Tag: Michael McDowell

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-May 30, 2020

By David G. Firestone

Quin Houff #00 Good Greek Moving Chevy Camaro-The stripes on the front ar pointless, but other than that, the car is great. B+

Austin Dillon #3 DOW Keep America Beautiful Chevy Camaro-The curve designs are pointless, and give the car a bit of an odd look. Without them, this would get a solid A, but with them they get a B.

Austin Dillon #3 Coca Cola Chevy Camaro-A simple, yet bold look, it has a great color and design scheme, and this gets an A.

Ryan Newman #6 Roman Ford Mustang-A smooth look with a great paint scheme will ALWAYS earn an A.

Tyler Reddick #8 Alsco Uniforms Patriotic Chevy Camaro-Camo does NOT and never has worked on the side of a race car! This is a perfect example! This looks bad, and gets an F!

Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield Patriotic Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same D grade.

Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Patriotic Toyota Camry-The patriotic elements don’t improve or demote the scheme, so it gets the same B+ as the FedEx scheme.

Ryan Blaney #12 Menards/Moen Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same B+ grade.

Ty Dillon #13 GEICO Hump Day Chevy Camaro-The camel motif doesn’t work, the shades of blue don’t work with each other, and the car just looks bad. F

Ty Dillon #13 Geico Military Chevy Camaro-Geico’s old Military scheme wasn’t great, but this new scheme is somehow worse! Replacing the black elements with white makes the car look worse. I give this an F.

Brennan Poole #15 In Memory of SFC Nathan Chapman Chevy Camaro-It’s a simple, smooth, and bold look, with a great color scheme, so it gets an A.

Kyle Busch #18 M&M’s Fudge Brownie Toyota Camry-Like the hazelnut scheme last year, replacing yellow with teal works well. A

Kyle Busch #18 M&M’s Patriotic Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Martin Truex Jr. #19 Bass Pro Shops Patriotic Toyota Camry-The eagle motif works well, the color scheme is great, and this car looks awesome. A

Matt DiBenedetto #21 Menard’s/FVP Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same D grade.

William Byron #24 Liberty University Patriotic Chevy Camaro-This is a downgrade from last year. The more complex design isn’t as good. It’s not terrible, and it gets a B+

Gray Gaulding #27 Panini America Ford Mustang-The car is an ugly, over designed mess. Even with a great color scheme, this is still horrible. F

Corey LaJoie #32 Keen Parts/Corvette Parts “Thank a Hero” Ford Mustang-The scheme looks great, the color scheme works, it isn’t over designed, and the car has a smooth look. A

Corey LaJoie #32 Plan B Sales Ford Mustang-This is such an improvement over last year. It’s still a tad over designed, but it looks much more toned down than the 2019 version. B+

Corey LaJoie #32 Ark.io Ford Mustang-The car is an ugly, over designed mess. Even with a great color scheme, this is still horrible. F

Michael McDowell #34 Love’s Truck Stops Patriotic Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same F grade.

Ryan Preece #37 Tide Pods Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as last year, same F grade.

Ryan Preece #37 Scotts Patriotic Chevy Camaro-The color scheme is good, but the scheme is over done. The good equals the bad, so the scheme gets a C.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #47 Kroger Patriotic Chevy Camaro-The slight change doesn’t hurt the design scheme at all.  A

Jimmie Johnson #48 Ally Financial Patriotic Chevy Camaro-This is a great look! It’s bold, it’s simple, it has a great color scheme, and it has an all around great look, that gets an A.

Joey Gase #51 Agri Supply Patriotic Ford Mustang-The color scheme is good, but the scheme is over done. The good equals the bad, so the scheme gets a C.

Alex Bowman #88 ChevyGoods.com/NOCO Patriotic Chevy Camaro-The car is an ugly, over designed mess. Even with a great color scheme, this is still horrible. F

Daniel Suarez #96 TODAY. TOMORROW. TOYOTA. Toyota Camry-It’s a tad over done, but it isn’t horrible. I’ll give it a B.

