It’s Labor Day Weekend, which means one thing for NASCAR fans — Darlington.
Since the Southern 500 was moved back to its traditional date in late summer, the weekend has embraced its old-school feel and has given it a throwback theme since 2015 — and Sunday night’s race will be no different.
Many teams and drivers in the Monster Energy Cup Series and the Xfinity Series will give nods to retro paint schemes from the 1990s and earlier. Dale Earnhardt Jr., is running the Xfinity race on Saturday in his dad’s first-ever paint scheme.
There are plenty of other sick schemes taking on the track “too tough to tame,” hoping to avoid the infamous Darlington stripe.
Here are some of the best:
Ryan Newman, No. 6 Ford
The Oscar Mayer Ford pays homage to Mark Martin’s 1993 scheme that scored Jack Roush’s first Southern 500 win in 1993.
To ketchup on this week (😉) @oscarmayer + @roushfenway took over #TooToughToTame on Tuesday to unveil what @RyanJNewman will drive this Labor Day weekend…
What do you think? Leave a comment.& IT IS 🔥
📖: https://t.co/fbSdec0o2I
📸: https://t.co/aEmTp9vDxN
🎟️: https://t.co/NjyjKqgNqX#BojanglesSo500 pic.twitter.com/rgheQhmu6n— Darlington Raceway (@TooToughToTame) May 31, 2019
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet
Elliott’s No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet is a throwback the car his dad, Bill, drove in 1981 while racing for his father, George Elliott.
#ThrowbackAlert 😎@chaseelliott will be honoring @BillElliott9 and his 1981 paint scheme at the #BojanglesSo500
which is only…
8⃣0⃣. 👏 DAYS. 👏 AWAY. 👏@TeamHendrick || @NAPARacing pic.twitter.com/xUHSIfQLx5
— Darlington Raceway (@TooToughToTame) June 12, 2019
Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Ford
The No. 2 team will throw things back to the Rusty Wallace days, rocking the former champ’s 1996 black scheme.
🚨 THROWBACK ALERT 🚨@keselowski is throwing back to @RustyWallace this Labor Day weekend 🙌
We can't wait to see the reigning #BojanglesSo500 champ rocking this paint scheme in 1⃣2⃣ days 🤩#NASCARThrowback || #TooToughToTame pic.twitter.com/HOuyuhSXY0
— Darlington Raceway (@TooToughToTame) August 19, 2019
Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota
Busch will rock a look similar to one Bobby Hillin Jr. raced in 1990.
Check out the SNICKERS throwback car @kylebusch will be racing at @TooToughToTame Labor Day weekend! Let us know if you'll be tuning in below 👇. pic.twitter.com/3euXxQeYKs
— SNICKERS (@SNICKERS) August 22, 2019
Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet
Johnson is going with a personal throwback, rocking the paint scheme from the Chevy Thunder Trophy Truck he piloted in 1995.
🚨THROWBACK ALERT🚨@JimmieJohnson dropped his paint scheme for #BojanglesSo500 & we are diggin' it 😎#throwbackszn || #NASCARThrowback pic.twitter.com/3aF8VD2ldL
— Darlington Raceway (@TooToughToTame) August 26, 2019
Daniel Suarez, No. 41 & Aric Almirola, No. 10 Fords
Both Stewart-Haas Racing teams will pay homage to Tony Stewart’s two championship winning seasons in 2002 and 2005.
Check out that #Haasome 🎨! @Daniel_SuarezG and the No. 41 @Haas_Automation team will pay homage to @TonyStewart's 2005 #NASCAR Cup Series Championship on Sunday at @TooToughToTame. 🏆 How excited are you to cheer them on, fans?#NASCARThrowback pic.twitter.com/7rsBE3syxa
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) August 26, 2019
Orange you glad to see this fantastic 🎨, fans?! @Aric_Almirola and the No. 10 @SmithfieldBrand crew will sport the colors of @TonyStewart's 2002 championship-winning car at @TooToughToTame. Tap the ❤️ if you think we'll see them get a win on Sunday. 🏁#NASCARThrowback pic.twitter.com/SUvRhEQDkz
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) August 25, 2019
Bubba Wallace, No. 43 Chevrolet
Wallace will feature a Victory Junction throwback paint scheme honoring the late Adam Petty. The scheme is a tribute to Adam’s ARCA Racing Series victory at Charlotte on Sept. 20, 1998. It was his only career win in the series.
🚨 THROWBACK ALERT 🚨@BubbaWallace will be honoring the late Adam Petty for the #BojanglesSo500 @RPMotorsports || @kylepetty pic.twitter.com/50DTIcawnG
— Darlington Raceway (@TooToughToTame) August 6, 2019
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford
Blaney’s Penzoil Ford will throw it back to Michael Waltrip’s paint scheme in the early 90s.
🚨 THROWBACK ALERT 🚨
👏 ANOTHER 👏 ONE 👏 IS 👏 HERE 👏@Blaney will pay tribute to @MW55 1991-95 @Pennzoil paint scheme 🙌@Team_Penske || #BojanglesSo500 pic.twitter.com/GyxwTRaAsL
— Darlington Raceway (@TooToughToTame) July 3, 2019
William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet
This one might take the cake. Byron will pay tribute to Cole Trickle, Tom Cruise’s character from “Days of Thunder.”
Epic.
🚨 THROWBACK ALERT 🚨@WilliamByron (or @TomCruise 🤷♂️) will be throwin' back to #DaysofThunder for this year's #BojanglesSo500
AND 👏 WE 👏 ARE 👏 SO 👏 ABOUT 👏 IT 👏
RT if you can't wait to see this out on the track Labor Day weekend 😎 @TeamHendrick || #DaysToDarlington pic.twitter.com/cB2c8a2iK0
— Darlington Raceway (@TooToughToTame) August 1, 2019