Racing Design Blog

Remembering Kenny Irwin Jr.

It was nine years ago today that the racing world lost one of its rising stars, and I lost a friend. On this day in 2000, Kenny Irwin Jr. raced his last lap in practice at the New Hampshire track. Kenny's loss was just one in a series of tragic accidents that affected the NASCAR family and has had the tendency to get lost in the shuffle as time has passed by.

I had the good fortune of getting to know Kenny through my association with Hasbro and the Winner's Circle brand. Kenny had driven cars sponsored by Winner's Circle in 1997 and many of the people I worked with there had the good fortune to work closely with him that season. It was in October of 1998, after joining the Winner's Circle team, that I got the chance to meet Kenny Irwin at an event at the headquarters of Action-Performance in Charlotte. This was the weekend that Kenny and Dale Jarrett were participating in the Batman and Joker promotion.

I had long been a fan of the famous RYR Texaco Havoline #28 and was a fan of Kenny's as soon as it was announced that he would drive the car in 1998. Prior to my association with Hasbro, I was your typical NASCAR fan who loved his driver, wore his gear each Sunday and had his number on the back window of my car. I was extremely excited to know that I was going to attend this special event in Charlotte, knowing many drivers would be there. As the night went on, I had the chance to meet Kenny and a group of his close associates. When I introduced myself to him, I whipped out my Kenny Irwin Fan Club card and he was quite surprised to see it. I had a few minutes to talk with him and he invited me to look for him the next day at the track.

Over the rest of the 1998 season, I would see Kenny at the track when I was there and he always had a smile and a kind word. He would signal me from the car when he was heading out to practice and would always invite me to come into his pit stall to watch the race. He always had a smile and took some time to chat each time we were around.

 When I rolled into Daytona for the first part of Speedweeks in 1999, I was the proud owner of a NASCAR hard card. Kenny was quite impressed at the site of my new found stature. Over the course of the 1999 season, Kenny would again be the friendly face I would look for each time I was at the track. At Martinsville in late 1999, Kenny broke the news to me that he would be moving over to drive the #42 for the 2000 season. He even asked if I would take a shot at designing some paint schemes for him. Later that season in Charlotte, Kenny had us stop by his motor coach to look over some ideas and watch the Busch race. That was a really great moment.

Over the years, I was privileged to have designed t-shirts and logos for Kenny's Fan Club. In 2000, he had me do his t-shirt design featuring the #42 car he would be driving for that season. When we arrived at Daytona in 2000, I could see a new spirit in his eyes, looking forward to a new start for the 2000 season. He seemed full of optimism and ready to get the season going. I would see him a few times as the season wore on as I traveled to the track. At Richmond that summer, I got a chance to spend some time with him on pit road and talked about how his season was going and about how well he had done at that track in the past. Little did I know that it would be the last time I would ever get the chance to talk with him.

I was in Daytona for the July race but I was never able to catch up with him that weekend. My schedule was full of events and though I was able to give a wave hello as I passed him in a car, I never got the chance to talk with him. I figured that I would just catch up with him at the next event I traveled to. I listened in on Kenny during the race that night, and then made my way back home like I had so many times before.

I was working a summer hours half day on Friday, July 7, 2000. I had just gotten home from Hasbro at lunchtime when I got a call from a family member telling me to turn on the news. I can't even describe the feelings I had when I heard the news that Kenny had been lost in a practice accident. I had never felt such a profound feeling of unexpected loss.

Kenny Irwin Jr. was a driver who had so much talent and opportunity in front of him. We never knew the heights that he may have achieved in his career. On July 7, 2000, the sport of NASCAR not only lost a great future talent, but a warm, kind person as well. Each and every July 7th, I continue to pray for his family and send them my words of encouragement. I will never forget Kenny Irwin Jr. and the simple acts of friendship he showed to me. I want to make sure that the name Kenny Irwin Jr. is never forgotten and will always do everything I can to keep his memory alive in the minds of NASCAR fans.

