Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

NASCAR video: Dale Earnhardt Jr. unveils ‘Gray Ghost’ paint scheme for Southern 500

pwr3mvg8XkMX
Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s throwback paint scheme will honor the legendary Buddy Baker and the No. 88 driver catches up with Marty Snider to discuss the importance of having a throwback race in a place like Darlington.

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- In an exclusive interview Wednsday with Marty Snider of NBC Sports (above), Dale Earnhardt Jr. discussed the throwback paint scheme his No. 88 Chevrolet will sport in the Southern 500.

Earnhardt’s car, which was unveiled Wednesday at Darlington Raceway, will be a tribute to the 1979-80 “Gray Ghost” piloted by legendary driver and broadcaster Buddy Baker, who died of cancer last August. Earnhardt has said it’s his favorite paint scheme in the history of NASCAR.

In the interview with Snider, Earnhardt said the throwback theme of the Southern 500 is gaining traction in its second year after a smashing debut with the 2015 Southern 500 marking the signature event’s return to Labor Day weekend. Earnhardt’s No. 88 is one of three teams that unveiled their special schemes for the Sept. 4 race.

“Now that everyone understands what the idea is, people are going to get so creative,” Earnhardt said. “I’m looking forward to going through the garage area when the race is here to see what everyone has got.”

During the interview, the Hendrick Motorsports driver also reviewed his success in 2016, his growing relationship with crew chief Greg Ives and the reaction to his banana and mayonnaise sandwich that went viral.

Click above to watch the video.