Category: paint scheme grades

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-April 2, 2016

By David G. Firestone

Regan Smith #7 APC Chevy SS-It’s a good scheme with a smooth look, and a great color scheme. A+

Regan Smith #7 AIPAC Chevy SS-See above. A+

Chase Elliot #24 Sun Energy Chevy SS-Think they overdid this scheme just a bit? Wow! Like most J.J. Abrams films, it has too much flare. F

Paul Menard #27 Menard’s/Libman Chevy SS-I’ve said that Menard’s templates can be everything from great to awful depending on what color the hood sponsor has. In this case, the template looks good, because the green works very well. A+

Josh Wise #30 Toyota Camry-Not a bad look at all. A+

Brian Scott #44 Von’s Ford Fusion-Same scheme as Albertson’s, same A+ grade.

Brian Scott #44 Goody’s Ford Fusion-Get rid of the yellow scheme B+

AJ Allmendinger #47 Louisiana Hot Sauce Chevy SS-The shade of red really looks good, and the fame motif works well with a hot sauce brand. A+

AJ Allmendinger #47 Kroger/Coffee Mate/Butterfinger Chevy SS-Same as Kroger, same A+ grade.

Cole Whitt #98 Rinnai Ford Fusion-It’s a good scheme with a smooth look, and a great color scheme. A+

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-March 19, 2016

By David G. Firestone

Denny Hamlin #11 SportClips Toyota Camry–Same scheme as last year, same C- grade.

Brian Vickers #14 Janssen Chevy SS-I didn’t think this scheme could get any better…but it has! A+

Paul Menard #27 Menard’s/FVP Chevy SS-Another instance of the Menard’s template working very well with a color scheme. A+

Ryan Newman #31 Wix Filters Chevy SS–I didn’t think this scheme could get any worse…but it has! F

Joey Gase #32 JT Concrete Inc Ford Fusion-Great color scheme, and a great design scheme will always earn an A+.

Aric Almirola #43 STP Ford Fusion– A downgrade from last year’s great throwback scheme, the pointless door design becomes part of the paint scheme. I don’t think it looks great, but it isn’t awful. B-

AJ Allmendinger #47 Food For Less Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year,A+ same grade.

Matt DiBenedetto #83 Cosmo Motors Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year, same C- grade.

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-March 12, 2016

By David G. Firestone

Austin Dillon #3 AAA Chevy SS-Simiar in design to Robert Hight’s funny car, which looks great, but with needless extra designs, and rearranged colors takes a B+ scheme down to a D+.

Regan Smith #7 Chevy SS-A smooth look and a great color scheme, no complaints here! A+

Matt Kenseth #20 DeWalt Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year, same A+ grade.

Paul Menard #27 Richmond/Menard’s Chevy SS-The new Menard’s template can be temperamental, but this color scheme works very well. Black works well with Menard’s and the scheme earns an A+.

Chris Buescher #34 Dockside Logistics Ford Fusion-A smooth look and a great color scheme, no complaints here! A+

Chris Buescher #34 CSX Play it Safe Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year, same A+ grade.

Landon Cassill #38 Snap Fitnaess Ford Fusion-Great color scheme with a smooth design will always earn an A+.

Michael Annett #46 Pilot/Flying J Chevy SS-The shade of red works well, and the overall design looks great, and earns an A+.

AJ Allmendinger #47 Fry’s Chevy SS-Same basic scheme as last year same A+ grade.

Matt DiBenedetto #83 Cosmo Motors Toyota Camry-It’s a smooth look with a great color scheme, and a HUGE improvement over last year. A+

Matt DiBenedetto #83 Schluter Systems Toyota Camry-The look is an odd one. The two designs clash a little with each other, and the stripes are dizzying. The color scheme is decent, but that can’t save it from a D-.

Cole Whitt #98 Speed Stick Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same A+ grade.

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-March 5, 2016

By David G. Firestone

Austin Dillon #3 Dow Intellifresh Chevy SS-Same scheme as Dow Energy and Water, same B- grade.

