Retro Rundown: 2021 Darlington throwback paint schemes

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The Retro Rundown returns a bit earlier this year.

That’s because after six years paired with the Southern 500, NASCAR Throwback Weekend at Darlington Raceway has moved to the track’s new spring weekend.

Here’s a look at the various throwback paint schemes that Cup, Xfinity and Truck Series teams will race this weekend at “The Lady in Black” …

CUP SERIES

Quin Houff, No. 00 Starcom Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by John Andretti’s 1996-1997 RCA Ford

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Fireball Roberts’ 1959 Pontiac

Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Throwback inspired by by the car Harvick drove in his first Cup start in 2001, the week after Dale Earnhardt’s death on the last lap of the Daytona 500.

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Kyle Larson’s first-ever go-kart

Ryan Newman, No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford

Throwback inspired by sponsor Kohler Power’s 1976 SCCA national championship scheme

Corey LaJoie, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Alan Kulwicki’s 1989-90 Zerex Ford

Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Marty Robbins’ 1972 Dodge

Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Alan Kulwicki’s 1992 championship-winning Hooters Ford

Aric Almirola, No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Throwback inspired by Mark Martin’s 2000 Winn-Dixie Ford

Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Throwback inspired by Slick Johnson’s 1983 Seamless Gutter Machine Buick

Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford

Throwback inspired by Ryan Blaney’s 2010 PASS series late model car

Chase Briscoe, No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Throwback inspired by A.J. Foyt’s 1986 Copenhagen/Gilmore Oldsmobile

James Davison, No. 15 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Dick Johnson’s 1989-90 Redkote Steel Tubing Ford

Kyle Busch, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Celebrating the 80th anniversary of team sponsor M&Ms

Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford

Throwback inspired by Mario Andretti’s Ferrari 312B from his first Formula 1 win in 1971

Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota

Throwback inspired by Wendell Scott, first African-American to win in NASCAR’s premier division 

William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Neil Bonnett’s 1987-88 Valvoline Pontiac

Michael McDowell, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford

Throwback inspired by Bill Elliott’s 1985 Daytona 500-winning Coors Ford

Ryan Preece, No. 37 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by crew chief Trent Owens’ 2002 Dickies Ford F-150

Anthony Alfredo, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford

Throwback inspired by Alan Kulwicki’s 1985 Hardee’s Ford

Cole Custer, No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Car is dedicated to the mother of car owner Gene Haas.

Ross Chastain, No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Hut Stricklin’s 1993 McDonald’s Ford

Erik Jones, No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by John Andretti’s 1999 STP Pontiac

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet

Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by crew chief Greg Ives’ super late model

Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Darrell Waltrip’s 1989-90 Exxon Superflo Chevrolet

Josh Bilicki, No. 52 Rick Ware Racing Ford

Throwback inspired by Lennie Pond’s 1979 Burger King Oldsmobile

Justin Haley, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Robert Pressley’s 2001 Jasper Engines Ford

BJ McLeod, No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Ford

Throwback inspired by Joe Weatherly’s 1963 Darlington-winning Pontiac

Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Chevrolet

Celebrating the 55th birthday of team sponsor Camping World

 

XFINITY SERIES

Jeffrey Earnhardt, No. 0 JD Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by grandfather Dale Earnhardt’s 1996 GM Goodwrench/Atlanta Olympics Chevrolet

Michael Annett, No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Inspired by Darrell Waltrip’s 1979 Gatorade Chevrolet

Myatt Snider, No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by his grandfather’s Grand National car, driven by Jimmie Lewallen

Ryan Vargas, No. 6 JD Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Mark Martin’s 1994 Valvoline Ford

Justin Allgaier, No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Dale Earnhardt’s 2000 GM Goodwrench Service Plus/Tasmanian Devil Chevrolet 

Joe Graf Jr., No. 07 SS Green Light Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Dr. Emmett Brown’s DeLorean time machine from the movie “Back To The Future”

Josh Berry, No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s 2001 Pepsi 400-winning Budweiser Chevrolet

Jeb Burton, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by father Ward Burton’s 1995 MBNA Pontiac

Justin Haley, No. 11 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Blake Koch’s 2014 LeafFilter Ford

