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Here Are the 2021 Darlington Throwback Schemes

Joy Tomlinson

It’s that time of year again when NASCAR Cup, Xfinity and Camping World Truck series teams start sharing throwback paint schemes they’ll run at Darlington Raceway during its yearly throwback weekend.

This time, the celebration is held May 7-9 on Mother’s Day weekend to unite fans of all generations.

We’re doing things a bit different this year at Frontstretch; we’ll keep an updated list here as teams reveal their throwback liveries. Be sure to check back often as more schemes are revealed.

If a driver isn’t listed, the team hasn’t announced a throwback or it opted not to participate in the theme.

Cup

Quin Houff

Throwback: Tribute to John Andretti’s 1990s RCA Ford Thunderbird.

Austin Dillon

Throwback: Honors NASCAR Hall of Famer Fireball Roberts, who drove a similar scheme in 1959.

Kevin Harvick

Throwback: Harvick’s 2001 Goodwrench car featuring black lettering and bottom edge on a white base. Harvick ran this scheme at Rockingham Speedway in his rookie season after Dale Earnhardt passed away.

Kyle Larson

Throwback: Larson’s first racecar, a go-kart, which his family helped run. Larson will also wear a firesuit and helmet similar to what he wore over 20 years ago.

Ryan Newman

Throwback: Commemorates the 1976 Sports Car Club of America championship-winning scheme in which KOHLER was a sponsor.

Corey LaJoie

Throwback: Honors 2019 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee Alan Kulwicki with a similar scheme that was run from 1987-1990.

Tyler Reddick

Throwback: Tribute to Marty Robbins’ No. 42 car from 1972.

Chase Elliott

Throwback: Honors Alan Kulwicki and his 1992 Cup Series championship run in the Hooters No. 7 car. Coincidentally, Kulwicki narrowly defeated Bill Elliott for the 1992 title.

Aric Almirola

Throwback: Similar to Mark Martin’s No. 60 Winn-Dixie race-winning car from the 2000 Texas Motor Speedway Xfinity race.

Denny Hamlin

Throwback: Resembles the late Julius Johnson’s No. 18 Cup car that was run in the 1980s.

Ryan Blaney

Throwback: Similar to Blaney’s super late model car run in 2010-2011.

Chase Briscoe

Throwback: Tribute to AJ Foyt’s 1986 scheme, complete with a custom helmet.

James Davison

Throwback: Sports the same scheme fellow Australian Dick Johnson drove from 1989-1990.

Kyle Busch

Throwback: Celebrating M&M’S 80th anniversary.

Martin Truex Jr.

Throwback: Sports the matte-black color that Truex ran during his time with Furniture Row Racing.

Joey Logano

Throwback: Carries the same colors that Mario Andretti’s car had when he won his first Formula 1 race in 1971. Andretti is the only driver to win Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500 and Formula 1 World Championship.

Bubba Wallace

Throwback: Tribute to Wendell Scott’s race-winning paint scheme from 1963. Scott was the first Black driver to win a Grand National Series event at Speedway Park, a dirt track in Jacksonville, Fla.

William Byron

Throwback: Honors Neil Bonnett, who ran the scheme in his No. 75 car in the 1980s.

Michael McDowell

Throwback: Pays homage to Bill Elliott, who won the 1985 Daytona 500 in this same livery.

Ryan Preece

Throwback: Carries the same colors as Trent Owens’ No. 15 truck that was run at Darlington in 2002.

Anthony Alfredo

Throwback: Replicates Alan Kulwicki’s Hardee’s car from 1985.

Ross Chastain

Throwback: Mimics Hut Stricklin’s McDonald’s No. 27 car from 1993.

Erik Jones

Throwback: Pays homage to John Andretti, who took this scheme to victory lane at Martinsville Speedway in 1999 while driving for Petty Enterprises.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Throwback: A nod to Ricky Craven’s 2003 Tide No. 32 car that he beat Kurt Busch by inches at Darlington.

Alex Bowman

Throwback: Crew chief Greg Ives’ late model paint scheme from the late 1990s. Ives received the car after Jim Pagel passed away in a stock car accident.

Cody Ware

Throwback: A nod to Darrell Waltrip’s No. 17 Superflo Xfinity car from the late 1980s/early 1990s.

Josh Bilicki

Throwback: Resembles Lennie Pond’s No. 54 Burger King car from the 1979 Daytona 500.

Justin Haley

Throwback: Similar to Robert Pressley’s 2001 car; also carries names of mothers of both Fraternal Order of Eagles members and those part of Spire Motorsports.