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-May 24, 2020

By David G. Firestone

Brad Keselowski #2 Miller Lite Patriotic Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Kevin Harvick #4 Busch Light YOURFACEHERE Ford Mustang-The new branding doesn’t hurt a great scheme. A

Ryan Newman #6 Oscar Mayer Ford Mustang-I like this scheme. It’s a good look, with a great color scheme, and I can’t say anything bad about it. A

Josh Bilicki #7 Gravely Chevy Camaro-It has a smooth look, a great color scheme and I can’t say anything bad about it. A

Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield #GoodFoodChallenge Ford Mustang-This would be so much better without the slashes. The slashes take an A scheme down to a C.

Ryan Blaney #12 Menard’s/Duracel Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Brennan Poole #15 SpartanGO Chevy Camaro-It has a smooth look, a great color scheme, and that will always earn an A.

Kyle Busch #18 M&M’S Thank You Heroes Toyota Camry-I like the look here, the color scheme is great, and the car looks great. A

JJ Yeley #27 Jacob Construction Ford Mustang-Same scheme as #51, same A grade.

Corey LaJoie #32 Drydene Ford Mustang-The slight redesign doesn’t take away from the scheme. This is a good look, and it earns an A.

Michael McDowell #34 CarParts.com Ford Mustang-This is a horrible look. The blue and orange shades don’t work, and the car as a whole is over designed. I can’t give this anything but an F, so I won’t.

John Hunter Nemechek #38 Scag Power Equipment Ford Mustang-Either tiger stripes OR cutting edge designs…you can’t have both, because the car is an over designed mess. F

Cole Custer #41 HaasTooling.com Ford Mustang-I think the cutting edge designs are decent, a tad over done. The gray could be a little darker. Still, it’s not horrible, so I’ll give it a B.

Matt Kenseth #42 Credit One Bank Chevy Camaro-Black is a decent addition to this look, and it looks sharper. I like this and it gets an A.

Joey Gase #51 Agri Supply/Carolina Cooker Chevy Camaro-A great and faithful throwback will ALWAYS earn an A.

Garrett Smithley #53 Trophy Tractor Chevy Camaro-Black with red is a great color scheme, and the smooth look earns this scheme an A.

Reed Sorenson #77 Greenville Swamp Rabbits/Bon Secours Chevy Camaro-This is another example of a scheme where there is nothing really wrong, but nothing really right either. It’s just blah, and I’ll give it a C.

BJ McLeod #78 Christensen Arms Chevy Camaro-It has a smooth look, a great color scheme, and that will always earn an A.

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-April 18, 2020

By David G. Firestone

Editor’s Note, due to the cancellation of the NASCAR season through May, I will do the Paint Scheme Tracker every week, and the Paint Scheme Grades every other week. This will last until the racing season resumes, or until I run out of new schemes. DGF

Matt DiBenedetto #21 Menard’s/Knauf Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same B+ grade.

Joey Logano #22 Money Lion Ford Mustang-Same scheme as #2, same A grade.

Corey LaJoie #32 Superior Logistics Ford Mustang-It’s a good look, the color scheme works, and it isn’t over designed. I give this an A.

Michael McDowell #34 Dockside Logistics Ford Mustang-It’s a horribly over designed scheme that just doesn’t look good. This is awful, and I give it an F.

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-October 12, 2019

By David G. Firestone

Landon Cassill #00 Clean Origin Chevy Camaro-This is a good look, with a great color scheme, and I will give this an A.

Ryan Newman #6 Acronis Pink Ford Mustang-Pinkwashing is an automatic F.

Daniel Hemric #8 Lucas Oil Chevy Camaro-A bold look that isn’t over designed, and has a great color scheme will always earn an A.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 Fastenal Pink Ford Mustang-Pinkwashing is an automatic F.

Paul Menard #21 Menards/Cardell Cabinetry Ford Mustang-Same scheme as #12, same A grade.

Corey LaJoie #32 Drydene Ford Mustang-White and red is a great color scheme, and the design is bold and perfect. I can’t give this less than an A.

Michael McDowell #34 The Pete Store Ford Mustang-I’ll describe this as having nothing wrong, and nothing right at the same time. It’s just there. C.

Matt Tifft #36 Delaware Lottery/Surface Ford Mustang-Same scheme as #36, same B+ grade.

Chris Buescher #37 Kroger Simmer Like A Winner Chevy Camaro-The color scheme is great, and I love the bold look of the paintbrush motif. This scheme works and it gets an A.