Matt Jaskol, No. 13 MBM Motorsports Toyota

Throwback inspired by Mike Skinner’s 1991 Glidden Paints Chevrolet

Colby Howard, No. 15 JD Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by father Rodney Howard’s 1982 late model car

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by AJ Allmendinger’s 2014 Scott/Kingsford Chevrolet

J.J. Yeley, No. 17 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Matt Kenseth’s 2012 Valvoline NextGen Ford

Daniel Hemric, No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Throwback inspired by Red Farmer’s Long-Lewis Ford

Brandon Jones, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Throwback inspired by Toyota’s first Truck Series title, which was won by Todd Bodine in 2006

Harrison Burton, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Throwback inspired by father Jeff Burton’s No. 29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet

Brandon Gdovic, No. 26 Sam Hunt Racing Toyota

Throwback inspired by Kyle Petty’s 1997 Hot Wheels Pontiac

Alex Labbe, No. 36 DGM Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Kenny Wallace’s 1994-96 Red Dog Beer Ford

Tommy Joe Martins, No. 44 Martins Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Rich Bickle’s 1999 Lucky Dog/10-10-345 Pontiac

Kyle Weatherman, No. 47 Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Richard Petty

Jade Buford, No. 48 Big Machine Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Dan Gurney’s 1970 All-American Racers Plymouth Barracuda (Trans-Am series)

Jeremy Clements, No. 51 Jeremy Clements Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Dale Jarrett’s 2006 UPS Ford

Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

Throwback inspired by Dale Jarrett’s 1992 Interstate Batteries Chevrolet

David Starr, No. 61 MBM Motorsports Toyota

Throwback inspired by nine-time NASCAR Modified champion Richie Evans

Timmy Hill, No. 66 MBM Motorsports Ford

Throwback inspired by Rusty Wallace’s 2004 Duraflame Dodge

Brandon Brown, No. 68 Brandonbilt Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Dale Jarrett’s 2002 UPS Ford

Bayley Currey, No. 74 Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Bobby Allison’s 1981 Tuf-Lon car

BJ McLeod, No. 90 DGM Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Ken Schrader’s 1985 Ultra Seal Ford

Josh Williams, No. 92 DGM Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Rusty Crews’ Figure-8 race car

Riley Herbst, No. 98 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

Throwback inspired by Tony Stewart’s 1999 Home Depot Pontiac

Ryan Ellis, No. 99 BJ McLeod Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by grandfather Vic Ellis’ 1950s dirt car

CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

Hailie Deegan, No. 1 David Gilliland Racing Ford

Throwback inspired by Ford GT’s first endurance win in the 1966 Rolex 24 at Daytona

Sheldon Creed, No. 2 GMS Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Jason Leffler’s 2002 Team ASE/Carquest Dodge Ram

Kris Wright, No. 02 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Ron Hornaday Jr.’s 2005 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Silverado

Jordan Anderson, No. 3 Jordan Anderson Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Mark Martin’s 1982 Apache Stove car (future father-in-law Larry McReynolds was Martin’s crew chief that season)

Cory Roper, No. 04 Roper Racing Ford

Throwback inspired by Bobby Hamilton’s 2005 Tech-Net Dodge Ram

Spencer Davis, No. 11 Spencer Davis Motorsports Toyota

Throwback inspired by Darrell Waltrip’s 2004 Toyota Tundra

Darlington throwback schemes

Austin Hill, No. 16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota

Throwback inspired by Mike Stefanik’s 2010-11 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour entry

Chandler Smith, No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota

Throwback inspired by sponsor Safelite AutoGlass’ former mobile glass shop vehicles

Derek Kraus, No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Toyota

Throwback inspired by Michael Waltrip’s 2003 Daytona 500-winning NAPA Chevrolet

Spencer Boyd, No. 20 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Jack Sprague’s 2007 Con-Way Freight Toyota Tundra

Zane Smith, No. 21 GMS Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Glen Wood’s 1957 Ford Sunliner

Austin Wayne Self, No. 22 AM Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by spotter Tony Raines’ 1997-98 Pennzoil Dodge Ram and Ford F-150

Darlington throwback schemes

Chase Purdy, No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Davey Allison’s 1981 Sims Bros. Construction car

