By Richard Tix
This weekend NASCAR heads to Darlington Raceway for the Southern 500 (Bojangles' Southern 500). Finally, NASCAR is back at Darlington for Labor Day weekend. NASCAR brought back the Labor Day tradition and teams are bring back some retro looks to there cars.
So, why not create another Power Rankings (or list), because everyone loves lists! Disclaimer, this is all based on opinion (like many lists are). So, lets dig into my top 10 paint schemes for this weekend (Make note: I still have not seen the #22 fully reviled and this was released 8/31/15. More scheme's might be coming).
Every since BK, Penske, and Miller released this paint scheme (and "Midnight") to start the season in Vegas I was in love. It's true, I am a #2 fan so some may find bias, but this 1980's scheme that was used by Bobby Allison is simple and clean.
2) Dale Earnhardt Jr- Valvoline
Jr and HMS didn't release there throwback scheme as early as many teams but it was worth the wait. Jr and Valvoline brought back the classic look that Valvoline and Neil Bonnett used. Again, simple, clean, and great colors.
3) Ricky Stenhouse Jr- Cargill
Stenhouse Jr's Darlington car will be the best thing to happen to the #17 all year. On a serious note, that last statement was serious. The David Pearson look is a fantastic throwback with great 70's colors. You will find a theme here, simple, clean, great colors, and the numbers look fantastic.
4) Clint Bowyer- Peak
Buddy Baker Clint Bowyers look for Darlington is a nod to the late Buddy Baker. It not only finds itself high on the list because of who it was for, but also because this simple design was hand painted, yes hand painted.
5) Kyle Larson- Mellow Yello
Hopefully Larson doesn't hit everything but the pace car at Darlington. The old Mello Yello look just make you long for the days of cars actually being made in underfunded shops like some of Cole Trickles in Days of Thunder. This is almost a throwback of a throwback (Cole Trickle in Days of Thunder and then Kyle Petty). The colors still pop and bring you right back to racing in the 80's and early 90's.
6) Aric Almirola- STP
As a Richard "King" Petty fan, its hard for me to think I just put a retro King car out of the top 5, but that is how many great scheme's there are. RPM has done a classic look at Martinsville, but they always seem to be the late 80's STP look and not back to Petty's hay day. This one goes back to 1972 and the first time STP was dawned on the #43 and paired with Petty Blue.
7) Trevor Bayne- Advocare
This one was popular while I was in my early stages of NASCAR. Born in 1987, the 90's are where I fell in love with the sport and this 1998 Mark Martin throwback sticks out. This is one of the first on the list that isn't based on clean lines and classic old school colors, but it all works because the colors pop and Martin made it a classic in the late 90's.
8) Kevin Harvick- Budweiser
All of the above were derived from an old classic NASCAR scheme, Harvicks is the first on the list that just has the retro look. This one is based on an old Budweiser can, logo, and colors. The old script and eagle logo are what does it for me, add in the gold color and it is top of the line when it comes to "new," old school looks.
9) Chase Elliott- Napa
The colors and sponsor are different, but Chase Elliott gets the "Awesome" honor in running one of his fathers classic schemes. Bill Elliot ran the Coors Scheme to win the 1985 "Winston Million" at Darlington. That alone gets him on the top 10 then add to it that it is clean, simple, and his dad drove it? No brainer.
10) Greg Biffle- Ortho
Add the Biff as the second car on this list not actually done directly after and older scheme. Biffle, RFR, and Ortho bring the old school feel with a simple old logo (Ortho), some classic colors, and a cool number script. I think this original retro look isn't getting enough love as people tend to look at the throwbacks first.
11) Landon Cassill- Snap Fitness
I want to start by saying I love the Snap Fitness red, white, and blue look they currently have, it is awesome. But, most American themed schemes can't live up to the glory that this one has. In 2001 Sterling Marlin ran this 9/11 inspired theme at Kansas just a few weeks after 9/11. This one is for the USA and is still a classic look pulled off by this team.
12) Jimmie Johnson- Lowes
Rounding out the list in the #12 spot is JJ and his retro Lowes look. Again, this one gets some points on originality as it isn't based on an old scheme. The old colors, logo, and company slogan really round it out nicely.
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