Ranking the Top 10 NASCAR Patriotic Paint Schemes Of All Time
Patriotic paint schemes are a common sight in NASCAR, especially on Memorial Day weekend and Fourth of July.
NBC takes over broadcasting the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series this weekend from Nashville and next week at the inaugural Chicago Street Race. As is customary around this time of year, many teams will show up to the track with special patriotic paint schemes to honor America. Here’s a look back at some previous patriotic paint jobs that drivers have rocked in years past.
10. Kyle Larson's HendrickCars.com Patriotic Chevrolet (2022 & 2023)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/cMpKOZdEahg
There’s been a lot written about the new number placement for NASCAR’s Cup Series cars since teams moved the numbers forward beginning in 2022, but one of the better looking schemes in recent memory with a patriotic theme was Kyle Larson’s HendrickCars.com wrap for the 2022 Coca-Cola 600. With an askew logo on the hood and a diagonal website link on the side, this car was definitely unconventional…but it looked great. Separating a car so distinctly into two different sections with the blue front and the white back with trapezoidal lines was a bold choice and it worked. The red outline along the “5” on the side was a nice touch and seals the deal for this paint scheme being one of the best of the season and one of the better patriotic designs in recent memory. In fact, this scheme was so good that Larson and Hendrick brought it back for 2023 with minimal changes.
How’d It Do In The Race? Larson finished 9th at the 2022 Coca-Cola 600 after spinning twice in the race, 3rd at Road America on July 4th weekend, and 8th at Kansas in September - all with the HendrickCars.com patriotic colors. Not a bad run.
9. Kevin Harvick's Busch Light Fireworks Ford (2020)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/zKAYWbYhbsU
For the one time that the Brickyard 400 was run over 4th of July weekend, Kevin Harvick and Stewart-Haas Racing turned up to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2020 with a fireworks-themed wrap for the #4 Busch Light Ford. This scheme was special because it gave off patriotic vibes without putting the red, white, and blue right in your face. The bald eagle on the side was a nice touch as well. Overall, it’s a gorgeous scheme that’s easy on the eyes and not overwhelming. Ron Swanson would be proud.
How’d It Do? Kevin Harvick started 11th due to the formula NASCAR was using at the time with practice and qualifying being canceled during the 2020 season. He quickly drove up to the front and won the race after leader Denny Hamlin had a tire go down in the closing laps.
8. Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Nationwide Stars & Stripes Chevrolet (2015)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/wSgq48T1Py4
Lots of Dale Jr.’s sponsors such as Budweiser, National Guard, and Mountain Dew were great with special paint schemes, but Junior’s 2015 Nationwide Insurance paint job for the summer Daytona race is the perfect example of less being more. The top half of the car was all black, but the bottom half had an American flag to give the illusion it was whipping through the air in the dark of night. This car is proof that not all good patriotic schemes need to be in your face with the stars and stripes.
How’d It Do? Fans not only loved this paint scheme for its looks, but it didn’t hurt that Junior started first, lead the most laps, and won the 2015 Coke Zero 400.
7. Chase Elliott's NAPA Auto Parts Patriotic Chevrolet (2018)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/xasIq81Gb2I
This scheme flies under the radar but it’s sooo good. Chase Elliott, voted NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver every year since 2018, drove a one-off patriotic design for the 2018 Coca-Cola 600 and it was glorious. Dark NAPA blue, red stripes, white shooting stars, a beautiful gold #9…*chef’s kiss*.
How’d It Do? Elliott started 22nd and finished just outside the top-10 in 11th.
6. Jimmie Johnson's Lowe's Power of Pride Chevrolet (2003)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/9WyjlmkvEXY
In the early 2000’s, Jimmie Johnson’s Lowe’s “Power of Pride” special paint schemes were iconic right from the start. In fact, Johnson’s first Cup race in October 2001 featured a subdued version of the “Power of Pride” branding in response to the September 11 attacks, which again became relevant when news broke of the Invasion of Afghanistan during the pre-race show.
In 2002, Lowe's redid the “Power of Pride” scheme into the more recognizable American flag design, and improved upon it further in 2003 (our favorite version). The “Power of Pride” artwork remained dormant until 2007 when Johnson ran that year’s All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 in patriotic colors, and again as a one-off tribute at Richmond in 2011 in honor of the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports continued to have yearly patriotic schemes through the late 2000s and into the 2010s, but the “Power of Pride” branding wasn’t used.