Timothy Peters, No. 25 Rackley W.A.R. Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Bobby Hamilton’s 2003 Darlington Truck race-winning Square D Dodge Ram

Tyler Ankrum, No. 26 GMS Racing Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Ricky Bobby’s Wonder Bread Chevrolet from the movie “Talladega Nights”

Danny Bohn, No. 30 On Point Motorsports Toyota

Throwback inspired by Michael Waltrip’s Country Time Lemonade Pontiac

Akinori Ogata, Reaume Brothers Racing Toyota

Throwback inspired by Kenji Momota’s 1995 Marukatsu Chevrolet Silverado

Todd Gilliland, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford

Throwback inspired by 1998 NASCAR Atlantic Seaboard Regional Champion Charles Powell III

Ryan Truex, No. 40 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by sponsor Marquis Hot Tubs

Dawson Cram, No. 41 Cram Enterprises Chevrolet

Celebrating the 55th birthday of Camping World

Carson Hocevar, No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Johnny Benson’s 2002 Valvoline MaxLife Pontiac

Bayley Currey, No. 44 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Mike Stefanik’s 1999 Carlin Burners and Controls Ford F-150

Erik Darnell, No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by the sponsor Erik Darnell drove for when he won in 2007 and ’08

Stewart Friesen, No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota

Throwback inspired by Tim Richmond‘s 1986 Folgers Chevrolet

Timmy Hill, No. 56 Hill Motorsports Chevrolet

Throwback inspired by Kenny Irwin’s 1998 Raybestos Ford

NASCAR issues major penalties to Chase Briscoe team for Charlotte infraction

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NASCAR fined crew chief John Klausmeier $250,000 and suspended him six races, along with penalizing Chase Briscoe and the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing team 120 points and 25 playoff points each for a counterfeit part on the car.

The issue was a counterfeit engine NACA duct, said Elton Sawyer, NASCAR senior vice president of competition, on Wednesday. That is a single-source part.

The team stated that it accepts the L3 penalty.

“We had a quality control lapse and a part that never should’ve been on a car going to the racetrack ended up on the No. 14 car at Charlotte,” said Greg Zipadelli in a statement from the team. “We accept NASCAR’s decision and will not appeal.”

Asked how then piece could have aided performance, Sawyer said Wednesday: “Knowing the race team mentality, they don’t do things that would not be a benefit to them in some way, shape or form from a performance advantage.”

The penalty drops Briscoe from 17th in the season standings to 31st in the standings. Briscoe goes from having 292 points to having 172 points. He’ll have to win to make the playoffs. Briscoe has no playoff points at this time, so the penalty puts him at -25 playoff points should he make it.

Briscoe’s car was one of two taken to the R&D Center after Monday’s Coca-Cola 600 for additional tear down by series officials.

The penalty comes a day after NASCAR suspended Chase Elliott one race for wrecking Denny Hamlin in last weekend’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Championship Weekend returns to Phoenix in 2024

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Phoenix Raceway will host the championship races for the Cup, Xfinity, Craftsman Truck and ARCA Menards Series in 2024, NASCAR announced Wednesday.

The races will be held Nov. 1-3, 2024. The Cup season finale will be Nov. 3, 2024. The only other Cup race for 2024 that has been announced is the Daytona 500. It will be held Feb. 18, 2024.

Phoenix Raceway has hosted the championship finale for Cup, Xfinity and Trucks since 2020. Chase Elliott won the Cup title there in 2020. Kyle Larson followed in 2021. Joey Logano won the crown there in 2022.

This year’s Cup finale at Phoenix will be Nov. 5 and air on NBC.

 

 

Drivers to watch at World Wide Technology Raceway

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After the fireworks from the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR heads to World Wide Technology Raceway, a 1.25-mile speedway just outside of St. Louis. Sunday’s race (3:30 p.m. ET on FS1) marks the second time the Cup Series has raced at this track.

Much is at stake. The race to win the regular season championship has intensified. Tempers are high. The pressure to make the playoffs builds. Ten drivers have wins this season. Twelve races remain in the regular season.

