Category: paint scheme grades

Paint Scheme Grades-May 6, 2017

By David G. Firestone

Jamie McMurray #1 Bass Pro Shops/National Wild Turkey Federation Chevy SS-Camoflague doesn’t work on a race car, and the black and orange motif doesn’t work well here either. It’s just not a good scheme. F

Kasey Kahne #5 Drive To End Hunger Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Danica Patrick #10 Mobil 1 Chevy SS-Same scheme as #41, same A grade.

Danica Patrick #10 Code 3 Associates Chevy SS-Blue, silver, and white can work very well, and the smooth design and great look give this car an A grade

Danica Patrick #10 Wonder Woman Chevy SS-I loves me a good fade, and red to white is a good fade. The Wonder Woman motif looks good too, and this is an A scheme all around.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 Fifth-Third Bank Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Paul Menard #27 Menard’s/Rockstar Chevy SS-Black works very well with any Menard’s template, especially this one. Nothing wrong with this one! A

Ryan Newman #31 Okuma Chevy SS-Same scheme as #3, same A grade.

Matt DiBenedetto #32 EJ Wade Ford Fusion-Another good fade this week! The white to black fade is a good look, and this is very well executed. A

Jeffery Earnhardt #33 Towne Bank Chevy SS-Same scheme as Starter, same A grade.

Landon Cassill #34 The Pete Store Ford Fusion-Same scheme as 2016#38, same A grade.

Landon Cassill #34 CSX Play It Safe Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Landon Cassill #34 Loves/Winstar Ford Fusion-Same scheme as Love’s Truck Stops, same A grade.

Timmy Hill #51 SleepFresh Chevy SS-Sometimes changing the primary color of a paint scheme can backfire, just not here. This is a good look, and the black works very well with the rest of the scheme. A

Cole Whitt #72 Chevy SS-The plain black works well with the numbers, and this is the best that the #72 has ever looked. A

Erik Jones #77 Gamestop Toyota Camry-The black motif with the blue circle works very well, it’s a bold look that isn’t overdone. I like this scheme a lot. A

Corey LaJoie #83 EJ Wade Toyota Camry-It’s amazing what a small change can do. Replacing the cutting edge design from last year, with the stripe design takes the paint scheme up to an A. This is a nice looking scheme.

Paint Scheme Grades-April 22, 2017

By David G. Firestone

Jamie McMurray #1 Sherwin Williams/3M Pro Chevy SS-While it has the same basic design as last year’s Sherwin Williams Emerald, but I don’t like the addition of the diamond plate. It takes a C design to a C-

Brad Keselowski #2 Miller Genuine Draft Ford Fusion-Our first Bristol throwback is one of my favortes, the Rusty Wallace Miller Genuine Draft design. It worked well a few years ago, it stil works well. I give it an A.

Austin Dillon #3 Dow Energy and Water Chevy SS-The blue water motif works well, the black outline…not so much. Get rid of the black outline, and just have the water motif. It’s not a terrible scheme, and it deserves a C.

JJ Yeley #7 Accell Construction Chevy SS-Same scheme as 2015, but with a black hood, and the black hood is an upgrade, and takes the scheme from a C- to a C.

Reed Sorenson #15 Xchange of America Chevy SS-It’s a smooth look, with a great color scheme. It earns an A.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 Ford EcoBoost Ford Fusion-While I like the fact the design has been toned down, it’s still over designed, just less over designed. Good color scheme, but that can’t save this scheme from earning a D-.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.#17 Go Bowling Ford Fusion-Definitly a downgrade, from red, white, and blue to black, red and white. The design scheme could be better if it were a bowling lane motif. Still, it’s not terrible, and I give this a B-.

Matt Kenseth #20 Toyota Toyota Camry-The color scheme could work it it was either gray or white, but the combination just doesn’t work. Add a design that doesn’t work well with the color scheme, and you have an F scheme.

Chase Elliott #24 Little Ceasers/Mountain Dew Chevy SS-The orange scheme works well, I like the fact that the door number matches the orange. Add in a good design scheme, and you have an A scheme.

Paul Menard #27 Menard’s/Dutch Boy Chevy SS-This might be one of the only templates that works with every color. The blue works well with the template. I also like that the chipped paint motif is gone. A

Chris Buescher #37 Scott Products/Kingsford Chevy SS-Same scheme as Cottonelle, same A grade.

Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe’s/Hitachi Chevy-Same scheme as Lowe’s, same F grade.

Timmy Hill #51 Fenton Motors Chevy SS-Same scheme as Bubba Burgers, same A grade.