BJ McLeod

Throwback: Commemorating Joe Weatherly’s last victory at Darlington in 1963.

Daniel Suarez

Throwback: Camping World’s launch in 1966. Designed by Kyle Sykes and Noah Sweet (also known as Lefty).

Xfinity

Jeffrey Earnhardt

Throwback: Earnhardt Sr.’s Atlanta Olympics paint scheme from the 1996 All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Joe Graf Jr.

Throwback: The Delorean from the 1985 movie Back to the Future. Bucked Up’s logo matches the Back to the Future style.

Michael Annett

Throwback: Honors Darrell Waltrip, who ran this Gatorade paint scheme in 1979.

Myatt Snider

Throwback: Honors Snider’s grandfather, who owned the No. 2 car driven by Jimmie Lewallen in the 1950s.

Ryan Vargas

Throwback: Similar to Mark Martin’s 1994 Valvoline paint scheme he ran in Cup.

Justin Allgaier

The Good Humor Man is on the loose! Be on the lookout Darlington Raceway on May 8!

Posted by JR Motorsports on Thursday, April 15, 2021

Throwback: Resembles Dale Earnhardt’s GM Goodwrench Service/Tazmanian Devil scheme from the 2000 Daytona 500.

Josh Berry

Throwback: Commemorates Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2001 Pepsi 400 victory at Daytona International Speedway, the first Cup race at Daytona after Earnhardt Sr. passed away.

Jeb Burton

Throwback: Honors Jeb’s dad Ward Burton’s first Cup win at Rockingham Speedway in 1995 (though the silver stripe on the side appeared the following year).

Justin Haley

Throwback: LeafFilter’s first NASCAR sponsorship, the No. 32 Go Fas Racing Ford in 2014. Team owner Matt Kaulig also owns the company.

Matt Jaskol

Throwback: Resembles Mike Skinner’s 1991 Glidden livery.

Colby Howard

Throwback: Colby’s dad Rodney Howard’s 1980s late model scheme.

AJ Allmendinger

Throwback: Replicates the No. 47 Cup car that Allmendinger took home his first checkered flag at Watkins Glen International.

JJ Yeley

Throwback: Similar to Matt Kenseth’s 2012 Valvoline NextGen paint scheme run at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Daniel Hemric

Throwback: Carries the same colors as Red Farmer’s No. 97 Long-Lewis car. Lead mechanic Charlie Brock is Farmer’s grandson.

Brandon Jones

Throwback: Todd Bodine’s 2006 Truck championship-winning scheme, Toyota’s first Truck championship.

Harrison Burton

Throwback: Sports a similar design as Harrison’s dad Jeff Burton’s No. 29 Holiday Inn car from

Brandon Gdovic

Throwback: Kyle Petty’s 1997 Hot Wheels scheme in the Cup Series.

Alex Labbe

Throwback: Honors Kenny Wallace and his No. 8 Red Dog car from 1994-1996.

Tommy Joe Martins

Throwback: Resembles Rich Bickle’s Lucky Dog 10-10-345 scheme from 1999.

Kyle Weatherman

Throwback: Likened to Richard Petty’s 1981 Buick livery.

Jade Buford

Throwback: Tribute to Dan Gurney’s 1970 All American Racers, Inc. scheme in the Trans Am Series.

Jeremy Clements

Throwback: Resembles Dale Jarrett’s No. 88 UPS scheme from 2006.

Ty Gibbs

Throwback: Mirrors the No. 18 car of Dale Jarrett, who won the 1993 Daytona 500. This was the first win for JGR’s partnership with Interstate Batteries.

David Starr

This was a simple change for us to do Darlington throw back.. The orange #61 is an iconic paint scheme for driver Richie…

Posted by MBM Motorsports on Monday, April 26, 2021

Throwback: Features the same number style that was on Modified legend Richie Evans’ No. 61 car.

Timmy Hill

Timmy Hill in the Liftkits4less.com #66 Mustang. This is a throwback to Rusty Wallace Duraflame Dodge .

Posted by MBM Motorsports on Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Throwback: Resembles Rusty Wallace’s 2004 Duraflame Dodge.

Brandon Brown

Throwback: Sports the same livery as Dale Jarrett’s 2002 UPS car.

Bayley Currey

Throwback: Bobby Allison’s No. 28 Grey Ghost scheme from 1981.

BJ McLeod

Throwback: Mirrors Ken Schrader’s 1985 car in which he won Rookie of the Year honors.