How’d It Do? Jimmie Johnson and Lowe's ran several races with the “Power of Pride” American flag design, but in 2003, Johnson won the All-Star Race and Coca-Cola 600 in the red, white, and blue colors. Needless to say, he did pretty well.
5. Austin Dillon's Bass Pro Shops Museum Chevrolet (2015)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/OrRLhTyWHQk
Bass Pro Shops has run a number of patriotic paint schemes over the years with drivers such as Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, and Jamie McMurray, but Austin Dillon’s 2015 Chevrolet SS from the 2015 Coke Zero 400 takes the cake for being the most well-rounded and aesthetically-pleasing. At least before the last lap of the race...
How’d It Do? Austin Dillon crossed the finish line in 7th, but things went very wrong right after. Dillon’s #3 car ramped up over the front of Denny Hamlin’s spinning Toyota right after the finish line, pirouetted through the air, and impacted the retaining catchfence at full speed. The destroyed car then flopped back down to the asphalt on its roof before being impacted by Brad Keselowski.
Somehow, Dillon escaped uninjured, but his glorious Bass Pro Shops machine was no more. The remains of the car are located inside a Springfield, MO Bass Pro Shops if you ever want to see it in person.
4. Casey Mears' GEICO Military Chevrolet (2016)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/J-dHsk-AoT4
One of the more unique takes on a camo scheme was Casey Mears’ GEICO Military paint job beginning in 2016. The camouflage was used as a supporting color to the main black base with great results. Variations of the scheme continued through the 2020 season with Ty Dillon as driver, but we believe the first edition in 2016 with the GEICO gecko on the hood and white numbers was the best.
How’d It Do? Mears drove the GEICO Military scheme four times in 2016, with a best finish of 12th at the summer Daytona race.
3. Jeff Gordon's DuPont Stars & Stripes Chevrolet (2010)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/PHkNHs6ukxk?start=4537
Jeff Gordon rocked the flames as part of his iconic DuPont paint scheme from 2001-2011, and then from 2013-2015 when DuPont Performance Coatings was spun off into Axalta. One of Gordon’s more memorable flames variations was his 2010 Coca-Cola 600 ride that saw the normal orange flames replaced with red and white stripes with stars on the rest of the body.
How’d It Do? Jeff Gordon started 15th and fell back early on, but he rebounded to lead 3 laps and finish 6th.
2. Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Budweiser Camo Chevrolet (2007)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/i0CRIvpelwM
2007 was a year to forget for Dale Earnhardt Jr., but we’ll never forget the awesome Budweiser Camo car he drove in that year’s Coca-Cola 600. Looks like it came straight from the battlefield!
How’d It Do? Dale Jr. started 4th and finished 8th, which was definitely a good result considering multiple drivers gambled on fuel during the last run of the race and threw the finishing results all out of order.
Honorable mention to a similar paint scheme: Jimmie Johnson's 2020 Ally Military Chevrolet Camaro.
1. Ken Schrader's American Flag Pontiac (2001) / Kyle Busch's American Flag Toyota (2011)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/CnGkOEjGO3U?start=513
In the days following the devastating September 11 attacks, all pro sports leagues postponed their weekend events, including NASCAR’s scheduled Cup race at New Hampshire on September 16. The first race back after the attacks was the MBNA Cal Ripken Jr. 400 at Dover Motor Speedway, and teams showed up with patriotic decals and paint schemes to honor America.
However, no team took it further than MB2 Motorsports and Ken Schrader’s Pontiac, which was covered from hood to bumper in a giant American flag. The car ran without its usual M&M’s logos and contingency stickers that weekend. This dedication from MB2 Motorsports and M&M’s makes Ken Schrader’s American Flag car the #1 patriotic paint scheme in NASCAR history.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/F-Qb4uey9Qc?start=513
But we’re not done there. Ten years later for the Wonderful Pistachios 400 at Richmond Raceway, M&M’s once again removed their logos from Kyle Busch’s #18 Toyota Camry and ran the giant American Flag paint scheme on the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks - a classy tribute.
How’d They Do? Ken Schrader started 13th and finished 18th in 2001, and Kyle Busch started 13th and finished 6th in 2011.
Honorable mentions to similar paint schemes: Ross Chastain/Daniel Suarez's 2022/2023 Jockey Chevrolet Camaro, Travis Pastrana's 2013 American Flag Ford Mustang, and Dale Earnhardt's 1996 Atlanta Olympics Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
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