It is a fan-favorite time of the year: Darlington Throwback Weekend. And with it, paint schemes throwing back to some of NASCAR’s most historic and iconic race cars. Here are my rankings for every throwback paint scheme announced so far
The Best Darlington Throwback Schemes of 2025
While the Cup Series has some excellent throwback paint schemes, the absolute ‘heaters’ are in the Xfinity Series in 2025. The teams in the series have the majority of some of the best schemes of the weekends. Sponsors have adapted their logos, and numbers have changed to reflect the cars they are honoring, giving us a field of iconic paint schemes that, at first glance, look the part.
These are my picks for the best schemes of the 2025 throwback weekend.
Best Cup Series Darlington Throwback Schemes:
The Cup Series was lacking in throwbacks this year, but certain teams have brought some phenomenal schemes. Here are the picks:
Kyle Larson:
.@KyleLarsonRacin‘s throwback is looking GRRREAT! pic.twitter.com/r9dMMZaywI
— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) March 26, 2025
Larson and the #5 team are honoring Terry Labonte’s 2003 Frosted Flakes car. Labonte won the Southern 500 in 2003.
Denny Hamlin:
Darlington throwback 🤝 Carl Edwards pic.twitter.com/b9jIzmbGxB
— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) March 25, 2025
Hamlin is honoring recently inducted Hall of Famer Carl Edwards and his #99 Ford in its Office Depot paint scheme.
READ MORE: The Hall of Fame Career of Carl Edwards
Josh Berry
A nod to the past.
Introducing the No. 21 @MQL_Racing Ford Mustang for #NASCARThrowback Weekend at @TooToughToTame. pic.twitter.com/fRXVWeb5vz
— Wood Brothers Racing (@woodbrothers21) March 20, 2025
Josh Berry and the Wood Brothers are honoring Jim Clark and his 1965 Indianapolis 500 win. The Wood Brothers pitted Clark’s Lotus 38 en route to his victory at Indy.
JJ Yeley
Celebrating Bill Elliott with @jjyeley1 @Wawa pic.twitter.com/t8BGJZesPQ
— NY Racing Team (@NYRacingTeam) April 3, 2025
JJ Yeley, NY Racing, and Wawa are honoring Bill Elliott’s 1985 Coors Beer Ford. Elliott won the 1985 Winston 500 at Talladega, overcoming a broken oil line and being two laps behind to win the race.
Cody Ware
🎨 @TooToughToTame THROWBACK
VOTE for your favorite scheme on https://t.co/e4TcWbqv4P #LinkInBio pic.twitter.com/YtAmerbf3m— Rick Ware Racing (@RickWareRacing) April 1, 2025
Cody and Rick Ware Racing will honor Ward Burton and their competition director, Tommy Baldwin. Baldwin crew chiefed for Burton in the #22 Caterpillar Pontiac, winning two Darlington races.
Best Xfinity Series Darlington Throwback Schemes:
The Xfinity Series takes the cake for the best schemes of the 2025 weekend. Cars changed the font of the number, and sponsors adjusted to the car being honored; really exciting to see, and it has produced some great-looking throwback schemes. Here are the picks:
Carson Kvapil:
A fan favorite returns. 🎣@Carson_Kvapil is bringing the iconic design of the 2010 @BassProShops Chevrolet, driven by @jamiemcmurray to a Daytona 500 AND Brickyard 400 victory, to @TooToughToTame in April. pic.twitter.com/Pn4LSERsWN
— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) March 24, 2025
Carson and the #1 JRM team are honoring Jamie McMurray’s 2010 Bass Pro Shops Chevy. McMurray won both the Daytona 500 and the Brickyard 400 that year.
Parker Retzlaff:
🎞️ Take a picture, it’ll last longer.@Parker79p and @DrTeals will honor Ernie Irvin and his #4 paint scheme from the early 90s next weekend at @TooToughToTame!#SportClips200 | @XfinityRacing pic.twitter.com/9JcbntZAJE
— Alpha Prime Racing (@TeamAlphaPrime) March 26, 2025
Retzlaff will honor Ernie Irvan and his #4 Kodak car. An iconic scheme was recreated with the sponsor even changing their logo to match the original car.
Harrison Burton:
A better look at the @deximaging @FordPerformance Dark Horse Mustang for @HBurtonRacing for the track @TooToughToTame. We may be biased, but this is the best throwback scheme hands down.@XfinityRacing | @TheCW_Sports | @NASCAR pic.twitter.com/Gr5yRncSVi
— AM Racing (@AMRacingNASCAR) April 1, 2025
Harrison Burton will honor his father’s 2001 Citgo Ford at Darlington, with Dex Imaging getting into the fun and changing their logo to match Citgo’s.
Kyle Sieg:
Loaded up and headed to Darlington with this beautiful scheme. A big thanks to Night Owl National Contractors for always being a loyal supporter of the team. pic.twitter.com/1RoUtErfn1
— RSS Racing (@RSSRacing__) April 3, 2025
Kyle Sieg is honoring Ricky Rudd and his 2002 Havoline car.
Jeremy Clements:
Time to Get your @TooToughToTame @XfinityRacing 🎨 Scheme fan Vote in for the @JClements51 @HarrisonsUsa #HandsomeHarry @TeamChevy #51!
Remember you may submit five (5) ballots per 24 hours per unique email address!! Let’s Vote 🗳️✅!!@NASCAR_Xfinity https://t.co/DW5DXUNRl5 pic.twitter.com/kbbkzhe5wo
— JeremyClementsRacing (@JCR_Clements51) March 31, 2025
Jeremy Clements is honoring Harry Gant and his Skoal Bandit.
Stay connected with Last Word on Motorsports for all the action from Darlington’s Throwback Weekend.
Featured Image Credit: James Gilbert, Getty Images. 5/12/2024