In honor of Kenny Irwin Jr., you can do something that can make a difference. In his memory today, please visit the Kenny Irwin Jr. Foundation's website and make a donation. The Dare to Dream camp was started by Kenny's parents, Kenny Sr. and Reva Irwin and the camp provides a special place for kids in need to experience things they might not otherwise be able to do. This would be a great way to honor the memory of Kenny Irwin Jr. on this July 7th.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Sports Illustrated Covers

In a stick-and-ball sports world, it is sometimes difficult for NASCAR to crack the mainstream sports media and be considered on par with the other major sports. One way to know that your sport is being accepted by the masses is to have it featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Today we'll take a look at a few times the Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been featured on the cover of the country's premier stick-and-ball sports magazine.

This issue of Sports Illustrated hit the shelves on December 13, 2003. The issue was the special collector's issue commemorating the 2003 NASCAR season and previewing the 2004 season. The cover features Dale Earnhardt Jr. in his Budweiser colors from the 2003 season. The image on the cover is particularly interesting because it features an image of Dale Earnhardt in Junior's sunglass lense. The image is a striking reminder of the legacy that Dale Earnhardt Jr. has to uphold and the pressures that come with it.

This next cover ran on December 5, 2007, as the season review for 2007 and preview for 2008. The cover features Dale Earnhardt Jr. with his new teammates at Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Casey Mears. The headline on the cover features Hendrick Motorsports as the team to beat in 2008. The news of Dale Jr.'s arrival at Hendrick was big enought to propel him to the cover of SI again.

This next Dale Earnhardt Jr. cover ran on February 18, 2008 just prior to Dale Jr.'s debut in the Amp Energy Hendrick Motorsports #88. The image features a relaxed Dale Jr. on the hood of his new Amp Energy ride. Again, the news of Dale's departure from Dale Earnhardt Inc. and his arrival at Hendrick Motorsports was important enough to grab the cover of Sports Illustrated one more time. The headline is "Time to Win?" in anticipation of Dale Jr.'s potential success with Hendrick Motorsports.

Classic Paint Schemes: Dale Earnhardt All-Star History

In honor of NASCAR's All-Star Weekend, today's Classic Paint Schemes takes a look at the man who started the All-Star special paint scheme craze and the special schemes he drove in the race over the years. In 1995, Dale Earnhardt arrived at the Winston in a special all silver GM Goodwrench Chevrolet that was commemorating Winston's 25 years as the title sponsor of the NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Racing Design Blog profiled this famous car here. This all silver GM Goodwrench Chevrolet definitely set the standard that was to become the special paint scheme craze at the All-Star race.

In 1996, Dale participated in All-Star Weekend with a #3 Chevrolet featuring the colors of the 1996 Summer Olympics. The 1996 Olympics were held in Atlanta and this paint scheme was to celebrate the event. The scheme featured a solid blue front with red and white stripes down the back, creating a truly classic USA look. The famous #3 was featured in silver, rather than its traditional white.

For the 1997 all-Star Race, Dale Earnhardt drove a special paint scheme featuring Wheaties. This special paint scheme saw the famous #3 take on an orange base color with the familiar Wheaties brand logo on the hood.

In 1998, Dale's famous #3 arrived in Charlotte for the All-Star race featuring sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops. The car featured a paint scheme based in black and gold. The sponsorship was a natural for Dale Earnhardt, who was an avid outdoorsman. The Bass Pro Shops sponsorship is still associated with the Dale Earnhardt Inc. team today, as the primary sponsor for Martin Truex Jr. and the #1.

The car that Dale drove in the 1999 event brought back many special memories for long-time Dale Earnhardt fans. Dale took to the track under the Charlotte lights with a scheme that featured his early career sponsor Wrangler. This car's paint scheme was a familiar look that Dale had used for many years prior to the GM Goodwrench sponsorship. More information on Dale's Wrangler era cars can be found here.

The 2000 event was the last that Dale would paticipate in. For that race, Dale drove what was perhaps the strangest combination of sponsor and driver in NASCAR history. The car featured a brightly colored scheme designed by famed artist Peter Max. The car's bright colors and use of the color pink made this scheme a controversial one that received very mixed reviews during that race weekend. Racing Design Blog profiled this famous paint scheme pairing here.

Classic Paint Schemes: NASCAR and the King of Rock-n-Roll

In today's Classic Paint Schemes we take a look at the times that the King, Elvis Presley, has graced the panels of a NASCAR race car. The image of Elvis has been featured several times, especially when paired with the race in Las Vegas. Here is a look at a few of the appearances on the track for the King of Rock-n-Roll in NASCAR.

