it was known as Flying J.

Michael Annett, HScott Motorsports Chevrolet
Michael Annett, HScott Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Jimmie Johnson and Lowe's have decided to go back to the early days of the home improvement store with a look resembling the 1940's and 1950's logo.

Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

Justin Allgaier's car may not look very different, but it's been slightly tweaked to resemble the red No. 51 A.J. Foyt piloted in a handful of races in the 1970's.

Justin Allgaier, HScott Motorsports Chevrolet
Justin Allgaier, HScott Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

David Ragan is a second-generation racer. His father Ken drove a No. 77 that looked a lot like this back when he was racing at the Cup level in 1987.

David Ragan, Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota
David Ragan, Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

One of the more famous color schemes in NASCAR history will join one of the sport's most famous drivers at Darlington as Valvoline returns for a one-race deal with Dale Earnhardt Jr. The look is reminiscent of the one seen piloted by some true legends of the sport during the 1980's.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Photo by: Action Sports Photography

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