Derrike Cope #55 Low T Center Toyota Camry-Black, red, and green, with black as the primary color is an iffy choice, and the polka dot motif doesn’t work well here. It’s just not a good scheme. F

Cole Whitt #72 RTIC Coolers Chevy SS-I like the lighter blue, and the carbon fiber hood works very well too. Even the #72 works well with this scheme. I give it an A.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 Axalta/Philadelphia Eagles Chevy SS-The color scheme isn’t great, the black doesn’t work. The design is unoriginal, and doesn’t work with the color scheme, but it’s not horrible. I will give it a C-.

Paint Scheme Grades-April 8, 2017

By David G. Firestone

Austin Dillon #3 Okuma Chevy SS-It’s the same basic scheme as AAA, but the color change doesn’t do anything to improve or detract from the D+ grade, so it stays a D+.

Joey Logano #22 Duralast Brakes Ford Fusion-I like this design, the black checkered pattern works very well.  The yellow is understated, and works well, and the modified Penske template works very well.  It’s a solid A scheme.

Paul Menard #27 Menard’s/Duracell Chevy SS-Black and gold works well for the new Menard’s template.  This scheme works well too.  It’s worth an A.

Ryan Newman #31 Kalahari Resorts Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same C- grade.

Ryan Newman #31 Chevrolet Chevy SS-Metallic gold is an underused color on race cars, and the smooth look and great color scheme create an A scheme.

Landon Cassill #34 FR8 Auctions Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year, same D+ grade.

Timmy Hill #51 Go Parts Chevy SS-Same basic scheme as the black Spoonful, same A grade.

Cole Whitt #72 Bad Boy Mowers Chevy SS-Bad number design, bad design scheme, decent design scheme.  All in all, it’s worth an F.

Corey LaJoie #83 RMC Events Toyota Camry-The blue is a little light for my tastes, but the color as a whole scheme isn’t terrible, and the designs scheme is decent.  So I’ll give it a B+.

Paint Scheme Grades-April 1, 2017

By David G. Firestone

Jamie McMurray #1 McDonald’s All American Games Chevy SS-Same scheme as McDonald’s, same A grade.

Denny Hamlin #11 SportClips Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year, same C- grade.

Clint Bowyer #14 Rush Truck Centers Ford Fusion-It’s a great look!  The color scheme works well with the design scheme, and the white hood, roof, and decklid work well too.  All in all, it’s an A scheme for sure!

Reed Sorenson #15 VIP Racing Experience Toyota Camry-It’s a clean smooth look with a great color scheme.  It’s worth an A.

Kyle Busch #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year, same F grade.

Daniel Suarez #19 Subway Toyota Camry-I like the removal of the white from the sides.  It gives the car a much cleaner and smoother look.  It’s still a little overdone, but it’s worth an A-.

Paul Menard #27 Menard’s/Jack Links Beef Jerkey Chevy SS-It’s not a bad scheme overall, but the dark red doesn’t work as well with the bright yellow.  It looks good, but if the red was a little brighter, the scheme would earn a little more than a B-.

Jeffery Earnhardt #33 Superior Logistics Services Chevy SS-Same scheme as Starter, same A grade.

Jeffery Earnhardt #33 Nice Ride Apparel Chevy SS-Same scheme as Starter, same A grade.

Jeffery Earnhardt #33 Detail 2U/K1 Speed Chevy SS-Same scheme as Starter, same A grade.

AJ Allmendinger #47 Ralph’s/Checklist/Oscar Meyer Chevy SS-Same scheme as Kroger, same A grade.

AJ Allmendinger #47 Fry’s/Checklist/Velveta Chevy SS-Same scheme as Kroger, same A grade.

Timmy Hill #51 Bubba Burger Chevy SS-Thought the blue could be a little darker, the overall scheme looks good.  I like the cutting edge design, and the color works well with the scheme.  It earns an A.

Reed Sorenson #55 Toyota Camry-It’s a clean smooth look with a great color scheme.  It’s worth an A.

Cole Whitt #72 SoCal Chevy Chevy SS-I REALLY hate that door numbers.  Normally this scheme would earn an A, but with the overly distracting #72, it ends up scoring just a B+.

Erik Jones #77 Toyota Service Centers Toyota Camry-Same scheme as 5-Hour Energy, same C- grade.

Corey LaJoie #83 Bubba Burger Toyota Camry-The black flame motif is simple, and it works!  It’s a bold look that isn’t overdone!  This is one of my favorite schemes so far this year.  I give it the A it deserves!

