A year ago, I set out to start a blog that would discuss NASCAR paint schemes, the visual link between the fans and the drivers. Everyone can see this, even without logos, and know that it's Dale Earnhardt, or this and immediately think of Tide.Unfortunately, after four entries, I lost steam and gave up. That is, until now. I hope to have something here each week, if not every couple days. We may even see some guest writers show up every now and then.
A Return to Fenders
This weekend's Nationwide Series race in Michigan marks the reunion of IZOD IndyCar Series starlet Danica Patrick. In her five starts in her JR Motorsports Impala, she has struggled much more than expected, with two DNFs and a best finish of 24th at Chicago. She (and the JRM fabricators) hope that a change in paint scheme will bring better fortune. This weekend, she loses the risque stigma of being a model/driver for Go Daddy and brings Hot Wheels back to NASCAR for the first time since Jeff Burton drove with the toy company on his quarter panels in 2004.
It turns out that the scheme itself is modeled after her owner's own Hot Wheels sponsored truck that he races on the iRacing simulator. While the scheme itself is pretty indicative of its sponsor (the Hot Wheels logo is, itself, a flame), it still falls far short of what, in many eyes, was the best scheme of the 1990s, Kyle Petty's Hot Wheels Grand Prix.
Through the Field: What was once a rarity is now apparently commonplace. Joey Logano is running the standard GameStop scheme for the second week in a row in the Nationwide Series. ... Also, has anyone else besides a few people at Rubbin's Racin' noticed that the numbers on the side of Logano's Nationwide ride are getting spaced farther and farther apart? See here (2008) and here (2010). ... Braun Racing has apparently picked up secondary sponsorship from Old Navy, and changed their Great Clips paint scheme to incorporate what appears to be stitching. ... Ford teams continue to ruin what was once one of the sharpest schemes in racing. ... Terry Labonte will run four races for Stavola Labonte Racing, a new team he co-owns with Bill Stavola, who formerly owned the #8 cars with Hut Stricklin, Jeff Burton, Sterling Marlin, and others in the 1990s. ... Dale Jr continues his trend of running awesome special schemes, such as this one he will drive this Sunday at Michigan. ... Also running Sunday will be this Petty-inspired scheme for Elliott Sadler. The best part is that there's no more Evernham numbers! I expect them to be gone by next season. ... There is no truth to the rumor that Robby Gordon isn't driving the #7 this week as punishment for blinding race officials last week.
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