JJ Yeley #52 Drive Smart Ford Mustang-The red really isn’t needed here, and it clutters up a decent scheme. Add it that the blue is too light, and you have a scheme that could have been an A is taken down to a B+

Matt DiBenedetto #95 Dumont Jets Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year, same B- grade.

The Driver Suit Blog-2019 Throwbacks Ranked!

By David G. Firestone

The throwback race is behind us. You know what that means. I’m going to rank all of the 2019 throwback schemes. As in previous years, the top ranked scheme will be the winner of the Paint Scheme for Best Throwback Scheme. Let’s get going!

1. Austin Dillon #3 DOW Salutes Veterans Chevy Camaro-Black and gold works well, especially on a throwback. This is a great scheme, with a great color scheme, and I can’t give this less than an A.

2. Brad Keselowski #2 Miller Throwback Ford Mustang-The Miller scheme had a unique look, and while I preferred the standard Miller Genuine Draft scheme, this is still a great scheme. A

3. William Byron #24 City Chevrolet/Hendrick Autoguard Chevy Camaro–Cole’s City Chevrolet Lumina is my favorite car in Days Of Thunder. This is a great replica, and it looks really good. This is getting an A.

4. BJ McLeod #51 Jacob Companies Throwback Chevy Camaro-An underrated NASCAR movie with a lot of great cars, this is a faithful replica of the #7 Chicken Pit/Zenon Ford Thunderbird. This is an amazing look, and I give it an A.

5. Chase Elliott #9 NAPA Throwback Chevy Camaro-You could put all of Bill Elliott’s pre-1999 schemes in a hat, pick one out at random, and be guaranteed to pick a great scheme. 1981 was a great scheme, and this faithful throwback is an amazing representation. I love this scheme! A

6. Landon Cassill #00 StarCom Fiber Throwback Chevy Camaro-I always love metallic siver, and the Coors Light look is a great look. I also like the design as a whole. This is getting an A.

7. Alex Bowman #88 Axalta Throwback Chevy Camaro-The Tim Richmond Folgers scheme was a great scheme, and it’s nice that Axalta is doing a faithful throwback. This is a great look. A

8. Austin Dillon #3 American Ethanol Throwback Chevy Camaro-Dale’s Olympic scheme was a great scheme. This somewhat faithful replica looks really good, and I can’t really say anything bad. A

9. William Byron #24 City Chevrolet/Hendrick Autoguard Chevy Camaro–Cole’s City Chevrolet Lumina is my favorite car in Days Of Thunder. This is a great replica, and it looks really good. This is getting an A.

10. JJ Yeley #52 Jacob Companies Throwback Chevy Camaro-This is a good look, and I can’t say anything bad about it. A

11. David Ragan #38 Thanks DW Ford Mustang-Darrell’s chrome scheme was a bold look that would look just as awesome today. While I think that metallic silver isn’t chrome, I do love this look, and I think this scheme is great. A

12. Denny Hamlin #11 FedEx Throwback Toyota Camry-Darrell’s 1990’s Parts America scheme was a great scheme. It looked amazing, and still holds up today! This is a great throwback scheme, and I can’t give this less than an A!

13. Ricky Stenhouse #17 Fastenal Throwback Ford Mustang-Darrell’s 1990’s Parts America scheme was a great scheme. It looked amazing, and still holds up today! This is a great throwback scheme, and I can’t give this less than an A!

14. Matt DiBenedetto #95 Procore Thanks DW Throwback Toyota Camry–Faithful 1970’s schemes always look awesome, and this is no exception. This is an amazing look, and I love everything about this scheme! A

15. Erik Jones #20 SportClips Throwback Toyota Camry-This is a smooth, simple look, and it’s a great look. The black works, the red works, and the scheme works. A

16. Garrett Smithley #54 AQRE Throwback Chevy Camaro-Not the scheme I was expecting, but this is a good look, and it’s a faithful replica. I give this an A.

