As part of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500’s return to its traditional Labor Day weekend date for the first time in 12 years, the track has "decided to embark" on a throwback theme "which will see more than 30 Sprint Cup and Xfinity Series teams run historic paint schemes during the weekend," according to Adam Stern in this week's SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Festivities "include a specially made old-fashioned merchandise line from Fanatics, track employees wearing retro outfits, a parade with classic cars and concessions that were sold at the track in the 1970s, which is the period the race is celebrating." From a television perspective, NBC "is looking to bring the throwback theme to viewers." NBC VP/NASCAR Production Jeff Behnke: "We’re all in. What we want to do is make sure viewers can really touch and feel this throwback experience." NBC’s coverage will include "on-site and studio talent wearing retro outfits," as well as "on-air graphics reminiscent of ones used during" the '70s (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/31 issue).
OLD SCHOOL: NASCAR driver Joey Logano on Tuesday unveiled his No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford's throwback scheme. Logano said, "The cool thing about it is that the Shell logo is from 1955, which is kind of the same era as Darlington's start, and then it kind of represents a lot of the '60s, '70s and '80s paint schemes that Shell had going through the years." Track President Chip Wile: "When we started talking about how we could elevate the racetrack and really make it a special weekend, we looked at our history and there's so much history at Darlington. ... It's going to be a special weekend ("NASCAR Race Hub," FS1, 9/1). USA TODAY's Jeff Gluck writes it is "expected there will be 32 special paint schemes" on Sunday night, "thought to be by far the record for a single NASCAR race" (USATODAY.com, 9/3).
STAY SCHEMIN': NBCSPORTS.com's Daniel McFadin listed the various paint schemes that will be used this weekend. Driver Austin Dillon's No. 3 Chevrolet "pays tribute to the early days" of Richard Childress Racing, when Childress, Dillon’s grandfather, "was behind the wheel." Danica Patrick's No. 10 GoDaddy Chevrolet "is meant as a tribute to Darlington, affectionately known as 'The Lady in Black.'" Denny Hamlin's No. 11 Toyota "pays tribute to when Cale Yarborough drove the No. 11" in the '70s. Tony Stewart's No. 14 Bass Pro Shops Chevy will feature a Bass Pro "logo from the late 70s adorning the hood." Paul Menard "personally helped out in the design of his No. 27 Chevrolet, which is based on the marketing for the Menard’s home improvement stores" in the early '70s (NBCSPORTS.com, 8/26).
SOUTHERN ROOTS: USA TODAY's Mike Hembree wrote after "existing in a sort of nomadic no-man’s-land on the schedule -- with dates in November, on Mother’s Day weekend and in April, the Southern 500 is back at home." For most of the track's first 30 years, "the 500 was held on Labor Day Monday." If NASCAR "has been viewed for most of its history as a distinctly Southern sport, the Southern 500 was ground zero for that sentiment" (USA TODAY, 9/3). In South Carolina, Gavin Jackson noted even with changes to the Southern-rooted sport over generations of racing, "Confederate flags can still be seen flying near vendors’ tents, from campers, buses and trucks in and around the infield by fans whose loyalties run deep." But Wile in a statement "called for the creation of an 'inclusive atmosphere' at the racetrack by allowing fans to exchange their Confederate flags for American flags" (SCNOW.com, 9/2).
SLAY BELLS: TaxSlayer.com announced that beginning this Saturday at Darlington Raceway, it will utilize its racing assets to showcase the TaxSlayer Bowl by including Bowl marks as the primary sponsor of Xfinity Series driver Regan Smith's No. 7 Chevy Camaro. The markings will be displayed on Smith's car for three consecutive Xfinity races after Darlington -- Richmond, Chicago and Kentucky (TaxSlayer).