In 1998, the King made an appearance of the car of Rusty Wallace at the inaugural event in Las Vegas. The hood of the #2 Miller Lite Ford featured a classic image of the King and a piano pattern around the bottom. This special paint scheme was a popular one since it coincided with the first race in the city well known Elvis.

Rusty Wallace's car featured Elvis a few more times. This Elvis Presley scheme ran on his Miller Lite Ford in 2002, again at Las Vegas. This car featured a 1970's Elvis on the hood and images of a younger Elvis on the sides. The car featured navy and silver base colors on the car that were split by a musical note pattern.

In 2004 there was a Bill Elliott car that featured Elvis to be run in the Busch Series. This Elvis car featured the theme "He Dared to Rock". This car featured a black base paint scheme with a stylized image of a young Elvis on the hood. Again, the design featured a musical note pattern down the sides of the car.

In 2007, Dale Earnhardt Jr. got into the Elvis act a bit with a special # 8 Elvis Cherolet that ran at Richmond in September. The theme of the car was an Elvis 30th Anniversary. The white based paint scheme featured a black and white image of a 1968 Comeback Special era Elvis on the hood and rear quarterpanels along with primary sponsor Budweiser.

In 2009, Motorsports Authentics created a show car that featured the pairing of two of the most legendary names in American history. This special #3 car featured the images of Elvis Presley and Dale Earnhardt. This car never ran on the track, but was created to celebrate the lives of these two American icons. The car is loaded with Elvis imagery and also features an image of Dale Earnhardt as well.

NASCAR fans and Elvis fans are a natural match and any time the King of Rock-n-Roll makes an appearance on a NASCAR race car it is always a popular promotion.

Classic Paint Schemes: Dale Earnhardt Brickyard 400 1999

Today's Classic Paint Schemes takes a look back at the Brickyard 400 in 1999 and the GM Goodwrench Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt that day. The GM Goodwrench car did not have its normal Goodwrench logo on the hood, but featured a graphic of the GM Goodwrench Service sign that you might see in front of a Chevrolet dealership. The sign graphic replaced the traditional hood logo that had become Dale's signature look at the Brickyard 400 in 1999.

The look was a drastic departure from what fans had come to expect for a Dale Earnhardt #3 car. The #3 featured the word "Plus" in red on the hood for the 1998 season. The #3 returned to the basic GM Goodwrench logo prominently on the black hood in 1999, with the only real change being the addition of the word "Plus" at the end. The use of the sign gave the #3 a very different look and was drastically different than anything Dale Earnhardt fans had seen before.

The debut of the new hood logo was not the only "design" related news from that race weekend. The real news that was buzzing around the track that weekend was the news that Dale had shaved off his famous mustache and changed his personal "design" a bit. Not only did the car have a new look, but the person with the most famous mustache in America was sporting a new look as well. Dale apparently shaved the mustache while vacationing just prior to that race weekend and showed up at the Brickyard with a fresh new look. The move created quite a buzz and Dale spent the weekend with an entirely new look that fans had not seen since early in his racing career. The mustache quickly returned in the following weeks, but that Brickyard 400 weekend will go down in history as one where Dale Earnhardt not only arrived with a new look on his car, but a new personal style as well.

Legendary Paint Schemes: Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Japan

Today's article takes a look back to the 1998 season and focuses on the race that signaled the first time that Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. raced together in NASCAR Winston Cup competition. The race took place on November 22, 1998 at the Twin Ring Motegi track in Japan. The race took place just after the completion of the 1998 season as an exhibition race to expose NASCAR to an international market.

The big news surrounding the Japan race was that Dale Sr. and Dale Jr. would be taking to the track to compete against each other for the first time with special paint schemes on their cars from Coca-Cola. This special paint scheme program generated a huge amount of pre-race hype and became one of the most anticipated paint scheme events ever.

Dale Earnhardt's Coca-Cola car featured his famous #3 Chevrolet with a Coca-Cola red base color and the famous Coca-Cola button on the hood. The base paint scheme followed that of Dale's usual GM Goodwrench car, with the Coke colors replacing his normal black and silver. The button on the hood featured the checkered flag version of the bottle which was used for the Coca-Cola Racing Family in 1998.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. took to the track in the Dale Earnhardt Inc. #1, with a black Coca-Cola paint scheme. The hood of the car featured the Coke Polar Bear enjoying his cola refreshment. The sides of the car featured an ice and snow pattern along with a faded checkerboard accent. The Polar Bear appeared on the rear quarterpanels with the Coca-Cola script logo. The #1 was the same number font that Dale Earnhardt Inc. used for the car in regular Winston Cup competition.