FRONTRUNNERS

Kyle Larson

  • Points position: 11th
  • Best finish this season: 1st (Richmond, Martinsville)
  • Past at WWTR: 12th last year

While a driver coming off back-to-back finishes of 20th or worse might not seem like a frontrunner, it actually does make Larson one. His topsy-turvy season has seen him place outside the top 10 in back-to-back races four times. In the three previous times he had consecutive finishes outside the top 10, he came back to finish second, first and second. Can he keep that streak going this weekend?

Bubba Wallace

  • Points position: 15th
  • Best finish this season: 4th (Las Vegas I, Kansas I, Coca-Cola 600)
  • Past at WWTR: 26th last year

Wallace has scored three consecutive top-five finishes, his best streak in his Cup career. He has climbed from 21st to 15th in the standings during this run.

William Byron

  • Points position: 3rd
  • Best finish this season: 1st (Las Vegas I, Phoenix I, Darlington I)
  • Past at WWTR: 19th last year

Byron has finished no worse than seventh in the last five races. He’s led nearly 20% of the laps run during that time. Byron has averaged nearly 47 points a race during that streak.

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

Corey LaJoie

  • Points position: 20th
  • Best finish this season: 4th (Atlanta I)
  • Past at WWTR: 36th last season

NASCAR’s one-race suspension to Chase Elliott gives LaJoie the chance to drive a Hendrick Motorsports car for the first time. This will be the best car LaJoie has driven in his career. Many eyes will be on him to see how he does.

Ross Chastain

Chastain has finished 29th and 22nd in the last two points races. He’s not gone more than three races without a top-10 finish this season. After his struggles last weekend at Charlotte, Chastain saw his lead cut to one point over Coca-Cola 600 winner Ryan Blaney in the standings. Five drivers are within 17 points of Chastain in the season standings.

Aric Almirola

  • Points position: 26th
  • Best finish this season: 6th (Martinsville I)
  • Past at WWTR: 5th last year

Almirola has finished 13th or worse in all but one race this season for Stewart-Haas Racing. In the five races since placing sixth at Martinsville, Almirola has finished an average of 21.0.

NASCAR suspends Chase Elliott one race for incident with Denny Hamlin

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NASCAR suspended Chase Elliott one Cup race for wrecking Denny Hamlin in Monday’s Coca-Cola 600, the sanctioning body announced Tuesday.

“We take this very seriously,” Elton Sawyer, senior vice president of competition, said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. “The incident that happened off Turn 4, again after looking at all the available resources — in-car camera, data, SMT, which basically gives us (a car’s) steering, throttle, gives us braking — it was an intentional act by Chase in our opinion.”

Hendrick Motorsports stated that it would not appeal the penalty. Corey LaJoie will drive the No. 9 car for Hendrick Motorsports this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway. Carson Hocevar will drive LaJoie’s car this weekend.

Hendrick Motorsports also stated that it would submit a waiver request for Elliott to remain eligible for the playoffs. Sawyer said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that “I don’t see any reason at this point in time why wouldn’t (grant the waiver) when that request comes across our desk.”

This weekend will mark the seventh race in the first 15 that Elliott will have missed. He missed six races after breaking his leg in a snowboarding accident in early March. Elliott, who is winless this season, is 29th in points.

Elliott and Hamlin got together shortly before the halfway mark in Monday’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

As they ran together, Hamlin forced Elliott toward the wall. Elliott’s car slapped the wall. Elliott then made contact with the right rear of Hamlin’s car, sending Hamlin into the wall.

“I got right-rear hooked in the middle of the straightway,” Hamlin said after the incident. “Yes, it was a tantrum. He shouldn’t be racing next week. Right-rear hooks are absolutely unacceptable. He shouldn’t be racing.”

Said Sawyer on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio: “In the heat of the battle, things happen, but they have to learn to react in a different way. … Our drivers need to understand that you have to handle that in a completely different way than hooking someone in the right rear and putting them in harm’s way, not only with just a major head-on collision like Denny had, but also other competitors.”

Sawyer also said on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that “nothing gave us the indication that on that particular contact with the fourth-turn wall … that anything was broke” on Elliott’s car and could have caused him to come down and hit Hamlin’s car in the right rear.

NASCAR also announced that Scott Brzozowski and Adam Lewis, crew members on Michael McDowell‘s team, had each been suspended two races after McDowell’s car lost a tire in Monday’s race.