Michael McDowell #95 Leavine Family Surfboards Chevy SS-Designing cars to look like vintage classics can be hit or miss, and this is a hit!  The Woody design works well, and the light blue front works well too. A

Paint Scheme Grades-March 25, 2017

By David G. Firestone

Austin Dillon #3 Dow/World Water Day Chevy SS-New scheme for 2017, black front, water motif with a curve in front of the door number.D-

Kyle Busch #18 Skittles Toyota Camry–No change.A

Gray Gaulding #23 SunFrog.com Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2017, green front, black and green middle to rear.C+

Paul Menard #27 Menard’s/FVP Chevy SS–New scheme for 2017 Menard’s template with FVP colors, black replaces silver.A

Landon Cassill #34 Starkey Hearing Foundation Ford Fusion-New sponsor for 2017, Front Row template has been revamped, with blue and white color scheme.A

Cole Whitt #72 Standard Plumbing Supply Chevy SS-New sponsor for 2017, black with white and red letters and logos.B+

Corey LaJoie #83 BK Racing Graphics Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2017, black with red and silver stripes across sides.B-

Paint Scheme Grades-March 18, 2017

By David G. Firestone

Jamie McMurray #1 Credit One/Cessna Chevy SS-The color change works well, and the design looks good.  I give it an A.

Austin Dillon #3 Lucas Oil Chevy SS-The curve stripe doesn’t look good on the middle of the car.  Had it been on the bottom, it would be better.  It’s still not a bad scheme, and it’s worth a B+.

Matt Kenseth #20 PEAK Antifreeze Toyota Camry-Peak always has great schemes, and this is another example,  The more pronounced spikes make the car look good, and it’s a great A scheme.

Matt Kenseth #20 Blue Def Toyota Camry-For some schemes, reversing the colors can be a disaster, this scheme is great!  It works quite well, and has a great look.  A

Paul Menard #27 Menard’s/Valvoline Chevy SS-The new Menard’s template works very well, and the Valvoline scheme is a great look.  It works very well with the template, and the scheme is an A scheme.

Matt DiBenedetto #32 Keen Parts Ford Fusion-Keen Parts has had some awful schemes up until recently.  This is an example of how well they have advanced as a sponsor with their schemes.  This is a great scheme with a great color scheme.  It works well, and it looks good.  A

Chris Buescher #37 Natural Light Chevy SS-This is something that annoys me to no end, if you are going to do patriotic schemes, USE RED, WHITE, AND BLUE, Dark blue, light blue, and white, doesn’t work as a patriotic scheme.  That said, dumb color scheme aside, the car does have a good look, and the color scheme, while not patriotic, is still good, so I’ll give it a B+.

David Ragan #38 Juice Battery Ford Fusion-This is the worst color scheme I’ve seen in a while, and the car is so over designed, it just looks awful.  I’m going to be generous, and give this scheme an F.

Timmy Hill #51 Dashub Chevy SS-The cutting edge design can work, but with the odd color scheme, it looks off.  It doesn’t look bad, but it looks odd.  It’s a good color scheme, and a good design scheme, but they don’t work together.  It’s a B- scheme.

Derrike Cope #55 Chevy SS-Great color and a smooth design scheme will always earn an A.

Corey LaJoie #83 JAS Trucking Toyota Camry-The police motif doesn’t work here, and the stripes don’t work.  I thought when I first saw this scheme that it was a police sponsor, but it’s a trucking sponsor.  The color scheme is decent, but the design scheme doesn’t work as a scheme.  I’ll give it a D-.

Paint Scheme Grades-March 11, 2017

By David G. Firestone

Clint Bowyer #14 Haas Automotion Ford Fusion-Gray is out, red is in! The new color scheme works well, and I do like the white stripes at the bottom. It’s an A scheme!

Reed Sorenson #15 Chevy SS-Black with white numbers is always a good look, and this scheme is a good look. I can’t say anything bad about it, and I give it an A.

Reed Sorenson #15 The Maids Chevy SS-This is a unique situation, let me explain. Sorenson was expected to race the black with white numbers above. However, on Saturday, The Maids agreed to sponsor the team for one race, and the car was re-decaled overnight. It’s a good color scheme, a great shade of yellow, and a good shade of blue, and a smooth look, and it’s worth an A.

Kyle Busch #18 Snickers Crispier Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year, same B- grade.

Matt DiBenedetto #32 Cosmo Motors Ford Fusion-That stupid door design has been removed, and the car has gone from a C- to a B-. The look has improved, and the car has a smoother look as a result.

Matt DiBenedetto #32 Can Am/Kappa Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year, same F grade.

Jeffery Earnhardt #33 Chevy SS-Same scheme as Starter, same A grade.

Chris Buescher #37 Bush’s Baked Beans Chevy SS–Same scheme as 2016 #47, same B+ grade.

Cody Ware #51 Spoonful Music Foundation Chevy SS-Reversing the color scheme can be hit or miss. In this case, it’s a hit. The black design works very well, and the design scheme works well too. This scheme gets the A it deserves.

Derrike Cope #55 Wade Tractor/adrenalinpwr.com Chevy SS-It’s a simple, smooth look, with a good color scheme, and it earns an A.