This was a truly unique and well publicized NASCAR event. The combination of racing in another country and having the race feature the first time this legendary father/son combination would compete together made this promotion a popular one. Here is the article from NASCAR Online (as it was known then) announcing the event.

Coca-Cola Classic is delivering the hottest father and son duo in NASCAR to racing fans. Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will race head-to-head for the first time at the Coca-Cola 500 in Motegi, Japan on Nov. 22. To mark this historic event, both Earnhardts will drive special Coca-Cola race cars.

The Earnhardts were joined Wednesday morning at "World of Coca-Cola" by executives from the Coca-Cola Company, NASCAR and Action Performance Companies, Inc. for the unveiling of the actual cars to be driven in the Coca-Cola 500 race at the new Twin Ring Motegi oval. Dale Earnhardt's red No. 3 car features the signature Coca-Cola Red Disk Icon and NASCAR-themed checkered contour bottle. The famous Coca-Cola polar bear is highlighted on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s black No. 1 car.

"My dad is the reason I am in this sport and he's someone I have always looked up to, not only as my dad but as a great race car driver," Earnhardt Jr. said. "The biggest thing I'm thinking about right now is our team getting some cars ready that will be competitive. It might be really weird the first time I try to pass him on the track if I get a chance to pass him. But, it's something that will be exciting for both of us I'm sure."

"The one time I raced against my dad (Ralph Earnhardt) was at a dirt track," Earnhardt said. "I was racing this guy, and my dad, who was leading the race, came up behind me and I couldn't figure out what he was doing. Finally he started bumping me so I figured I better hold the car straight. He pushed me by this guy and I beat him, then dad drove on past me.

"I got one exciting time racing with my dad and it was pretty neat. I would have liked to have done more of it. It is exciting to see Dale Jr. grow into the sport and it will be a great experience to race him in Japan. However, it wouldn't look very good for him to beat his good old dad, now would it?"

"This is our third year of NASCAR racing in Japan and our first appearance on an oval track with Twin Ring Motegi," said Brian France, senior vice president of NASCAR. "The Japanese fans will get to witness something special when Dale and Dale Jr. take the green flag. I know every race fan back in the states will be watching the father/son matchup on TBS."

The announcement of this first race with both Earnhardt and Earnhardt Jr. comes during a season in which both drivers have reached career milestones. Earnhardt, the seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion, achieved a significant career goal with his first Daytona 500 victory this past February. Earnhardt Jr. has taken the NASCAR Busch Series Grand National Division by storm, winning five races and leading in the point standings.

"NASCAR fans have been waiting to see Dale and Dale Jr. race on the same track for quite a while, and we are happy to be a part of this history-making event," said Jack Stahl, president, Coca-Cola USA. "Bringing friends and family together is what the Coca-Cola Racing Family is all about, and having this great father and son team race at the Coca-Cola 500 is a perfect way to cap our first year as the Official Soft Drink of NASCAR."

The company's involvement with the Coca-Cola 500 in Japan highlights its commitment to work together with NASCAR to develop international programs for the sport. Although the Coca-Cola 500 takes place thousands of miles away, diehard racing fans will be able to tune in to TBS Superstation race coverage. In addition, fans and collectors in the U.S. will be able to experience the excitement of this once-in-a-lifetime event thanks to Action Performance, the industry leader in motorsports-related product licensing and merchandising.

Action Performance has created a vast array of exclusive Coca-Cola/Earnhardt merchandise and apparel that will hit mass retail department stores nationwide beginning October 1998. Fans may also purchase the collectibles at upcoming NASCAR racing events and order merchandise through the Racing Collectables Club of America (beginning Thursday).

"Our partnership with Coca-Cola is an example of how Action is using its full-service marketing capabilities to capture additional opportunities for creating new product lines, merchandising programs and marketing and distribution channels," said Fred Wagenhals, Action Performance chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Our abilities, added to the worldwide recognition of Coca-Cola and the legendary appeal of the Earnhardt name, will give race fans one of the most exciting programs in years."