Josh Williams

Throwback: Honors the late Rusty Crews with a similar scheme to the No. 81 car ran in Figure 8 style racing at Auburndale Speedway in Florida. Crews, who was part of DGM Racing in its early years, also drove the car at Lakeland Speedway.

Riley Herbst

Throwback: Resembles team co-owner Tony Stewart’s The Home Depot No. 20 from 1999, Stewart’s rookie season.

Ryan Ellis

Throwback: Honors Ryan’s grandfather Vic Ellis, who passed away in 1958.

Truck

Kris Wright

Throwback: Likened to Ron Hornaday Jr.’s No. 6 Goodwrench livery from 2005.

Cory Roper

Throwback: Pays homage to the late Bobby Hamilton’s 2005 scheme.

Hailie Deegan

Throwback: Recognition of Ford GT’s first endurance win at the 1966 Daytona 24 Hour Continental race.

Sheldon Creed

Throwback: Tribute to Jason Leffler, who wheeled the No. 2 truck in 2002.

Jordan Anderson

Throwback: Honors his future father-in-law Larry McReynolds with a similar scheme as Mark Martin’s No. 02 Apache car from 1982.

Spencer Davis

Throwback: Honors Darrell Waltrip, who piloted his own No. 11 at Martinsville Speedway and Lucas Oil Raceway in 2004.

Austin Hill

Throwback: Resembles NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Mike Stefanik’s No. 16 Whelen Modified Tour car from 2010-2011.

Chandler Smith

Throwback: SafeLite’s MobileGlassShop vehicles before 2013.

Derek Kraus

Throwback: Features Michael Waltrip’s 2003 Daytona 500 winning scheme.

Spencer Boyd

Throwback: Sports the same livery as the No. 60 Con-Way Freight truck Jack Sprague piloted in 2007. Sprague won three Truck Series titles in 1997, 1999 and 2001.

Austin Wayne Self

Throwback: Honors Tony Raines with a similar scheme as his No. 19 Pennzoil truck from 1997 and 1998.

Chase Purdy

Throwback: Tribute to Davey Allison’s No. 23 car from 1981.

Timothy Peters

Throwback: Tribute to Bobby Hamilton, who won his second Darlington race in 2003 in the No. 4 truck.

Tyler Ankrum

Throwback: Carries the colors and flames that were on Ricky Bobby’s Wonder Bread car in the 2006 movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

Danny Bohn

Throwback: Michael Waltrip’s Country Time paint scheme that he ran in the Cup Series for Bahari Racing from 1989-90.

Akinori Ogata

Throwback: Kenji Momota’s 1995 Marukatsu scheme. Momota is the first Japanese driver to compete in the Truck Series.

Todd Gilliland

Throwback: Honors Charles Powell III, who drove the No. 22 Late Model for Ricky Benton and the Black’s Tire and Auto Service team. Powell won the 1998 Atlantic Seaboard Regional championship.

Ryan Truex

Throwback: Celebrates Marquis Hot Tubs’ history with an old school logo from the 1980s. Martin Truex Jr. ran this scheme last year in the eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series event at virtual North Wilkesboro Speedway.

Dawson Cram

Throwback: Commemorates Camping World’s 55th anniversary; originally designed by Kyle Sykes and Noah Sweet.

Carson Hocevar

Throwback: Resembles Johnny Benson’s No. 10 Valvoline MaxLife scheme from the early 2000s.

Bayley Currey

Throwback: Honors NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Mike Stefanik; the Whelen Modified Tour legend piloted a similar Truck scheme in 1999, winning Rookie of the Year.

Erik Darnell

Throwback: Darnell’s two Truck Series victories at Kansas Speedway in 2007 and Michigan International Speedway in 2008.

Stewart Friesen

Throwback: Replicates Tim Richmond’s No. 25 Folgers “Coffee Machine” Chevrolet from the mid-1980s.

Timmy Hill

Throwback: Resembles Kenny Irwin’s No. 98 Raybestos paint scheme from 1998.

About the author

Joy Tomlinson

Joy joined Frontstretch in 2019 as a NASCAR DraftKings writer, expanding to news and iRacing coverage in 2020. She's currently an assistant editor and involved with photos, social media and news editing. A California native, Joy was raised watching motorsports and started watching NASCAR extensively in 2001. She earned her B.A. degree in Liberal Studies at California State University Bakersfield in 2010.

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Jo

I hope Chase wrecks on Lap One with that paint scheme.

