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Throwback Weekend, officially established at Darlington in 2015, has been used as a way to honor the history of NASCAR through special paint schemes and liveries inspired by the sport’s past. It’s expanded to include everything from ‘throwback’ commentators in the booth and old-school logos on the Goodyear tires.
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Some years have had themes, focusing on specific decades, but most years, teams and drivers just did whatever they liked. While many honor the history of NASCAR, others take on a more personal nature or branch out into throwbacks to race cars outside of stock car racing. Drivers have even joined in on the fun with wigs and mustaches to match the driver they were paying tribute to. But it seems like with every year that passes, fewer and fewer teams are taking part.
However, with half of the Cup Series field (19 of 38 entries) choosing not to participate this weekend, is it time to end the tradition?
Joey Logano, Team Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, LLumar Throwback Chevrolet Camaro
Joey Logano, Team Penske, Shell Pennzoil Ford Mustang, Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports, LLumar Throwback Chevrolet CamaroJohn Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
John Harrelson / NKP / Motorsport Images
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NASCAR’s ‘Most Popular Driver’ seems to think so. Speaking in a Saturday media availability, Chase Elliott admitted: “I thought I lost it (its luster) about four or five years ago, so I was way too early to that conversation, I think.”
However, Elliott and the entirety of Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) are participating this year with the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion running a paint scheme that pays tribute to Kenny Schrader’s 1994 HMS Chevrolet.
“Not to be a downer — I joked about this years ago, but if we kept going down the road, we’re going to be throwing it back to me in 2018,” continued Elliott. “At some point, I think we’ve got to chill on it a little bit. I think we’ve rode the horse to death, and we tend to do that a little bit too much.”
Speaking in his own media session, Denny Hamlin touched on pressure from sponsors unwilling to change their branding and how that is leading to a decline in throwbacks schemes throughout the field. “Yeah, I mean I think it sounds good in theory, but you know truthfully, these guys are trying to find a reason to get a return on their investment,” explained Hamlin. “So, when you kind of change their logo or maybe change their colors and stuff, it doesn’t really line up with what they want. It’s just a sponsor-driven sport. I mean, I’m watching the Xfinity Series cars and I’m like, ‘they’re awesome!’ Because they don’t have this many sponsors, they can kind of do whatever they want to do. It’s cool to see from their standpoint, but yeah on the Cup side it’s going to be really tough going forward.”
Photos from Darlington – Practice & Qualifying
Austin Cindric, Team Penske Ford
Austin Cindric, Team Penske FordJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing FordJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Joey Logano, Team Penske FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Goodyear Eagle tire detail
Goodyear Eagle tire detailJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing Toyota
Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing ChevroletJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing ChevroletJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing FordJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Joey Logano, Team Penske FordJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing Toyota
Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports ChevroletJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Throwback Nascar logo
Throwback Nascar logoJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse ChevroletJared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing ToyotaJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Joey Logano, Team Penske FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Chris Buescher, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports ChevroletJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports FordJames Gilbert / Getty Images
James Gilbert / Getty Images
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