Regan Smith #7 Nikko Street Bratz Chevy SS-Much too over designed, and with a mediocre paint scheme to boot. F

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 Ford Eco-Boost Ford Fusion-The red on top is an amazing improvement, the car just looks better than it did in 2015. Still, the design is a little overdone, but I’ll give it a B+.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 Sunny D Ford Fusion-Hmm…let’s see how many different colors and design schemes we can put into car until it will make you motion sick while you are standing still. This car is beyond over designed, and it looks AWFUL! F

Paul Menard #27 Menard’s/Dutch Boy Chevy SS-What better way to promote the quality of your paint than by running a scheme showing it chipping off the side of the car. I’m giving it an F just for that!

Landon Cassill #38 MDS Ford Fusion– It’s a simple, smooth and great scheme with a great color scheme. A+

Aric Almiroa #43 U.S. Air Force Ford Fusion-It’s the same basic scheme from 2015, with lightning added, which is a great look too. A+

Michael McDowell #95 Monte Carlo Casino Chevy SS-Same scheme as WRL Contractors, same A+ grade.

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-February 27, 2016

By David G. Firestone

Danica Patrick #10 Aspen Dental Chevy SS-The scheme has gone from somewhat ugly to really ugly in a hurry. The designs are all wrong, the colors don’t work, and the whole car looks as though it was designed by second grades. F

Clint Bowyer #15 Aaron’s Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same A+ grade.

Greg Biffle #16 Roush Performance Ford Fusion-This new scheme keeps the great color scheme of last years’ but with a brand new design that is as bold, but nowhere near as bad. The design and color scheme work very well, and earn an A+.

Paul Menard #27 Valvoline/Menard’s Chevy SS-Another instance where the color scheme and template just don’t work. The old Menard’s Template with the hood design carrying the front sponsor was quite good, but with Valvoline, the car just looks bad, and it just doesn’t work. F

Landon Cassill #38 FR8 Auctions Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year, same A+ grade.

Matt DiBendetto #83 Sewanee University Toyota Camry-The color scheme is great, but the blue designs on the side are pointless, and make the car look cluttered. If those designs were removed, I would give it an A, but the best I can give this design is a B+.

Cole Whitt #98 Tweaker Energy Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same A+ grade.

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-February 20, 2016

By David G. Firestone

Jamie McMurray #1 Credit One Chevy SS-Too many designs going on at once. It’s just an awful mess. F

Jamie McMurray #1 McDonalds/Cessna Chevy SS– A major downgrade from last year’s amazing fade. The two designs just don’t work that well together, and the car looks like a jumbled mess. Still, the color schemes are really good, so I’ll give it a B-

Regan Smith #7 Golden Corral/Niko Toy State Chevy SS-See above, but without the color scheme bonus. F

David Ragan #23 Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry-Not bad, but the side design is a tad over done for my taste. Still, it’s worth a B+.

Robert Richardson #26 Stalk It Toyota Camry-It’s a bold look with a really good color scheme that isn’t overdone. In my book, that earns an A+.

Josh Wise #30 Toyota Camry-Nothing to complain about here! A+

Bobby Labonte #32 C&J Energy Services Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year, same F grade.

David Gilliland #35 Ford Fusion-Nothing to complain about here! A+

Landon Cassill #38 Florida Lottery Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year, same C+ grade.

Michael McDowell #59 Thrivent Financial Chevy SS– Same scheme as #95, same B+ grade.

Martin Truex Jr. #78 Auto Owner’s Insurance Chevy SS-The vertical fade look is great, and the shades of blue look good. The numbers look really good here too. A+

Michael Waltrip #83 Maxwell House Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year, same A+ grade.

Matt DiBenedetto #93 Dustless Blasting Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year, same B– grade.

Cole Whitt #98 Premium Motorsports RTIC Coolers Toyota Camry-A smooth look with a really good color scheme will always earn an A+.

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-January 30, 2016

By David G. Firestone

Tony Stewart #14 Bass Pro Shops Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same C+ grade.

Greg Biffle #16 Kleen Performance Products Ford Fusion-I don’t think I got around to this scheme last year, so I’ll fix that mistake right now. I like the shade of green, and the red looks good too. The interrupted stripe across the side is ugly, and I do not think the black is needed. Also, the liquid design doesn’t make sense. I’ll give it a B+.