In addition to the Earnhardt's father and son debut, other firsts at the Twin Ring Motegi race track include the first-time sponsorship of the exhibition race by Coca-Cola Japan Company and the inaugural running of the NASCAR event at the new 1.5-mile oval.

Classic Paint Schemes: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

In today's Classic Paint Schemes, I wanted to take a look at one of my all-time favorite special paint schemes. This special paint scheme for Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran in 2006 as a tribute to his late father, Dale Earnhardt. This paint scheme was a perfect tribute to the Man in Black and one of the great classics of all-time.

There is nothing particularly fancy about this scheme, but it is the simplicity of it that made it great. That color scheme was trademark Dale Earnhardt. Seeing his son in those colors brought back many memories for Dale's fans who had not seen that look on the track since Dale's tragic passing at Daytona in 2001. The car featured Dale's trademark black, with the silver at the bottom, framed by red. The #8 looked so much like the #3 that Dale made famous that if you really looked closely you could almost see the Intimidator on the track again.

The only difference on this car was the Budweiser sponsorship on the hood, but even that was colored in a way that kept the integrity of Dale Sr.'s look. There was another car on the track that used a similar scheme, the #1 of Martin Truex Jr., but the sight of Dale Jr. in these colors definitely overshadowed the other.

This special paint scheme for Dale Earnhardt Jr. will go down in history as one of the true classics. It's simplicity brought back all of the good memories fans had for his father and having Dale Jr. behind the wheel made it even more special. I would think Dale Jr. must have enjoyed taking to the track in this special look. We may never see this look on the track again, but in 2006, we got to enjoy the classic Earnhardt colors one more time.

Classic Paint Schemes: Mark Martin

I thought it was only appropriate today to take a look at some classic Mark Martin paint schemes after Mark's popular win on Saturday night at Phoenix. This is by no means meant to be a chronological history, but a look back at some of the different looks Mark Martin has driven over the years.

When most of us think of Mark Martin, the image of his Valvoline #6 Roush car comes to mind. Mark's greatest career successes came from behind the wheel of the famous #6. Mark's early #6 Valvoline car had a simple, yet classic red, white and blue look. The slanted #6 with the Valvoline logo on the hood is one of the true classics from NASCAR past.

As the years went by, the #6 Valvoline car began to evolve. The next generation of the Valvoline car took the classic original scheme and added some flair to it. The car still had the same base color scheme, but the number style and striping pattern evolved from the original. The slanted #6 leaned the other direction and the stripes on the door became mush more curved and fluid. The car still maintained a classic Valvoline look and was easily identified as Mark Martin on the track.

The next evolution of the #6 Valvoline car took a more modern turn.This version of the car continued with the base scheme of the white hood and red/blue accent colors but the number style and the striping pattern evolved into a completely new look. The number became much more stylized and round. The number style was much more modern and cutting edge, reflecting the design style of that time period. The paint scheme on the sides became a pattern created by a series of red, white, and blue flying Valvoline V's.

When the Valvoline sponsorship left the #6 Roush Racing Ford, it was definitely a shock. The classic Valvoline colors had become synonymous with Mark Martin and the #6. After Valvoline, the #6 Roush Racing Ford took on a slightly different look that we will save for discussion on another day.

Some may not remember some of Mark's earlier #6 Roush Racing Fords that he drove prior to the Valvoline sponsorship. Earlier versions of the #6 ran the colors of Stroh's Light and Folgers. These cars were much simpler in design and the #6 had not yet taken on the more recognizable slanted look.

Another classic look from Mark's career is the #60 car Mark drove in the NASCAR Busch Series. You may not realize it, but Mark Martin is one of the most successful driver's in Busch Series history. His classic #60 Winn Dixie car was one of the most famous looks in the history of that series. Mark drove this Winn Dixie paint scheme for many years and achieved great success and recognition in theose black and yellow colors.

Mark Martin is certainly one of the most beloved drivers in the history of NASCAR. His on track success coupled with his clean driving style and winning smile have made him a popular driver with NASCAR fans and his to his fellow competitors. His win on Saturday night was a popular one and it proved that Mark Martin still has the skills and the talent to win at the Sprint Cup level.

