Paint Scheme Grades-June 15, 2019

By David G. Firestone

Austin Dillon #3 DOW Salutes Veterans Chevy Camaro-Dale’s Olympic scheme was a great scheme. This somewhat faithful replica looks really good, and I can’t really say anything bad. A

Ryan Newman #6 Coca Cola Ford Mustang-Another great patriotic look. This is a good design, it isn’t over designed, and the car looks great. A

Daniel Hemric #8 Chevy Accessories Chevy Camaro-Changing the angles to curves is a good look. The car looked great last year, and it looks great this year. A

Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield/Meijer Ford Mustang-Another example of a scheme that has two good elements that combine to be a mediocre design. The blue Meijer would work, as does Smithfield. Together, this isn’t a great look, I’ll give it a C.

Ryan Blaney #12 Menards/Wrangler Riggs Ford Mustang-Red as a base color is a good look, and the 2018 Menard’s template works very well. This gets a well-earned A.

Ty Dillon #13 Twisted Tea Patriotic Chevy Camaro-The bottom motif works well, it’s simple yet well done. A

Clint Bowyer #14 Haas Automation/IT Savvy Ford Mustang-This is a decent scheme, but this would work so much better with a black-to-orange fade. Still, it’s decet, so I’ll give it a B.

Garrett Smithley #15 Victory Lane Quick Oil Change/Kendall Oil Chevy Camaro-The red and white curves look really good on the black background. The car as a whole looks great. A

Erik Jones #20 Craftsman/SportsClips Toyota Camry-Same scheme as Craftsman, same A grade.

Paul Menard #21 Menard’s/Nibco Ford Mustang-This works well, I’m beginning to come around on the new template. This is a good look. A

Corey LaJoie #32 Harvest Investments Ford Mustang-I don’t know for sure if Big Bird has his own shade of yellow. I hope he does, because this is a great shade of yellow. Add in that the car has a smooth look, and you have an A.

Michael McDowell #34 Melling Engine Parts/Dockside Logistics Ford Mustang-Same scheme as Dockside Logistics, same B+ grade.

Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 Air Force Chevy Camaro-I love everything about this design! The A-10 is one of my favorite Air Force planes. This look is a great look. A

Josh Bilicki #52 Mariott Companies Chevy Camaro-It’s a smooth look, with a great color scheme, and that will always earn an A

Alex Bowman #88 Axalta Throwback Chevy Camaro-The Tim Richmond Folgers scheme was a great scheme, and it’s nice that Axalta is doing a faithful throwback. This is a great look. A

Let’s Look At Undershirts Part 2-Michael Waltrip

By David G. Firestone

While he is a Triple Threat in NASCAR, with 16 wins across all three of NASCAR’s top series, Michael Waltrip tends to be remembered for all the wrong reasons. He won the 2001 Daytona 500, which is known as “Black Sunday” due to the death of Dale Earnhardt. He is remembered for his wreck at the 1990 Budweiser 250. He is also remembered for his team’s shenanigans during the 2013 Federated Auto Parts 400. Kind of an odd set of things to be remembered for a driver who won two Daytona 500s.

From 2001 to 2005, Michael Waltrip raced for Dale Earnhardt Inc. as a full time driver. During that time, he won all four of his Cup series races, three at Daytona, including the 2001 and 2003 Daytona 500, and the 2002 Pepsi 400, and the 2003 EA Sports 500 at Talladega. He also scored a combined 20 top 5’s, and 40 top 10’s. During his tenure with DEI, he wore this Sparco undershirt. The shirt shows a little bit of use, and has been signed by Waltrip on the back.The neck has a SPARCO patch embroidered. WALTRIP is written in Sharpie beneath this, and the FIA certification is below that.The front of the shirt shows a few very light stains.The hems are standard hems. The shoulders don’t show any wear. The sleeves show some light stains. The back of the shirt has some light stains.The back of the neck is unadorned. The Sparco warranty label is below the neck with “15” written in Sharpie. Aside from some very light, and impossible to photograph stains, Waltrip has signed the back torso. There is a picture of him autographing the back.

I tried my best to get pics of the stains, but none of them came out. They are subtle, and you need to look carefully to see them. This is a problem with cream-colored Nomex.

Next week, is a Formula 1 race-used shoe.

Throwback Thursday-1991 Torco Oil Pontiac Trans Am

1991 Torco Oil Pontiac Trans Am

Simi Valley, California family members Harry, Tom, and Dick Scribner teamed up in 1991 to field this Torco sponsored Cutlass, with Harry as the driver, and Tom as the crew chief. The Cutlass has a decent look, but it doesn’t look good as a race car. I like the black, red, and yellow color scheme, and the stripes work very well here. I also like the diagonal hood logo, though I could do without the stripe on the hood. After careful thought, I give this scheme an A-.

Paint Scheme Tracker-June 12, 2019

By David G. Firestone

STAR COM RACING #00

Landon Cassill #00 StarCom Fiber Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, Yellow, white, black and silver with numerous stripes and designs on sides. D+

Landon Cassill #00 Permatex Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, orange and blue with white diagonal stripes on sides. A-

Landon Cassill #00 StarCom Fiber Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, Yellow, white, black and silver, design has been toned down D+

Landon Cassill #00 Manscaped Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black with white and silver stripes on bottom. A

Landon Cassill #00 Iron Mountain Data Centers Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, white with blue stripes. A

Landon Cassill #00 CGS Imaging Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, white with blue and red stripes. A

Landon Cassill #00 USFRA Chevy Camaro–No change. B+

Landon Cassill #00 Jacob White Construction Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, yellow, with black, white, and silver stripes on sides. C

Landon Cassill #00 Superior Essex Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019 black with white, and red designs on side. B+

Landon Cassill #00 Home Town Lenders Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black with white curve stripes. A

Landon Cassill #00 Kodra Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, black with Kodra logos on sides and hood. A

Landon Cassill #00 Elongator Tailgates Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black with yellow stripes. A-

Landon Cassill #00 StarCom Fiber Patriotic Chevy Camaro–No change. B-

Landon Cassill #00 Madison Group Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black, with white and silver designs on sides. B

CHIP GANASSI RACING #1

Kurt Busch #1 Monster Energy Chevy Camaro–No change. A

Kurt Busch #1 ComSurv Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black, with green logos across car. A

Kurt Busch #1 Gear Wrench Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, black with orange curve up sides. A

Kurt Busch #1 Star Nursery Throwback Chevy Camaro–New sponsor for 2019, based on Kurt’s 1999 Star Nursery scheme. A-

Kurt Busch #1 Global Poker Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, same as Monster, but with Global Poker on sides and hood. A

Kurt Busch #1 Gearwrench/Monster Energy Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, yellow and orange designs on front, fade to black rear. C

Kurt Busch #1 Advent Health Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, green, blue, pink, and silver with cutting edge design on sides. F

TEAM PENSKE #2

Brad Keselowski #2 Miller Lite Ford Mustang–No change. A

Brad Keselowski #2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang–No Change. A

Brad Keselowski #2 Auto Trader Ford Mustang–No change. C

Brad Keselowski #2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford Mustang–No Change. A

Brad Keselowski #2 Wurth Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, white front, red center, black rear, with design in middle. A

Brad Keselowski #2 Reese/Drawtite Ford Mustang–No change. A

Brad Keselowski #2 Snap On Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, black with red and white hood design. C

Brad Keselowski #2 Miller Lite Patriotic Ford Mustang–No change. A

Brad Keselowski #2 Wabash National/Supreme Ford Mustang–No change. A

RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING #3

Austin Dillon #3 Dow Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, black with red, white, and silver wave pattern. B+

Austin Dillon #3 Dow Gold Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, gold with black and red stripe on bottom. A

Austin Dillon #3 AAA Chevy Camaro–No change. A

Austin Dillon #3 American Ethanol Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, black has been removed entierly, white roof, light and dark green waves across sides. A

Austin Dillon #3 Dow Silastic Silicone Elastomers Chevy Camaro–No change. A

Austin Dillon #3 Dow Killz Coatings Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, same as Dow. B+

Austin Dillon #3 Symbicort Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, same as #31. C-

Austin Dillon #3 Realtree Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, camo front, black curve with green designs, and black on rear. F

Austin Dillon #3 American Ethanol Throwback Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, based on Richard Childress’ black and gold throwback. A

Austin Dillon #3 Coke Zero Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black with white and red designs on sides. A-

Austin Dillon #3 DOW Salutes Veterans Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, based on Dale Earnhardt’s 1996 Olympic scheme. A

STEWART-HAAS RACING #4

Kevin Harvick #4 Busch Ford Mustang–No change. A

Kevin Harvick #4 Jimmy Johns Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2018, similar to 2018 scheme, but with added stripes on sides. A-

Kevin Harvick #4 Mobil 1 Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, black with gray flames. A

Kevin Harvick #4 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, green sides, white hood and roof, curve designs on sides. A

Kevin Harvick #4 Busch Light Ford Mustang–No change. A

Kevin Harvick #4 Busch Beer Car 2 Can Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, black carbon fiber motif. A

Kevin Harvick #4 Mobil 1/O’Reilly Auto Parts Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, same as Mobil 1, but with O’Reilly Auto Parts on side. A

Kevin Harvick #4 Busch Plaid Ford Mustang–No change. A

Kevin Harvick #4 Busch Millennial Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, gray with black stripe, and various millennial designs on sides. F

Kevin Harvick #4 Busch Light Fathers Day Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, same as Busch, but with Father’s Day contest on sides. A-

ROUSH-FENWAY RACING #6

Ryan Newman #6 Oscar Meyer Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, orange with hot dog motif across whole car. A

Ryan Newman #6 Wyndham Rewards Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, clouds have been removed, stripes have been expanded. B+

Ryan Newman #6 Performance Plus Motor Oil Ford Mustang–No change. B-

Ryan Newman #6 Acorns Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, green with pink door numbers sublimated designs, and white logos. C-

Ryan Newman #6 Oscar Mayer Bacon Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, same as Oscar Meyer, but with bacon instead of hot dogs. A

Ryan Newman #6 Roush Performance/Acorns Ford Mustang–No change. A

Ryan Newman #6 Oscar Meyer Patriotic Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, Patriotic elements added. B+

Ryan Newman #6 Oscar Meyer Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, orange with various design across whole car. B+

Ryan Newman #6 Mazola Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, white front, green middle, yellow rear. A

Ryan Newman #6 Oscar Meyer Patriotic Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, same as Oscar Meyer, but with patriotic elements added. C

Ryan Newman #6 Oscar Meyer/Velveeta Throwback Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, based on Mark Martin’s 1990’s Valvoline Ford Thunderbird. B+

Ryan Newman #6 Coca Cola Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, red front, patriotic Coke bottle motif on sides, white rear. A

RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING #8

Daniel Hemric #8 Bass Pro Shops/CAT Gold Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, same as #3 gold. A

Daniel Hemric #8 Liberty National Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, much more toned down. A

Daniel Hemric #8 Caterpillar Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, yellow front, fades to honeycomb on black rear. A

Daniel Hemric #8 ALSCO Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, white with light green on sides and hood. B+

Daniel Hemric #8 Red Kap Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, red, with black and white curved stripes. B+

Daniel Hemric #8 Cessna Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2018, white with black and silver cutting edge on sides. B+

Daniel Hemric #8 Okuma Chevy Camaro–No change. D+

Daniel Hemric #8 CAT Next Generation Mini Excavators Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, gold with mini-excavator design on sides. C+

Daniel Hemric #8 Bass Pro Shops Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black with orange and white cutting edge designs. C-

Daniel Hemric #8 Bulwark FR/Wayne Workwear Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black with white and blue curves up sides. B-

Daniel Hemric #8 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, white with black and orange designs on sides. D

Daniel Hemric #8 Caterpillar Throwback Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, based on a 1920’s Caterpillar design. A

Daniel Hemric #8 Poppy Bank Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, orange front, white and black designs on sides. C

Daniel Hemric #8 Kalahari Resorts Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, white front, water motif, blue rear. B+

Daniel Hemric #8 Chevy Accessories Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, same basic scheme, straight lines turned into curves. A

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS #9

Chase Elliott #9 NAPA Chevy Camaro–No change. B+

Chase Elliott #9 Mountain Dew Chevy Camaro–No change. A

Chase Elliott #9 Hooters Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, sides have been cleaned up a bit. B

Chase Elliott #9 Kelly Blue Book Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, blue and white with designs on sides. B-

Chase Elliott #9 Mountain Dew/Team Rubicon Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, camo has replaced black in some sports. B+

Chase Elliott #9 Mountain Dew/Little Ceaser’s Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, based on 2018 Little Ceaser’s design. A

Chase Elliott #9 NAPA Brakes Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, black with gold and white and black stripes. B+

STEWART-HAAS RACING #10

Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield Foods Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, slash patterns have been expanded. A

Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield Prime Fresh Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, white front and top, green and yellow rear. B+

Aric Almirola #10 Farmer John Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, same as Smithfield, but blue has replaced black. A

Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield/Shazam Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, Shazam motif across whole car. B-

Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield Get Grilling America Ford Mustang-No change. A

Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield Patriotic Ford Mustang–No change. D

Aric Almirola #10 Valley Tech Academy Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, white front, fades to dark blue rear, red stripe on sides. B-

Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield Throwback Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, based on Tony Stewart’s 2002 Home Depot Championship Pontiac. A

Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield/Meijer Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019 Smithfield black and white front, blue Meijer rear. C

JOE GIBBS RACING #11

Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry–New scheme for 2019, white with orange and blue designs on sides. B+

Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Freight Toyota Camry-New scheme for 2019, same as FedEx Express B+

Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Ground Toyota Camry-New scheme for 2019, same as FedEx Express B+

Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry-New scheme for 2019, same as FedEx Express B+

TEAM PENSKE #12

Ryan Blaney #12 PPG Ford Mustang–No change. A

Ryan Blaney #12 Menard’s/Knauf Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, blue on hood and front, yellow sides. B+

Ryan Blaney #12 Menard’s/Peak Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, blue on hood and front, yellow sides. B+

Ryan Blaney #12 Money Lion Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, green and white Penske template. C

Ryan Blaney #12 Body Armor Ford Mustang–No change. B+

Ryan Blaney #12 Menard’s/Pennzoil Ford Mustang–No change. B-

Ryan Blaney #12 Menard’s/Libman Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, green hood, yellow sides, green stripe across bottom. B

Ryan Blaney #12 Menards/Cardell Cabinetry Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, 2019 Menard’s template with Cardell on hood. A

Ryan Blaney #12 Menard’s/Duracel Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, 2019 Menard’s template with black. A

Ryan Blaney #12 Body Armor Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, yellow stripes replace black stripes. A-

Ryan Blaney #12 Dent Wizard Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, purple and white Penske template. F

Ryan Blaney #12 Menards/Wrangler Riggs Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, red, with black and white stripes. A

GERMAIN RACING #13

Ty Dillon #13 Twisted Tea Chevy Camaro–No change. A

Ty Dillon #13 Geico Chevy Camaro–No change. F

Ty Dillon #13 Geico Military Chevy Camaro–No change. F

Ty Dillon #13 Twisted Tea Patriotic Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, yellow, with patriotic motif across bottom. A

STEWART-HAAS RACING #14

Clint Bowyer #14 Peak Ford Mustang–New sponsor for 2019, black, and blue with curve elements. C

Clint Bowyer #14 Blue Def Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2018, same as 2019 Peak, but white replaces black. C

Clint Bowyer #14 Rush’s Truck Stops Ford Mustang–No change. A

Clint Bowyer #14 Mobil 1 Ford Fusion–New scheme for 2019, black with red flames. A

Clint Bowyer #14 DeKalb Ford Mustang Fusion–No change. A

Clint Bowyer #14 Haas CNC Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, black with red stripes. A

Clint Bowyer #14 CSU One Cure Ford Mustang–No change. A

Clint Bowyer #14 IT Savvy Ford Mustang–No Change. A

Clint Bowyer #14 Mobil 1/Rush Truck Stops Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, black with red flames, Mobil 1 on hood, and Rush Truck Stops on rear. A

Clint Bowyer #14 Haas Automation Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, black with red stripes. A

Clint Bowyer #14 Toco Warranty Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, white, red, orange, blue and black with designs on sides. B-

Clint Bowyer #14 Rush’s Truck Stops/Haas Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, same as Rush’s but with Haas on sides. A

Clint Bowyer #14 Haas Automation/IT Savvy Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, Haas front, IT Savvy rear. B

PREMIUM MOTORSPORTS #15

Ross Chastain #15 Chevy Camaro–No change. A

Ross Chastain #15 Rim Ryderz Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, same as #27. A-

Ross Chastain #15 Fit Strong Chevy Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, black with blue stripes on side. A-

Ross Chastain #15 So Cal Chevy Chevy Camaro–No change. A

Ross Chastain #15 Low T Center Chevy Camaro–No change. F

Ross Chastain #15 VIP Racing Experience Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black. A

Ross Chastain #15 Cross Country Adjusting Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, white with blue designs on top. A

Garrett Smithley #15 Victory Lane Quick Oil Change/Kendall Oil Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black, with gray and red curves on sides. A

ROUSH-FENWAY RACING #17

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 Fifth-Third Bank Ford Mustang–No change. B-

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 Fastenal Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, black added to sides, along with hourglass design. B-

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 Little Hug Fruit Barrels Ford Mustang–No change. F

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 Sunny D Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, side designs changed. F

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 Fastenal Patriotic Ford Fusion–New scheme for 2019, much more toned down. A

Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. #17 NOS Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, blue with orange rear, and diagonal stripe on sides. A

JOE GIBBS RACING #18

Kyle Busch #18 M&M’s Toyota Camry–No change. A

Kyle Busch #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry–No change. F

Kyle Busch #18 M&M’s Chocolate Bar Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, chocolate bar motif across whole car. B-

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

Kyle Busch #18 Snickers Creamy Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, brown with nougat motif across car. A

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

Kyle Busch #18 M&M’s Red Nose Day Toyota Camry–No change. A

Kyle Busch #18 M&M’s Hazelnut Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, teal replaces yellow. A

JOE GIBBS RACING #19

Martin Truex Jr. #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry–No change. C-

Martin Truex Jr. #19 Auto Owner’s Insurance Toyota Camry–New scheme for 2019, blue front with cutting edge designs fade to black. B+

Martin Truex Jr. #19 Sirius XM Toyota Camry–New scheme for 2019, black with blue and white designs on sides. B-

Martin Truex Jr. #19 Bass Pro Shops Patriotic Toyota Camry-New scheme for 2019, patriotic motif replaces black. A

Martin Truex Jr. #19 Bass Pro Shops Throwback Toyota Camry–New scheme for 2019, based on Martin’s 2004 Xfinity Series car. A

JOE GIBBS RACING #20

Erik Jones #20 Craftsman Toyota Camry–No change. A

Erik Jones #20 DeWalt Toyota Camry–No change. A

Erik Jones #20 SportClips Toyota Camry–New scheme for 2019, same as 2018, but with smartphone added on side. C

Erik Jones #20 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota Camry–No Change. A

Erik Jones #20 Craftsman Toyota Camry–No change. A

Erik Jones #20 Craftsman “Racing for a Miracle” Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, designed by four members of the Niswonger Children’s Hospital. A

Erik Jones #20 Stanley Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, yellow with black and gray designs. C

Erik Jones #20 Reser’s Main St. Bistro Toyota Camry-New scheme for 2019, same as Reser’s. A

Erik Jones #20 Craftsman/SportsClips Toyota Camry-New scheme for 2019, Craftsman scheme with SportClips logos. A

WOOD BROTHERS RACING #21

Paul Menard #21 Motorcraft Ford Mustang–No change. A

Paul Menard #21 Menard’s/Moen Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, new Menard’s template with purple front and stripe. B+

Paul Menard #21 Quaker State Ford Mustang–No Change. B-

Paul Menard #21 Menard’s/Sylvania Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, new Menard’s template with black front and stripe. A

Paul Menard #21 Menard’s/Maytag Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, new Menard’s template with dark blue. A

Ryan Blaney #21 Motorcraft Quick Lane Ford Mustang–No change. A

Paul Menard #21 Menard’s/Dutch Boy Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, new Menard’s template with Dutch Boy on the hood. C

Paul Menard #21 Menard’s/Knauf Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, same as #12. B+

Paul Menard #21 Menard’s/Nibco Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, new Menard’s template with light blue. A

TEAM PENSKE #22

Joey Logano #22 Pennzoil Ford Mustang–No change. A

Joey Logano #22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang–No change. D

Joey Logano #22 Auto Trader Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019 toned down design. D+

Joey Logano #22 Pennzoil Ford Mustang–No change. A

Joey Logano #22 Money Lion Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, same as #22. C

Joey Logano #22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, white replaces red on front, red replaces yellow on sides. A

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS #24

William Byron #24 Axalta Chevy Camaro–No change. A

William Byron #24 UniFirst Chevy Camaro–No change. B-.

William Byron #24 Liberty University Chevy Camaro–No change. A

William Byron #24 Hertz Chevy Camaro–No change. A

William Byron #24 Liberty University Patriotic Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, patriotic lettering replaces white lettering, patriotic stripes replace flames. A

William Byron #24 Hendrick Autoguard Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, black replaces silver on posts and roof, silver replaces black on bottom. A

PREMIUM MOTORSPORTS #27

Casey Mears #27 Rim Ryderz Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black with orange and yellow stripes. A-

Reed Sorenson #27 Solomon Plumbing Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, black with red and white curves on sides. A-

Reed Sorenson #27 Harrah’s Casino Chevy Camaro–No change. A

Reed Sorenson #27 VIP Racing Experience Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, same as #15. A

RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING #31

Tyler Reddick #31 Symbicort Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, more yellow, less blue, new side designs. C-

Tyler Reddick #31 Tame the Beast Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black chevrons on top, red bottom, Bigfoot motif on front. B+

GO FAS RACING #32

Corey Lajoie #32 Keen Parts/Corvette Parts Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, black with red and silver stripes on sides. B-

Corey LaJoie #32 Schluter Systems Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, orange with black designs. A

Corey LaJoie #32 Old Spice Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, LaJoie’s face and hair across whole car. F

Corey LaJoie #32 Prospr Parts Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, black, fade to red, with black stripes near door number. A

Corey LaJoie #32 The Hartford Group Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, gold with logos. A

Corey LaJoie #32 Dude Wipes Ford Mustang–No change. A

Corey LaJoie #32 Schluter Systems Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, black with logos. A

Corey LaJoie #32 Freedom Hard Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, white with red stripes. A

Corey LaJoie #32 Visone RV/Wildcat Adventures Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, all black. A

Corey LaJoie #32 Harvest Investments Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, yellow, with Big Bird on hood. A

FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS #34

Michael McDowell #34 Love’s Truck Stops Ford Mustang–No change. A

Michael McDowell #34 Fr8 Auctions Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, gray front, carbon fiber and red across sides. B+

Michael McDowell #34 Dockside Logistics Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, black with red designs on sides. B+

Michael McDowell #34 A&W Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, creamy foam motif on front, wooden barrel motif on side to back. A

Michael McDowell #34 Love’s Truck Stops Patriotic Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, camouflage motif across car. F

Michael McDowell #34 Melling Engine Parts/Dockside Logistics Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, same as Dockside, but with Melling on hood. B+

FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS #36

Matt Tifft #36 Speedco Ford Mustang–No change. A

Matt Tift #36 Surface Sunscreen Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, gray with face designs on bottom. B+

Matt Tift #36 The Pete Store Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, white with red curves up sides. B-

Matt Tift #36 Surface Suncreen/Tunity Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, black with red and gray designs on sides. B+

Matt Tifft #36 Out West Express Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, blue with red stripe. A

Matt Tift #36 Surface Suncreen/Tunity Patriotic Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, patriotic motif across car. A

Matt Tift #36 Surface Sunscreen Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, black front, white rear. A

JTG DAUGHERTY RACING #37

Chris Buescher #37 Kleenex Wet Wipes Chevy Camaro–No change. B+

Chris Buescher #37 Scott Comfort Plus Chevy Camaro–No change. C-

Chris Buescher #37 Natural Light Naturdays Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, beige, fade to yellow to beige. F

Chris Buescher #37 Kroger Flavor Fill Up Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black, green, and red with tire mark motif. D-

Chris Buescher #37 Kroger Speed Up Your Cleanup Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, white with blue and stripes. A

Chris Buescher #37 Bush’s Best Chevy Camaro–No change. A

Chris Buescher #37 Tide Pods Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, orange with blue designs, Tide motif on rear, polka dots on sides. F

Chris Buescher #37 Degree Chevy Camaro–No change. B-

Chris Buescher #37 Kroger-Your Personal Pit Stop Chevy Camaro-Black and red with designs on sides. B+

Chris Buescher #37 Kroger Thrill of the Grill Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, black with flame motif. A

FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS #38

David Ragan #38 Select Blinds Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, blue with white and purple designs on sides. B

David Ragan #38 Citgard Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, red sides, white front, some stripes across sides. B+

David Ragan #38 Fireade Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, black with yellow and green designs on sides. C-

David Ragan #38 MDS Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, white with blue and orange designs. B+

David Ragan #38 MDS Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, white and blue with orange designs. B+

David Ragan #38 Mystik Lubricants Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, black front, white rear, designs on sides. B+

David Ragan #38 Shriners Hospitals for Children Ford Mustang–No change. A

David Ragan #38 Select Blinds Patriotic Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, patriotic flame motif across car. F

David Ragan #38 Exploria Resorts Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, black and gray with cutting edge designs across car. F

CHIP GANASSI RACING #40

Jamie McMurray #40 McDonald’s/Cessna Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, toned down version of 2018 scheme. A

Jamie McMurray #40 Advent Health Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, green, blue, pink, and silver with cutting edge design on sides. F

Jamie McMurray #40 McDonald’s/Cessna Chevy Camaro–No change. A

STEWART-HAAS RACING #41

Daniel Suarez #41 Haas Automotion Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, red front, black camo rear. F

Daniel Suarrez #41 Aaris Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, orange top, black bottom, white stripe between the two. A

Daniel Suarez #41 Arris Ruckus Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, black bottom, white top, orange stripe between. A

Daniel Suarez #41 Orange Vanilla Coca Cola Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, orange, with cream curve, and red Coca Cola motif on sides. A

Daniel Suarez #41 Haas Throwback Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2019, based on Tony Stewart’s 2005 Home Depot Championship Chevy. A

CHIP GANASSI RACING #42

Kyle Larson #42 Credit One Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, redesign of the 2018 scheme. A

Kyle Larson #42 McDonald’s Team Classic Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, red with over sized McDonald’s logos across car. A

Kyle Larson #42 Advent Health Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, green, blue, pink, and silver with cutting edge design on sides. F

RICHARD PETTY MOTORSPORTS #43

Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 Air Force Chevy Camaro–No change. A

Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 Plan B Sales Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019,dark blue, Petty blue, silver, and white with designs on sides. F

Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 Aftershokz Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2018, black front, Petty blue rear. A

Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 McDonald’s Team Bacon Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, white with over sized McDonald’s logos, red hood, and red square over car numbers. B+

Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 Transportation Impact Chevy Camaro–No change. A

Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 World Wide Technology Chevy Camaro–No change. C

Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 Blue-Emu Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, blue with white top. A

Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 Orange Vanilla Coca Cola Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, same as #41. A

Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 Victory Junction Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, white front and blue rear with green on bottom, and designs on sides. A-

Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 Air Force Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, based on an A-10 Warthog design. A

PREMIUM MOTORSPORTS #46

Joey Gase #46 Toyota Camry-New scheme for 2019, black, with red stripe on bottom. A

Joey Gase #46 Toyota Camry-New scheme for 2019, same as #66 NV Donor. B-

JTG DAUGHERTY RACING #47

Ryan Preece #47 Kroger Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2018, patriotic motif across whole car. A

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS #48

Jimmie Johnson #48 Ally Financial Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black with blue designs on wheel well. A

Jimmie Johnson #48 Ally Financial Patriotic Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, camo across car with white letters. F

RICK WARE RACING #51

BJ McCleod #51 Jacob Companies Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, blue with silver and white designs across car. B

Cody Ware #51 Jacob Companies Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, black with logos. A

Cody Ware #51 Jacob Companies P-40 Warhawk Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, based on a Flying Tigers P-40 Warhawk. A

RICK WARE RACING #52

Cody Ware #52 Winn-Dixie Chevy Camaro–New sponsor for 2019, red front, black middle, red rear. A

BJ McLeod #52 Trick Shot Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, green top, black and gold marker design over red. F

BJ McLeod #52 MTEL-ONE Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, same as Jacob Companies, but with orange added. B

Jeb Burton #52 Muzzy Bowfishing Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black with orange and white designs on sides. F

Bayley Currey #52 Belmont Classic Cars Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black with designs on sides. A

Bayley Currey #52 Steakhouse Elite Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, bottom stripe removed, camo pattern removed. A

Stanton Barrett #52 HUSKI Chocolate Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019 red with white stripes. A

BJ McLeod #52 Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, black. A

Bayley Currey #52 Rick Ware Racing SR-71 Ford Mustang-New scheme for 2019, based on an SR-71 Blackbird. A

J.J. Yeley #52 Steakhouse Elite/Weis Markets Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, black with red stripes and white rear. A

Josh Bilicki #52 Mariott Companies Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, black with logos on sides. A

RICK WARE RACING #53

B.J. McLeod #53 Enlisted Nine Flight Company Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, airplane motif across car. A

BEARD MOTORSPORTS #62

Brendan Gaughan #62 Beard Oil/South Point Chevy Camaro–No change. A

PREMIUM MOTORSPORTS #66

Joey Gase #66 AgriSupply Toyota Camry-New scheme for 2019, light blue with blue, yellow, white, and black curved stripe on sides. C

Joey Gase #66 www.NVDonor.org Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, black with yellow and blue waves across sides. B-

Timmy Hill #66 American Valor Foundation/CrashClaimsR.Us Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, same as NV Donor. B-

Timmy Hill #66 Toyota Camry-New scheme for 2019, blue. A

Joey Gase #66 Sam Bass Tribute Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, tribute to Sam Bass across whole car. C

TOMMY BALDWIN RACING #71

Ryan Truex #71 Accell Construction Chevy Camaro–No change. A

SPIRE MOTORSPORTS #77

Garrett Smithley #77 HeroBox, Harrell’s and Precision Turf Chevy Camaro-New sponsors for 2019, black with red and white curves up sides of car. A

Reed Sorenson #77 Chevy Camaro-New scheme for 2019, plain black. A

Quin Houff #77 Rim Ryderz Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, same as #15/27. A-

Garrett Smithley #77 CDF Firefighters Benevolent Foundation Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black with sponsor logos. A

D.J. Kennington #77 Go-Part Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, white with orange and blue arrow motif on side. B+

Garrett Smithley #77 Trophy Tractor Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black with logos on sides and hood. A

Quin Houff #77 FALCI Adaptive Motorsports Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black, with logos on sides. A

Justin Haley #77 Fraternal Order of Eagles Chevy Camaro-No change. A

Quin Houff #77 Oil Fire Rye Whiskey Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, black top, white bottom, red stripe across center. A

Quin Houff #77 NASCAR Mobile App Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019 black with NASCAR design elements on side. A

XCI RACING #81

Jeffrey Earnhardt #81 iK9/Xtreme Concepts Toyota Camry–New sponsor for 2019, black with sublimated stars. A

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS #88

Alex Bowman #88 LLumar Window Film Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, white front and top, orange and red rear, wave pattern in between. C

Alex Bowman #88 Valvoline Chevy Camaro–No change. A

Alex Bowman #88 Nationwide Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, blue hood and roof, white side, blue stripe across bottom. A

Alex Bowman #88 Nationwide Pet Insurance Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, white front, blue rear, diagonal separation. A

Alex Bowman #88 Nationwide Pitch To Win Big Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2019, same as Nationwide Pet Insurance. A

Alex Bowman #88 Nationwide Patriotic Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, dark blue with sublimated patriotic motif. C

Alex Bowman #88 Axalta Throwback Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2019, based on Tim Richmond’s Folgers scheme. A

LEAVINE FAMILY RACING #95

Matt DiBenedetto #95 Procore Chevy Toyota Camry–No change. F

Matt DiBenedetto #95 Dumont Jets Toyota Camry–New scheme for 2019, some slight changes from 2018. B-

Matt DiBenedetto #95 Procore Chevy Toyota Camry-New scheme for 2019, black with orange and white accents, and motherboard motif across car. B+

Matt DiBenedetto #95 Toyota Express Maintenance Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, white front, black rear, red diagonal stripes on sides. C

Matt DiBenedetto #95 NASCAR Pro Heat/LFR Pro League Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, black with sunbeam designs on sides. A

Matt DiBenedetto #95 Thank You Toyota Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, white front, black rear, red diagonal stripes on sides. C

Matt DiBenedetto #95 FDNY Foundation Chevy Camaro-No change. A

Matt DiBenedetto #95 Digital Momentum-Hubspot Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, blue with green and white design on sides. B

Matt DiBenedetto #95 Anest Iwata Toyota Camry–New scheme for 2019, blue fades to black across car. A

GAUNT BROS RACING #96

Parker Kligerman #96 Toyota: Proud Sponsor of Team USA Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, white front, red and blue rear, starts added.

Parker Kligerman #96 Gaunt Brothers Racing Toyota Camry–No change. A

Parker Kligerman #96 TRD 40th Anniversary Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, black, with white hood, red roof, and white and red designs on sides. B

OBAIKA RACING #97

Tanner Berryhill #97 II:WAVE Toyota Camry-New sponsor for 2019, black with white logos. A

My Thoughts On Isle Of Mann TT TV Broadcasts

By David G. Firestone

I try to be reasonable, but I have my limits. Every year, I watch Isle of Mann TT motorcycle racing. Every year, I get annoyed with the in-house television coverage show on what is now Motor Trend Television. But this year, it was so bad, I had to stop watching for a few days. I have no idea who produced this years Isle of Mann, but apparently, they aren’t racing fans.

I get that during a televised event, you want to explain to new viewers some of the technical aspects of the track, bikes, and weather. I also get that you want to interview drivers about their outlook on the race. I have no problem with any of that. What I have a major problem with is how they went about doing this. They set this up in the worst way for several episodes this year.

The telecasts are one hour long, for a total of 60 minutes. These telecasts feature one race, that amounts to about 35 minutes of that. The other 25 minutes are the above mentioned segments and commercial breaks. The way they did several episodes this year were almost unwatchable. The first 20 minutes of several telecasts were talking segments and commercials. I’m watching on the DVR so I can skip these, but if you were watching the telecast at broadcast time, your stuck. I don’t know about other people, but I would change the channel long before the action began.