Paul Menard #27 Menard’s/Peak Chevy SS-Bold look, moving away from the Menard’s Template, and, it works. The design scheme looks good, and it has a great color scheme. I give it an A+.

Kyle Larson #42 Target Chevy SS-Vertical fade looks really good, and has a really good color scheme. A+

AJ Allmendinger #47 Kroger’s Chevy SS-Same basic scheme as last year, same A+ grade.

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-January 23, 2016

By David G. Firestone

Brad Keselowski #2 Auto Trader Ford Fusion-Same scheme as Joey Logano, same D- grade.

Kevin Harvick #4 Mobil 1 Chevy SS-Same scheme as Tony Stewart’s, same A+ grade.

Danica Patrick #10 Mobil 1 Chevy SS—Same basic scheme as Tony Stewart’s, same A+ grade.

Greg Biffle #16 KFC Nashville Hot Ford Fusion-KFC has a really good shade of red, and the whole design works well. I also like the flame motif at the back, and the stripes on the roof. All in all, I can’t give it any lower than an A+.

Carl Edwards #19 Subway Toyota Camry-The black car was bold look, but the shade of green here could use some tweaking. The box motif is a bit overdone as well. It’s not as bad as I thought it would be, it’s a B+ scheme.

Joey Logano #22 Auto Trader Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year, same D- grade.

Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe’s/Superman Chevy SS-The Superman motif is really good, and it’s really well done. I like the detail in the suit too. It’s worth an A+.

Brian Scott #44 Albertsons’s Ford Fusion-It’s a simple, yet attractive scheme with a great color scheme. I give it an A+.

Martin Truex Jr. #78 Bass Pro Shops Chevy SS-Of all the schemes I have seen so far, this is the worst of them all. Orange can be a great color when used right, but this is just too much! The yellow clashes with it, the black works, and the camo looks out of place. It’s just a mess, and I give it an F.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 Nationwide/Batman Chevy SS-New scheme for 2016, designed to look like Batman’s armor. A+

Ty Dillon #95 Cheerios Chevy SS-Same basic scheme as last year, same A+ grade.

Michael McDowell #95 Thrivent Financial Chevy SS-Bit of a downgrade from last year, the old template, which I really liked, was good, but the new scheme looks forced, and the color change doesn’t help. Still, it’s not horrible, and it’s worth a B+

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-January 16, 2016

By David G. Firestone

Kasey Kahne #5 Quicken Loans Chevy SS-It’s a downgrade from last year, Kasey fancies himself a designer, but most of his schemes look horrible. This one is saved by a good color scheme, so I’ll give it a C+.

Kasey Kahne #5 Panasonic Toughbook Chevy SS-It’s a distinctive look, and it looks really good. Blue, white, and black is a good color scheme. A+

Clint Bowyer #15 Five-Hour Energy Chevy SS-All my complaints about the 2015 scheme are gone with this scheme, and it looks really good. A+

Clint Bowyer #15 Peak Chevy SS-It’s a bold scheme, with a really good color scheme. It looks really good. A+

Kyle Busch #18 M&M’s Toyota Camry-M&M’s always has a good look, and since 2016 is the 75th anniversary of the introduction of M&M”s, they decided to add vintage M characters to modern M characters, to create a really good look. A+

Ryan Blaney #21 Motorcraft Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year, same A+ grade.

Chase Elliott #24 Kelly Blue Book Chevy SS– The lack of metallic gold is a downgrade, and the design went from smooth to more haphazard. It’s not horrible, but not great. Combined with the decent color scheme, I give it a C+.

Chris Buescher #34 Love’s Truck Stops Ford Fusion-New year, new driver, new scheme. It’s really good, Love’s uses a good shade of yellow, and the red rainbow design works well too. All said, I give it an A+.

Brian Scott #44 Twisted Tea Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Schem Grades-January 2, 2016

By David G. Firestone

Jamie McMurray #1 Cessna/Beechcraft Chevy SS-The color scheme is good, but the design scheme needs work. I think the stripes should be toned down. Still, it’s not a terrible scheme, certainly worth a B+.

Brad Keselowski #2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year same A+ grade.

Brad Keselowski #2 Wurth Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year same A+ grade.

Brad Keselowski #2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford Fusion– Same scheme as last year same A+ grade.