Cole Whitt #72 Rinnai Chevy SS-This would normally be an A scheme, but there is an issue that I almost never discuss when grading paint schemes. The door numbers do not look good with this color scheme. The 72 looks awful here, and the car loses as a result. If the door numbers were just one color, I would give it an A. But the three color design doesn’t work on the white background. If it were plain black or red, I’d be able to work with it. But it’s not horrible, aside from the numbers, so I give it a B+.

Erik Jone #77 Sirius/XM Toyota Camry-It’s a needlessly over designed mess. Too much is going on, and the car looks awful as a direct result. I’m giving this scheme the F it deserves.

Michael McDowell #95 WRL Contractors Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup, NASCAR,Chevy, SS, Chevy SS, Ford Fusion, Ford, Fusion, Toyota Camry, Toyota, Camry, Snickers Crispier, Reed Sorenson, The Maids, Cosmo Motors, Can Am, Kappa, Bush’s Baked Beans, Wade Tractor, arenalinpwr.com, Derrike Cope, Cody Ware, Rinnai, Sirius/XM, WRL Contractors,Clint Bowyer, Haas Automation, Kyle Busch, Matt DiBenedetto, Jeffery Earnhardt, Chris Buescher, Cole Whitt, Erik Jones, Michael McDowell

 

Paint Scheme Grades-March 4, 2017

By David G. Firestone

Austin Dillon #3 Dow/Quikrete Chevy SS-Same scheme as Dow, same A- grade.

Elliott Sadler #7 Golden Corral Chevy SS-Same scheme as 2017, same A grade.

Kyle Larson #42 Target Chevy SS-Same scheme as 2017, same A grade.

Brendan Gaughan #75 Beard Oil Chevy SS-It’s a smooth simple clean look, with a great color scheme. I give it an A.,

 

Paint Scheme Grades-February 18, 2017

By David G. Firestone

Jamie McMurray #1 Cessna Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same B+ grade.

Brad Keselowski #2 SKF Ford Fusion–Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Ty Dillon #13 Twisted Tea Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Joey Logano #22 Pennzoil Ford Fusion–It’s the same basic scheme from last year, with some light changes in the white stripes. It still looks good, and I give it an A.

Joey Gase #23 Schluter Systems Toyota Camry-The basic scheme, which is horrible, returns, but the new stripes add nothing, and the car is still a D- scheme.

Joey Gase #23 Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry– The new side stripes don’t look good at all, and they take an A scheme down to a B+.

Ryan Newman #31 Granger Chevy SS-Red as a primary color works, and the black stripe on the bottom works well. It’s a great scheme, and earns an A.

Matt DiBenedetto #32 EJ Wade Foundation Ford Fusion-It’s not a great color scheme, and the ribbon design doesn’t look good. It’s a true F scheme.

Chris Buescher #37 Kroger Checklist Chevy SS-Same scheme as Kroger same B+ grade.

Kurt Busch #41 Mobil 1 Annual Protection Chevy SS-Same scheme as other SHR Mobil 1 schemes, but with gold trim, same A grade.

Cole Whitt #72 Florida Lottery Ford Fusion-The black doesn’t work at all with the orange and teal color scheme, and the scheme looks forced. The only thing I like about this scheme is the door numbers. I’ll give it a D-.

Corey LaJoie #83 Dustless Blasting Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year, same B- grade.

Paint Scheme Grades-February 4, 2017

By David G. Firestone

Chase Elliott #24 Hooters Chevy SS-I get that the yellow door numbers are a thing with the #24, but that said, they look totally out of place here. Seriously, couldn’t they have used orange door numbers? Not only would it look more in place, but the car would look better. Also, the roof number being changed to white would work well too. It could be an A scheme but the horrible number choices take it down to a C-

Chris Buescher #37 Cottonelle Chevy SS-The color scheme is really good, and the design scheme is simple, yet bold, and it looks really good. It’s an A scheme for sure.

Aric Almirola #43 Fresh From Florida Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year, same F grade.

Martin Truex Jr. #78 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry-It’s an upgrade from that orange disaster last year, but it’s still not great. Camouflage doesn’t look good on race cars, and the design scheme is a bit over designed. Still, it’s worth a C-

Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 Axalta Chevy SS-Great color scheme, but sadly, the design scheme is horrific! Way over designed, badly executed, and an awful look that not event a great color scheme can save. This is an F scheme, and I’m being kind!

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup, NASCAR,Chevy, SS, Chevy SS, Ford Fusion, Ford, Fusion, Toyota Camry, Toyota, Camry, Hooters, Cottonelle, Fresh From Florida, Bass Pro Shop, Chris Buescher, Axalta, Chase Elliott, Aric Almirola, Martin Truex Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr.