The Driver Suit Blog

Paint Scheme Grades-January 6, 2024

By David G. Firestone

Ross Chastain #1 Moose Fraternity Chevy Camaro-I like the new red roof, so this gets an A.

Kyle Larson #5 Hendrickcars.com Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Kyle Larson #5 Valvoline Chevy Camaro-Major downgrade from last year. Car is a bit too over designed, but does have a good color scheme. B

Brad Keselowski #6 Fastenal Body Guard Ford Mustang-The green and black work well, and the design scheme looks great, so this gets an A.

Chase Elliott #9 NAPA Chevy Camaro-I love the new all-blue look, it’s much better than it would be with the white! A

Chase Elliott #9 Kelly Blue Book Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Chase Elliott #9 LLumar Window Film Chevy Camaro-The color and design scheme are perfect, so I give this an A.

Chase Elliott #9 UniFirst Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Chris Buescher #17 Fastenal Ford Mustang-I’m not always the biggest fan of template schemes. That said, this is a great one, and the blue works well. A

William Byron #24 Liberty University Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

William Byron #24 Axalta Chevy Camaro-A smooth look with a great color scheme will always earn an A.

William Byron #24 RAPTOR Chevy Camaro-The fade and color scheme work, the black designs are just horrid, so this gets a C.

William Byron #24 Valvoline Chevy Camaro-The lack of white as a primary color doesn’t work, and the designs just look off as a result. I do like the color scheme, so this gets a D

Erik Jones #43 Advent Health Toyota Camry-Not only is this a good design with a good color scheme, it’s leaps and bounds over the previous scheme. A

Alex Bowman #48 Ally Financial Chevy Camaro-To call this car over designed is an understatement. Add in a bad color scheme, and you have an F scheme.

David Ragan #60 BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang-These new changes don’t really change much, so same A- grade.

Zane Smith #71 WeatherTech Chevy Camaro-Both color and design scheme work well, so this gets an A.

Carson Hocevar #77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevy Camaro-No real change in the grade, even with the new designs. C

Driver Suit Blog Radio-Episode 102

NASCAR’s new TV deal, The CW wrestlng saga, and AEW will be discussed.

https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/11/29/nascar-announces-historic-media-rights-agreements-with-fox-nbc-amazon-and-warner-bros-discovery/
https://www.jayski.com/2023/11/29/nascar-to-return-to-tnt-sports-through-expansive-multi-year-media-rights-agreement/
https://www.jayski.com/2023/11/28/nascar-president-steve-phelps-discusses-tv-deal-charters-horsepower/
https://www.nbcsports.com/nascar/news/nascars-steve-phelps-discusses-future-media-rights-package-schedule-horsepower-status
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/football-fans-irate-exclusive-peacock-game-f-k-you-nfl
https://variety.com/2023/streaming/news/peacock-30-million-subscribers-peak-losses-1235820372/
https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/2023/12/13/24000092/tony-khan-updates-aew-media-rights-negotiations-wbd-ring-of-honor-cw-streaming
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-cw-new-strategy-explained-1235486774/
https://www.cagesideseats.com/2023/11/6/23949244/nwa-samhain-james-mitchell-cocaine-use-impact-television-contract-the-cw-report-billy-corgan
https://www.hausofwrestling.com/2023/11/04/cocaine-spot-at-nwa-ppv-could-negatively-impact-the-cw-deal-exclusive/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WarGames_match
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivor_Series:WarGames(2023)

Paint Scheme Tracker-January 3, 2024

By David G. Firestone

TRACKHOUSE RACING #1

Ross Chastain #1 Moose Fraternity Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2024, red roof added. A

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS #5

Kyle Larson #5 Hendrickcars.com Chevy Camaro–No change. A

Kyle Larson #5 Valvoline Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2024, red, white, and blue with series of stripes. B

ROUSH-FENWAY RACING #6

Brad Keselowski #6 Fastenal Body Guard Ford Mustang-New sponsor for 2024, green and black with stripes. A

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS #9

Chase Elliott #9 NAPA Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2024, more blue added. A

Chase Elliott #9 Kelly Blue Book Chevy Camaro–No change. A

Chase Elliott #9 LLumar Window Film Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2024, red with black stripes. A

Chase Elliott #9 UniFirst Chevy Camaro–No change. A

ROUSH-FENWAY RACING #17

Chris Buescher #17 Fastenal Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2024, new Fastenal template with blue. A

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS #24

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

William Byron #24 Axalta Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2024, white with flames and black box on rear. A

William Byron #24 RAPTOR Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2024, orange fade to green with black designs. C

William Byron #24 Valvoline Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2024, teal with red and blue designs. D

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB #43

Erik Jones #43 Advent Health Toyota Camry–New scheme for 2024, white with multi-colored stripes. A

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS #48

Alex Bowman #48 Ally Financial Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2024, blue, pink, and purple, with designs. F

ROUSH-FENWAY RACING #60

David Ragan #60 BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang–New scheme for 2024, some slight changes. A-

SPIRE MOTORSPORTS #71

Zane Smith #71 WeatherTech Chevy Camaro-New sponsor for 2024, white with red and white stripes. A

SPIRE MOTORSPORTS #77

Carson Hocevar #77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevy Camaro–New scheme for 2024, some designs added. C

2023 Paint Scheme Leaderboard Part 4-The Grand Finale

2023 Paint Scheme Leaderboard Part 4-The Grand Finale:

By David G. Firestone

Well, all the votes have been counted, and the final Paint Scheme Leaderboard is complete. Without further ado, the final post of 2023:

#1-Hendrick Motorsports #9

Rank Last Year: 4 of 45

Number of Schemes: 9

GPA: 4.00

#2-Stewart Haas Racing #29

Rank Last Year: N/A

Number of Schemes: 1

GPA: 4.00

#3-Richard Childress Racing #33

Rank Last Year: 13 of 45

Number of Schemes: 1

GPA: 4.00

#4-The Money Racing Team #50

Rank Last Year: 40 of 45

Number of Schemes: 1

GPA: 4.00

#5-Rick Ware Racing #51

Rank Last Year: 11 of 45

Number of Schemes: 11

GPA: 3.94

#6-Hendrick Motorsports #5

Rank Last Year: 12 of 45

Number of Schemes: 4

GPA: 3.83

#7-Team Penske #22

Rank Last Year: 1 of 45

Number of Schemes: 9

GPA: 3.78

#8-Front Row Motorsports #36

Rank Last Year: N/A

Number of Schemes: 4

GPA: 3.75

#9-Stewart Haas Racing #10

Rank Last Year: 10 of 45

Number of Schemes: 9

GPA: 3.60

#10-Team Penske #12

Rank Last Year: 7 of 45

Number of Schemes: 22

GPA: 3.60

#11-Richard Childress Racing #8

Rank Last Year: 21 of 45

Number of Schemes: 16

GPA: 3.58

#12-Team Penske #2

Rank Last Year: 19 of 45

Number of Schemes: 13

GPA: 3.54

#13-Joe Gibbs Racing #11

Rank Last Year: 3 of 45

Number of Schemes: 11

GPA: 3.52

#14-Joe Gibbs Racing #54

Rank Last Year: N/A

Number of Schemes: 6

GPA: 3.33

#15-Stewart Haas Racing #41

Rank Last Year: 14 of 45

Number of Schemes: 14

GPA: 3.28

#16-Roush-Fenway Racing #17

Rank Last Year: 26 of 45

Number of Schemes: 15

GPA: 3.24

#17-Wood Brothers Racing #21

Rank Last Year: 22 of 45

Number of Schemes: 6

GPA: 3.22

#18-Kaulig Racing #16

Rank Last Year: 8 of 45

Number of Schemes: 14

GPA: 3.21

#19-Front Row Motorsports #34

Rank Last Year: 27 of 45

Number of Schemes: 14

GPA: 3.19

#20-Hendrick Motorsports #24

Rank Last Year: 9 of 45

Number of Schemes: 9

GPA: 3.17

#21-Front Row Motorsports #38

Rank Last Year: 37 of 45

Number of Schemes: 18

GPA: 3.11

#22-Richard Childress Racing #3

Rank Last Year: 15 of 45

Number of Schemes: 13

GPA: 3.10

#23-Roush-Fenway Racing #6

Rank Last Year: 16 of 45

Number of Schemes: 13

GPA: 3.05

#24-Rick Ware Racing #15

Rank Last Year: 18 of 45

Number of Schemes: 30

GPA: 3.05

#25-Kaulig Racing #13

Rank Last Year: N/A

Number of Schemes: 1

GPA: 3.00

#26-Stewart Haas Racing #14

Rank Last Year: 17 of 45

Number of Schemes: 13

GPA: 2.97

#27-Stewart Haas Racing #4

Rank Last Year: 23 of 45

Number of Schemes: 22

GPA: 2.90

#28-Joe Gibbs Racing #19

Rank Last Year: 28 of 45

Number of Schemes: 8

GPA: 2.89

#29-Legacy Motor club #43

Rank Last Year: 42 of 45

Number of Schemes: 9

GPA: 2.89

#30-JTG Daugherty Racing #47

Rank Last Year: 30 of 45

Number of Schemes: 32

GPA: 2.87

#31-Kaulig Racing #31

Rank Last Year: 34 of 45

Number of Schemes: 10

GPA: 2.83

#32-Legacy Motor club #42

Rank Last Year: 33 of 45

Number of Schemes: 8

GPA: 2.75

#33-Legacy Motor Club #84

Rank Last Year: N/A

Number of Schemes: 3

GPA: 2.67

#34-23XI Racing #23

Rank Last Year: 31 of 45

Number of Schemes: 22

GPA: 2.59

#35-23XI Racing #45

Rank Last Year: 29 of 45

Number of Schemes: 22

GPA: 2.52

#36-Spire Motorsports #7

Rank Last Year: 39 of 45

Number of Schemes: 15

GPA: 2.52

#37-Live Fast Motorsports #78

Rank Last Year: 35 of 45

Number of Schemes: 19

GPA: 2.40

#38-Joe Gibbs Racing #20

Rank Last Year: 10 of 45

Number of Schemes: 16

GPA: 2.36

#39-Trackhouse Racing #1

Rank Last Year: 38 of 45

Number of Schemes:

GPA: 2.13

#40-23XI Racing #67

Rank Last Year: N/A

Number of Schemes: 2

GPA: 2.00

#41-Beard Motorsports #62

Rank Last Year: 25 of 45

Number of Schemes: 3

GPA: 2.00

#42-Trackhouse Racing #99

Rank Last Year: 43 of 45

Number of Schemes: 14

GPA: 1.90

#43-Spire Motorsports #77

Rank Last Year: 36 of 45

Number of Schemes: 13

GPA: 1.68

#44-Trackhouse Racing #91

Rank Last Year: 45 of 45

Number of Schemes: 2

GPA: 1.50

#45-Hendrick Motorsports #48

Rank Last Year: 24 of 45

Number of Schemes: 9

GPA: 1.30

Next Week, back to regular grades.

Driver Suit Blog Radio-Episode 101

For the final episode of Wheel Reviews, I look at an article by Vince Russo, an controversial wrestling writer.

https://www.wrestlecrap.com/vince-russo/what-didnt-you-understand-about-mark-henry-sex-addict/

2023 Paint Scheme Leaderboard Part 3-Toyota

By David G. Firestone

The 2023 Paint Scheme Leaderboard rolls on, this week, it’s the Toyota teams time to shine!

#1-Joe Gibbs R acing #11

Rank Last Year: 1 of 8

Number of Schemes: 11

GPA: 3.52

#2-Joe Gibbs Racing #54

Rank Last Year: N/A

Number of Schemes: 6

GPA: 3.33

#3-Joe Gibbs Racing #19

Rank Last Year: 5 of 8

Number of Schemes: 8

GPA: 2.89

#4-23XI Racing #23

Rank Last Year: 7 of 8

Number of Schemes: 22

GPA: 2.59

#5-23XI Racing #45

Rank Last Year: 6 of 8

Number of Schemes: 22

GPA: 2.52

#6-Joe Gibbs Racing #20

Rank Last Year: 4 of 8

Number of Schemes: 16

GPA: 2.36

#7-23XI Racing #67

Rank Last Year: N/A

Number of Schemes: 2

GPA: 2.00

Next Week, The Grand Finale!

Driver Suit Blog Radio-Episode 100

For the 100th episode of Driver Suit Blog Radio, Wheel Reviews features the book Racing with Rich Energy. How a Rogue Sponsor Took Formula One for a Ride by Alanis King, and Elizabeth Blackstock this week.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rich_Energy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_John_Storey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haas_F1_Team
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_India#2018_season
https://www.richenergy.com/
https://www.richenergybook.com/

2023 Paint Scheme Leaderboard Part 2-Ford

By David G. Firestone

This week, the 2023 Paint Scheme Leaderboard shifts focus to the blue oval. Ford’s rankings are up for this week.

#1-Stewart Haas Racing #29

Rank Last Year: N/A

Number of Schemes: 1

GPA: 4.00

#2-Rick Ware Racing #51

Rank Last Year: 2 of 17

Number of Schemes: 11

GPA: 3.94

#3-Team Penske #22

Rank Last Year: 1 of 17

Number of Schemes: 9

GPA: 3.78

#4-Front Row Motorsports #36

Rank Last Year: N/A

Number of Schemes: 4

GPA: 3.75

#5-Stewart Haas Racing #10

Rank Last Year: 14 of 17

Number of Schemes: 9

GPA: 3.60

#6-Team Penske #12

Rank Last Year: 3 of 17

Number of Schemes: 22

GPA: 3.60

#7-Team Penske #2

Rank Last Year: 9 of 17

Number of Schemes: 13

GPA: 3.54

#8-Stewart Haas Racing #41

Rank Last Year: 5 of 17

Number of Schemes: 14

GPA: 3.28

#9-Roush-Fenway Racing #17

Rank Last Year: 12 of 17

Number of Schemes: 15

GPA: 3.24

#10-Wood Brothers Racing #21

Rank Last Year: 10 of 17

Number of Schemes: 6

GPA: 3.22

#11-Front Row Motorsports #34

Rank Last Year: 13 of 17

Number of Schemes: 14

GPA: 3.19

#12-Front Row Motorsports #38

Rank Last Year: 16 of 17

Number of Schemes: 18

GPA: 3.11

#13-Roush-Fenway Racing #6

Rank Last Year: 6 of 17

Number of Schemes: 13

GPA: 3.05

#14-Rick Ware Racing #15

Rank Last Year: N/A

Number of Schemes: 30

GPA: 3.05

#15-Stewart Haas Racing #14

Rank Last Year: 7 of 17

Number of Schemes: 13

GPA: 2.97

#16-Stewart Haas Racing #4

Rank Last Year: 11 of 17

Number of Schemes: 22

GPA: 2.90

Next Week, the Toyota Leaderboard

Driver Suit Blog Radio-Episode 99

A review of the 1969 controversial sketch comedy show Turn On is featured this week on Wheel Reviews.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia’s_Naughtiest_Home_Videos
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn-On

2023 Paint Scheme Leaderboard Part 1-Chevy

By David G. Firestone

It’s that time of year again! The snow is on the ground, holiday music and decorations are abound, and the 2023 Paint Scheme Leaderboard is here! Here’s how the process works. I will rank all of the Cup Series teams by their paint scheme GPA. I will rank them by manufacturer, then all of them in one final list. There is no committee this year, as Zoe chose to skip the proceedings. Here is the Chevy list:

#1-Hendrick Motorsports #9

Rank Last Year: 2 of 20

Number of Schemes: 9

GPA: 4.00

#2-Richard Childress Racing #33

Rank Last Year: 5 of 20

Number of Schemes: 1

GPA: 4.00

#3-The Money Racing Team #50

Rank Last Year: 17 of 20

Number of Schemes: 1

GPA: 4.00