Austin Dillon #3 Dow Chevy SS-Same basic scheme as last year, same B+ grade.

Austin Dillon #3 Cheerios Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same A+ grade.

Austin Dillon #3 American Ethanol Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same A- grade.

Kasey Kahne #5 Farmers Insurance Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same C+ grade.

Kasey Kahne #5 Great Clips Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same D+ grade.

Kasey Kahne #5 Liftmaster Chevy SS-When I heard that Liftmaster had a new scheme for 2016, I thought there would be some improvement. Sadly what we got could at best be described as “rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.” It’s still a cluttered mess, just a different kind of cluttered mess. I’ll give it a C

Alex Bowman #7 Road Rippers Chevy SS-Whenever I have to sum up a paint scheme by saying it’s a professionally designed scheme that looks like it was designed by a 5 year-old boy, it will earn an F.

Danica Patrick #10 Nature’s Pride Pumpkin Spice Chevy SS-It’s the same basic scheme as Nature’s Pride, and like Nature’s Pride, it has a good look, and a good color scheme. A+

Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry–Same scheme as last year, though with a slight redesign, same A+ grade.

Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Freight Toyota Camry–Same scheme as last year, though with a slight redesign, same A+ grade.

Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Ground Toyota Camry– Same scheme as last year, though with a slight redesign, same A+ grade.

Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Office Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year, though with a slight redesign, same A+ grade.

Tony Stewart #14 Mobil 1 Chevy SS-It appears that Bass Pro Shops will not be back with Stewart Haas in 2016, so Mobil 1 will have a stand along scheme. The Pegasus wing is bold design, but it works quite well, and looks very good. Add in a great color scheme, and this scheme earns an A+.

Tony Stewart #14 Code 3 Associates/Mobil 1 Chevy SS–Same scheme as last year, though with a slight redesign, same A+ grade.

Tony Stewart #14 Rush Truck Stops/Mobil 1 Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, though with a slight redesign, same A+ grade.

Greg Bffle #16 Cheez-its Ford Fusion-I like what Cheez-It’s has done here. The look is still good, and the wider stripe doesn’t take away from it at all. A+

Kyle Busch #18 Interstate Batteries Chevy SS-Same basic scheme as last year, same A- grade.F

Kyle Busch #18 Skittles Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year, same A+ grade.

Carl Edwards #19 Stanley Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year same B+ grade.

Carl Edwards #19 Stanley Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year same A grade.

Matt Kenseth #20 Dollar General Toytota Camry-Removing the black stripe at the very bottom looks so much better. I wish I could give it a higher grade. A+

Matt Kenseth #20 DeWalt USA Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year, same A+ grade.

Chase Elliott #24 3M Chevy SS-The color scheme works very well, but the needless design on the sides isn’t a good look. Still, the car is as a whole is decent, and I’ll give it a B+

Paul Menard #27 Menard’s/Moen Chevy SS-If this is the route that Moen would take with the car, I would have preferred that the car be black, with yellow stripes, instead of the black front/yellow rear. It looks like two different people designed the car. The Menard’s template normally looks good, but I can’t stand this. I’ll give it a B-

Ryan Newman #31 Cat Chevy SS–Same basic scheme as last year, same A+ grade.

Ryan Newman #31 Granger Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same B + grade.

Kurt Busch #41 Monster Energy Chevy SS– Same scheme as last year same A+ grade.

Kurt Busch #41 Haas Automation Chevy SS-A great fade, a great color scheme, and a great design will earn an A+.

Aric Almirola #43 Smithfield Ford Fusion– The red roof number looks much better than the yellow one, and it takes a B+ grade up to an A-.

Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe’s Chevy SS– Same scheme as last year, same C- grade.

Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Chevy SS– Same scheme as last year, same C- grade.

Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe’s Pro Services Chevy SS-Same scheme as last year, same C- grade.

Kurt Busch #41 Haas Automation/Monster Energy Chevy SS–A great fade, a great color scheme, and a great design will earn an A+.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 Axalta Chevy SS-Bold move going with a vertical fade. Axalta’s first car not driven by Jeff Gordon has a bold look for sure, and it has a good look. The color scheme is great, and the design looks great. A+

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