camaro – Page 59 – DGF2099-Main Page

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-October 28, 2017

By David G. Firestone

First, we have some 2018 schemes…

Brad Keselowski #2 Wurth Ford Fusion-Red and white works well with the Penske template, and this car has a great look as a result. A

Austin Dillon #3 Dow Chevy Camaro-It’s a much simpler, yet bolder design from the 2017 version, and it looks great! There is nothing wrong with that car at all! A

Kevin Harvick #4 Busch Ford Fusion-Same scheme as 2017, same A grade.

Kevin Harvick #4 Mobil 1 Ford Fusion-Same scheme as 2017, same A grade.

Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry-Same scheme as 2017, same B- grade.

Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Freight Toyota Camry-Same scheme as 2017, same B- grade.

Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Ground Toyota Camry-Same scheme as 2017, same B- grade.

Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Office Toyota CamrySame scheme as 2017, same B- grade.

Ty Dillon #13 Twisted Tea Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as 2017, same A grade.

Joey Logano #22 AAA Ford Fusion-Same scheme as 2017, same D grade.

Ryan Newman #31 Caterpillar Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as 2017, same B- grade.

Martin Truex Jr. #78 Bass Pro Shops/5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry-I get what they were trying to do here, but is just isn’t working. The orange is a bit too light, and the design is mediocre. It’s not awful, but not great. All things considered, I give it a C-.

Martin Truex Jr. #78 5-Hour Energy/Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry-See above. C-

Now we focus on 2017…

Kyle Busch #18 M&M’s Halloween Toyota Camry-It’s a really good scheme, that is more subtle than last year. This scheme works well, and looks good. A

Landon Cassill #34 Love’s Truck Stops/Speedco Ford Fusion-Same scheme as Love’s, same A grade.

Chris Buescher #37 Scott Towels Chevy SS-Too many stripes. It has a great color scheme, but it has too many stripes. It’s not horrible, but it’s not great. It’s worth a C-

AJ Allmendinger #47 Dillon’s Chevy SS-Same scheme as Kroger, same A grade.

Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe’s/Marshaltown Chevy SS-Same scheme as Lowe’s, same F grade.

Cole Whitt #72 Chevy SS-Good smooth look, and the door numbers work with this color scheme. It’s worth an A.

Brett Moffitt #83 Earthwater Toyota Camry-Same scheme as #23, same D- grade.

Michael McDowell #95 Jolt Eye Drops Chevy SS-The blue mountain motif works well, the color scheme works very well, and it’s just a great look all around. A

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-October 14, 2017

By David G. Firestone

First we have some 2018 schemes that were recently released.

Chase Elliott #9 NAPA Chevy Camaro-While I like the design, I think it’s a bit over done. It’s still a decent scheme with a great color scheme, and it’s worth a B+.

Paul Menard #21 Motorcraft Ford Fusion-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

William Byron #24 Axalta Chevy Camaro-Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes! The blue works, the flames work, everything works! This is a great scheme! A

Ryan Newman #31 Granger Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowe’s Pro Services Chevy Camaro-The black looks great, the gray adds to it, and the whole scheme looks amazing! Nothing wrong here! A

Alex Bowman #88 Nationwide Chevy Camaro-Everything I said about the NAPA scheme applies here. I like the design, but I think it’s a bit over done. It’s still a decent scheme with a great color scheme, and it’s worth a B+.

Now on to 2017 schemes…

Kasey Kahne #5 Go90.com/Road to Raceday Chevy SS-Same basic scheme as Road to Raceway same A grade.

Paul Menard #27 Menard’s/Schrock Chevy SS-Purple doesn’t always work, and while I normally like the Menard’s template, this doesn’t jive as well with it. I will give it a B+.

Landon Cassill #34 Love’s Truck Stops/Roller Bites Ford Fusion-Same basic scheme as Love’s Truck Stops, same A grade.

Chris Buescher #37 Gain Chevy SS-Green can be great or awful, and this green works well, and with a great car design, it earns an A.

Cole Whit #72 Chevy SS-Pinkwashing is an automatic F.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 Nationwide/Chevy Truck Month Chevy SS-Same scheme as Nationwide, same A grade.

The Driver Suit Blog..The SFI and FIA patches…Why they are as critical as they are.

By David Firestone

Many race fans have seen these small patches on driver suits, and may have wondered what they are. What many do not realize is that these small patches have a very critical role in driver safety. These small patches are the safety certification patches. These small patches state that this uniform part has been examined by one of the two groups, and determined to meet the standards set by the group. For North American made equipment that group is SFI.

According to their website, SFI was founded in 1963 as part of Speed Equipment Manufacturers Association or SEMA, as a safety group. Back then, the safety culture wasn’t as rigorous as it is today, and there were not many standards in place. SEMA started the safety certification with SFI or SEMA Foundation, Inc certification. If the equipment didn’t meet SFI standards, the participant could be denied entrance to the event. Eventually, SFI left SEMA and became its own independent group.

Since then, SFI has certified safety equipment, and their certification is the standard in North America. This small patch is usually sewn into the inside wrist area on the left sleeve. This example, from a Terry Labonte suit from 2008, indicates that the suit meets “3.2A/5” standards. According to their site, this certification is standard for driver suits, and this suit would need re-certification in the next 5 years, or 2013. This certification is standard for many NASCAR suits, as shown below.

For suits made internationally, the certification comes from a different group, the FIA Institute. Like SFI, the FIA Institute has the exact same goal, to make sure auto racing is safe, and that the equipment that drivers wear is as safe as possible. Unlike SFI however, FIA certification ends up in one of two places, either on the back of the neck,or inside the belt,

Both certifications serve the same purpose and both are mandated in racing today. These certifications also appear on driver gloves,and even helmets, usually on the HANS anchorMoving on to more 2013 paint schemes…

Trevor Bayne #6 Valvoline Ford Mustang Love this scheme! This brings back some fond memories of Mark Martin behind the wheel back in the 1990’s. The color and design scheme are amazing, so it gets an A

Regan Smith #7 Tax Slayer/Hellman’s Chevy Camaro Same as the 5 and 88, so nothing really to say here…

Brad Keselowski #22 Hertz Ford Mustang Only Penske can ruin one of the best color schemes with an awful design. Seriously what is the design on the front? It kills this scheme. Final Grade: D

Travis Pastrana #60 Ford Mustang What the Hell? Did Lisa Frank design this car? I’d love to comment on the color scheme, but just looking at the picture is enough! I didn’t think it was possible to make a scheme worse than the Kyle Bush Sponsafier car, but here we are! Final Grade: F’

By the way, I never thought I would reference Lisa Frank in this blog…

Jamie McMurray #1 Cessna Chevy SS Cessna has figured out the way to a good paint scheme, simple colors and simple design. It works very well and earns an A grade.

Casey Mears #13 Geico Ford Fusion Eww…just eww. The color scheme is dreadfull, and the designs on the side are painful to look at. It passed because of the logo and number design. Final Grade: D-

Kyle Busch #18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry Great color scheme, and good basic design, but there is something with this car I find annoying. The driver’s name is on the windshield and above the door, so why is it on the top of the hood? Not just on the top of the hood, but UPSIDE DOWN as well? Seriously? It makes no sense, and takes the final grade down to a B