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jko75

Did you feel the same way when Greg Biffle ran it a few years back?

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Jo

Absolutely. Although it’s worse that Chase is doing it.

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Carl D.

Chase’s car looks really good. I was a big Kulwicki fan. Still, it will look funny with a bowtie on the front.

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Tom B

Chase needs to have some HOOTER’S girls in his pit box and victory circle.

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Jo

Poor Matt McLaughlin will have to choose between his hatred for the Elliott family and his adoration of Alan Kulwicki. I’m betting his hatred wins out.

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Kobe

You know what Jo your actually a b*tch hooters is chases sponsor hooters wants their champ to throwback to their original champ

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Echo

lol

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Bill B

double LOL

that’s no secret

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Echo

I think bubba’s “depends discreet” are full now. Long stinky race for him.

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Jo

You know what, Kobe? I have changed my mind about that. I hope Chase does well with the paint scheme and I understand why Hooters wants it. I’m just not a fan of Kulwicki for the fan’s adoration of a very troubled man and unworthy hero.

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Ricardo

@Jo
“I’m just not a fan of Kulwicki for the fan’s adoration of a very troubled man and unworthy hero.”
Serious question: Please elaborate/clarify what your statement means.

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Bleed Blue

If Alan Kulwicki was the “creepy toad” and unworthy hero as you claim, I doubt that his team members like Paul Andrews, Tony Gibson, etc. would have been as loyal, and still speak highly him. I’ve never seen as much negative written about the guy as the comments you post.

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Jo

Kulwicki had a reputation as being almost impossible to work with. Of course, the survivors like Andrews and Gibson aren’t going to talk trash about the dead “hero.” Kulwicki supposedly lost his good sponsorship with Xerex because of his behavior, yet no one talks about that anymore. Or the fact that he fired Ray Evernham. Or that he refused to talk with the press or pretty much anyone at all. Just an all-around neurotic jerk who benefits from the “dead hero syndrome.”

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RH

I’ve always read that Kulwicki was extremely socially awkward. That doesn’t make him a bad person. I think the sport was better off when the less polished people like Kulwicki, Dale Sr, Geoff Bodine, etc could succeed.

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Nathan Grant

I don’t see why people get on here and talk s*** about someone who’s a professional athlete.the man had the skills to be a race car driver and no matter how much s*** you talk about him.thats not going to change that..and you know what they say about opinions. Everyone has one.

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Matt Griffin

The top standouts for me are
-Logano’s Andretti car
-DaleJr ’01 MLB All-Star car with his and MW’s image on the side panel(nice touch!)
-Danny Bohn’s own ‘Country Time’ throwback to Mikey’s #30 ride from ’89

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Mike

Would be nice if original sponsors of the throw back cars would do a one-off race. I realize that some of the companies that sponsored cars back then have merged or been bought by other companies but wouldnt hurt them to do it for one race. Without the original sponsors kind of ruins it for me. More of a gimmick than anything.

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None Of Your Fucking Business

Really? Couldn’t do a Ricky Rudd, Terry Labonte, Kyle Busch (You have the same first fucking name!), or Mark Martin? Not even Kasey Kahne’s Quaker State ride from 2012? That was his 3rd Coca-Cola 600 win. You do a throwback to yourself and show off your stupid ass kid picture because you think it’s cute/funny? You were an ugly little shut. Fuck you Kyle Larson. AND FUCK RYAN BLAND-EY AND DULL ASS TRUEX FOR DOING THE SAME SHIT. Truex you can’t do an Elliott Sadler or Jeremy Mayfield. Not even a Casey Atwood? Blaney you can’t do a Ryan Newman or Jeremy Mayfield? It’s all about you? The Stenhouse Tide throwback looks like shit and has been done before. The Kulwicki one has been done before, Chase, you ugly bastard. And whoever the fuck is in the 99 (millennials all have the same names) could’ve done a Jeff Burton or Carl Edwards throwback. They deserve some respect you selfish bastards. I hope you all pile up within half a lap. You do that every weekend anyways because you punks aren’t ever going to be as good as the retired veterans.

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WJW Motorsports

You have my vote for post of the year.

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Jo

That post was an incoherent vulgar laundry list of complaints and insults. Typical for racing fans and FS followers in general. The stereotype of the standard NASCAR fan is alive and well. Lives in the past, fears the future and probably owns a lot of white sheets for use as apparel.

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Bill B

“That post was an incoherent vulgar laundry list of complaints and insults. ”

That’s what makes it so funny.

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your mom

fuck your self

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