Classic Paint Schemes: Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson

In today's Classic Paint Schemes, we are going to take a look at a few of the early paint schemes for two of the most popular and successful drivers in NASCAR history. Hendrick Motorsports drivers Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson share 7 series championships, and 123 wins. The #24 Dupont Chevrolet and the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet are two of the most recognizable cars on the track. Even the most casual fan knows the look of these two successful cars.

Both of these drivers got their NASCAR starts in the Busch Series. Some fans who are newer to the sport may not remember these early rides in these drivers' careers. Jeff Gordon first raced in the Busch (now Nationwide) Series in 1991. Gordon drove for Bill Davis Racing in the #1 Carolina Ford Dealers car. Yes, I said Ford! Gordon got his start in the Ford camp, driving this paint scheme in his first year in the series. The car was a simple design, mostly navy with the back portion of the car being white. The simple words Carolina Ford Dealers graced the hood. When we think of Jeff Gordon, we don't typically think of him and the #1.

In 1992 Jeff Gordon drove another season in the Busch Series for Bill Davis. His crew chief for 1992 was none other than Ray Evernham. For the 1992 season, Jeff drove the white #1 Baby Ruth Ford Thunderbird. The paint scheme was as simple as it gets, solid white with the Baby Ruth logo squarely on the hood and rear quarterpanels.Not only is this paint scheme unfamiliar to newer fans of the sport, but Jeff's look might appear to be a bit different than what current fans are used to as well. In 1993 Gordon made the move to Hendrick Motorsports and began using the more familiar looks we have come to associate with him over the years. These old #1 cars are a great look at the history of this great driver.

Jimmie Johnson also got his start driving in the Busch Series. During his time in the Busch Series he, like Gordon, drove some paint schemes that may be unfamiliar to the fans of today. Jimmie drove the #92 car for Herzog Motorsports in 2000. That season Jimmie's #92 was sponsored by Alltel. The car had a base color scheme of Alltel blue and white. This was another simple design with few bells and whistles.

Johnson's next paint scheme on the Busch Sreies was the #92 Excedrin Chevrolet. The paint scheme for the Excedrin car had some more design style than the Alltel car. The base scheme was red, with black and white accent colors. The hood clearly showed the sponsor and even had a picture of the Excedrin product on it. Johnson scored his first Busch Series win in an Excedrin car. In addition to the basic Excedrin scheme, Johnson also piloted an Excedrin PM design. The Excedrin PM car would show up for night races, in a clever marketing idea. Jimmie Johnson did not set the Busch Series on fire in these cars, but it is interesting to look back on his early paint schemes. I don't think anyone knew when Jimmie was piloting these #92 cars in the Busch Series what kind of success awaited him in his future.

Classic Paint Schemes: Dale Earnhardt Peter Max

In today's Classic Paint Scheme Profile, we take a look at what might be the oddest pairing of paint scheme and driver in the history of NASCAR. It was May of 2000 and the special paint scheme craze was in full force. Each year at the All-Star Event everyone got involved in the special paint scheme craze and showed up at the track running special colors of some kind.

Dale Earnhardt started the trend with the unforgettable silver paint scheme he drove in 1995. He drove several other classic special paint schemes, like the Bass Pro Shops gold scheme and the unforgettable Wrangler car in 1999. In May of 2000, Dale entered the race with a car unlike any other the fans had seen before.

The car was designed by noted 1960's artist Peter Max. Max was well known for his use of bright colors and cosmic imagery. Dale Earnhardt was known for his toughness and his use of black and silver. An odd pairing indeed. When the car was unveiled to the public, there were definitely some interesting reactions. How could the toughest guy on the track race a car with all of those colors on it?

I remember being at the pre-race festivities and seeing Mr. Max arrive for a signing session at one of the Action-Performance tents. There was a strange feeling in the air and the reaction of the fans was one of the strangest NASCAR moments I had ever seen. The loyal Earnhardt fans would pull for their driver no matter what he drove, but everything seemed a bit out of place when the 60's artist arrived to sign their diecast.

The Pater Max car was definitely one most will never forget, though some may want to. It definitely signaled that the special paint scheme craze had gotten a bit out of control. It definitely set the tone for what would end up being one of the strangest race weekends ever. I'm sure many of you might remember that this was the same race that was overshadowed by the pedestrian bridge collapse as fans left the track that night, injuring more than 100 fans. It was a strange race weekend and the Peter Max car that raced that night will go down in history as the craziest driver/sponsor pairing ever.