CONCORD, N.C. – Returning to Darlington each year allows the drivers to pay homage to moments in history that have helped shape the sport of NASCAR. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is doing just that with his 2017 throwback Nationwide design.
Tuesday afternoon, Earnhardt unveiled the special paint scheme he will run at the South Carolina track, articulating his support of the program.
“The throwback program is even more exciting,” Earnhardt said. “It’s a great opportunity for teams, drivers, owners and anyone really to sort of see the history.”
Earnhardt also mentioned how honoring drivers and schemes from the past is good for the future of the sport.
“As a fan of the sport, I love seeing the other teams express that knowledge and the history,” Earnhardt explained. “Darlington is a perfect place to do it because of how long that track has been around and what it means to the sport.”
Fans have been speculating over the No. 88 team’s throwback scheme via social media and while several popular ideas were circulating, it all came down to one choice.
Underneath the cover sat a car modeled after a championship-winning machine from Earnhardt’s past.
The Chevy features Earnhardt’s long time sponsor, Nationwide, with a tribute to the ACDelco car he drove in what is now known as the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Earnhardt won both the 1998 and 1999 series championships with the same scheme.
“I think that the primary sponsor Nationwide Insurance is a great pairing with this scheme,” Earnhardt expressed. “It went together really well, so I was very happy with what it looked like on the design sheet.”
Earnhardt will pilot the throwback Chevy in his final race at Darlington Raceway on September 3.