NASCAR fans usually have to wait until the back half of the 36-race schedule to enjoy all the throwback paint schemes that hit the track at Darlington Raceway. But this year, the annual throwback weekend is early for the first of two Darlington races this season — rather than for the “crown jewel” Southern 500 fall event.
The Goodyear 400 on Sunday, May 9 is the Cup Series’ throwback race at the South Carolina track.
And even though it’s still more than a week away, drivers and their teams are beginning to unveil their old-school paint schemes honoring iconic, famous or personally special looks from racing’s history.
In addition to the throwback schemes competing, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will return to the track for the second-tier Xfinity Series race pace laps, driving his vintage and newly restored No. 8 Chevrolet Nova, which his late father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., raced in the mid-1980s in what was then known as the Busch Grand National Series.
Friendly reminder that @DaleJr will be pacing the field before our #SteakhouseElite200 in the restored Nova in 2 weeks 😏
— Darlington Raceway (@TooToughToTame) April 24, 2021
(Dale Sr.’s grandson, Jeffrey Earnhardt, is also honoring his grandfather with his Xfinity paint scheme this year.)
There are so many throwback paint schemes to keep track of, and as we get closer to race day, more and more will be unveiled. So we’re keeping track of the Cup Series’ 2021 throwback looks for the spring Darlington race, and we’ll continue to update this list.
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