What makes this even more frustrating is that racing TV numbers are on the rise in the US. I don’t know what the ratings for Isle of Mann TT are, but the can’t be great to begin with. Then to have a pointlessly unwatchable telecast is driving viewers off even more. Racing fans don’t want to sit through 20 minutes of talking to start a 60 minute telecast.

Granted, not all episodes were like this, but the few that were couldn’t have been popular with fans. I will watch Isle of Mann next year, and when I do, if they pull this shit again, I’m done! You have been warned!

Paint Scheme Grades-June 8, 2019

By David G. Firestone

Landon Cassill #00 Madison Group Chevy Camaro-The gray on white designs could be toned down.  That would be a great improvement.  It’s not a terrible design, but it has room for improvement. B

Brad Keselowski #2 Wabash National/Supreme Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Kevin Harvick #4 Busch Light Fathers Day Ford Mustang-The cluttered rear quarter panel is a downgrade, and the car as a whole suffers as a result.  It’s still great, but the new design does take the scheme from an A to an A-

Ryan Newman #6 Oscar Meyer/Velveeta Throwback Ford Mustang-Full disclosure, I loved the old Mark Martin Valvoline design.  This new version with Oscar Meyer and Velveeta colors is not as great.  The red, white, and blue design works well.  Red, green and white doesn’t work as well.  It’s still decent, so I’ll give it a B+.

Daniel Hemric #8 Kalahari Resorts Chevy Camaro-This is getting a higher grade, because it’s a better scheme…by comparison.  It’s over designed, and I don’t like the shade of blue.  But compared to last year’s scheme, it’s an improvement.B+

Aric Almirola #10 Valley Tech Academy Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2019, white front, fades to dark blue rear, red stripe on sides. B-

Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield Throwback Ford Mustang-For Tony Stewart’s Hall of Fame election, Stewart-Haas Racing’s cars are being painted in the colors of Tony’s Cup Championship schemes.  The first from 2002, is based on Tony’s Home Depot.  It’s a faithful replica, so that’s good, and I do like the Home Depot’s shade of orange.  All things considered, this gets an A.

Clint Bowyer #14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1 Ford Mustang-This second Tony Stewart Throwback is based on his 2011 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevy.  Like the #10, it’s a faithful replica, with correct colors.  I liked the design back then, and I like this now, so this gets an A.

Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. #17 NOS Ford Mustang-NOS has had some schemes over the years that would not get a passing grade.  This isn’t one of them.  This is a good scheme.  The colors work well, the car is not over designed, and it has a smooth look.  All things considered, this gets an A.

Corey LaJoie #32 Visone RV/Wildcat Adventures Ford Mustang-It’s a smooth look, with a great color scheme, and that will always earn an A.

Matt Tift #36 Surface Sunscreen Ford Mustang-It’s a smooth look, with a great color scheme, and that will always earn an A.

David Ragan #38 Exploria Resorts Ford Mustang-Gray isn’t always the best base color for a race car.  Add in a pointlessly over designed mess of a scheme, and you get an F grade.

Daniel Suarez #41 Haas Throwback Ford Mustang-The third Tony Stewart Championship throwback scheme is based on his 2005 Home Depot scheme, which is the best of the three.  It’s faithful, and it has a great look, and that will always earn an A.

Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 Victory Junction Ford Mustang-My only complaint here is that the designs on the front are over designed.  Other than that, this is a good scheme. A-

J.J. Yeley #52 Steakhouse Elite/Weis Markets Chevy Camaro-It’s a smooth look, with a great color scheme, and that will always earn an A.

Vintage Item Spotlight-1980’s Unocal 76 Salesman Sample

unocal-76-2By David G. Firestone

Something that I find interesting are what are known as “salesman samples.” Salesman Samples are items that are used by representatives of companies to show buyers a sample of what it is they are buying. These can be anything from championship rings, swatch catalogs, or in this case, a case of lubricant samples from Unocal 76 from the 1980’s.

This interested me from the moment I laid eyes on it. The salesman would bring this case to a buyer, usually a mechanic, or factory that would use these industrial lubricants. The salesman would discuss the various characteristics of the lubricants for the buyer to help them make the right choice. Industrial lubricants are not equal and a lubricant that would work in a printing press might not be suitable in other applications.

This case is in great condition, and the 18 containers of samples it contains are still in good condition, though some of the lubricants have solidified over time.unocal-76-1 unocal-76-2 unocal-76-3 unocal-76-4 unocal-76-5 unocal-76-6 unocal-76-7 unocal-76-8 unocal-76-9 unocal-76-10 unocal-76-11 unocal-76-12 unocal-76-13 unocal-76-14 unocal-76-15 unocal-76-16 unocal-76-17 unocal-76-18 unocal-76-19 unocal-76-20

Throwback Thursday-1988 Party Time Pontiac Firebird

1988 Party Time Pontiac Firebird

Middlesex, North Carolina’s Harold Denton teamed up with Morehead, Kentucky owner to field “Party Time” a 1989 Trans Am. The black base is good, and the silver stripe on the bottom works well. I’m not a fan of the yellow stripe across the side. I think that the yellow and silver don’t work with each other. I also like the Party Time lettering on the sides and front. It’s a good scheme, and I give it an A-.