17. Daniel Hemric #8 Caterpillar Throwback Chevy Camaro-This is a great scheme, not just because it looks awesome, but because I like how throwbacks are evolving in NASCAR. It used to be that throwbacks were either old schemes, or based on old schemes. Nowadays, everything from cans to trucks are being used. This example is based on an old Caterpillar tractor from the 1920’s. This looks amazing! A

18. David Ragan #38 Shriners Hospitals for Children Throwback Ford Mustang–David Pearson’s 1969 Torino Cobra is a great look, and this is a great throwback. I can’t give this less than an A.

19. Ryan Preece #47 Kroger Throwback Chevy Camaro–I love this throwback! The shade of red works, the design looks great, and the car just looks awesome. I love good throwbacks, and this is a good throwback. A

20. Michael McDowell #34 Dockside Logistics Ford Mustang-This was a very unique scheme back in the day, and I like this faithful representation. This is a good look, and I like the silver door numbers. A

21. Ryan Blaney #12 Pennzoil Throwback Ford Mustang-Mike’s old Pennzoil scheme was simple, it was attractive, and it worked. This faithful replica works well, and earns an A.

22. Jimmie Johnson #48 Ally Throwback Throwback Chevy Camaro-This is so much better than his current Ally scheme, and it’s a faithful replica. This is a great scheme. A

23. Paul Menard #21 Motorcraft Throwback Ford Mustang–Glen’s 1956 Ford Fairlane had a great look, and this faithful replica is a great look. This is an amazing look, and I can’t give this less than an A.

24. Kyle Busch #18 Snickers Throwback Toyota Camry-The white design is a unique look, and it’s a good throwback. I like this, and I’m giving it an A.

25. Corey LaJoie #32 Keen Parts/Corvette Parts Throwback Ford Mustang-Jarrett’s Nestle scheme is an interesting throwback choice, but it’s well done, very faithful, and earns an A as a result.

26. Matt Tifft #36 Hilker Glass Throwback Ford Mustang-This is a bold look that isn’t over done. It’s also a faithful throwback. This is a great look, and I give it an A.

27. Martin Truex Jr. #19 Bass Pro Shops Throwback Toyota Camry-I’m not always a fan of Bass Pro Shops throwbacks, some are better than others. That being said, this scheme is a good look, with a great color scheme. This scheme gets an A.

28. Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 Victory Junction Throwback Chevy Camaro–Spree was never one of my favorite sponsors. That said, after some time, I do see what they were doing with their scheme. This is a faithful representation of the old Spree scheme, and It works very well. A

29. Daniel Suarez #41 Haas Throwback Ford Mustang-The third Tony Stewart Championship throwback scheme is based on his 2005 Home Depot scheme, which is the best of the three. It’s faithful, and it has a great look, and that will always earn an A.

30. Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield Throwback Ford Mustang-For Tony Stewart’s Hall of Fame election, Stewart-Haas Racing’s cars are being painted in the colors of Tony’s Cup Championship schemes. The first from 2002, is based on Tony’s Home Depot. It’s a faithful replica, so that’s good, and I do like the Home Depot’s shade of orange. All things considered, this gets an A.

31 Clint Bowyer #14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1 Ford Mustang-This second Tony Stewart Throwback is based on his 2011 Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevy. Like the #10, it’s a faithful replica, with correct colors. I liked the design back then, and I like this now, so this gets an A.

32. Paul Menard #21 Quaker State/Menards Steve Kinser Throwback Ford Mustang–It’s a good throwback, with a great design, and that will always earn an A.

33. Matt DiBenedetto #95 Toyota Throwback Toyota Camry-It’s a smooth look, it has a great color scheme, and that will always earn an A.

34. Reed Sorenson #77 Motor Racing Network Throwback Chevy Camaro-A fauxback, but a good one. Blue and gold works well, and the design is simple. I give this an A.

35. Kurt Busch #1 Star Nursery Throwback Chevy Camaro-My only complaint is the forced black spot for the Monster Energy logo. Other than that, this is a really great throwback. A-

36. Kurt Busch #1 Chevrolet Accessories Throwback Chevy Camaro-The black Monster Energy area looks out of place. This is visually distracting and takes away. The scheme looks good, but the black takes it from an A to an A-.

37. Ryan Newman #6 Oscar Meyer/Velveeta Throwback Ford Mustang-Full disclosure, I loved the old Mark Martin Valvoline design. This new version with Oscar Meyer and Velveeta colors is not as great. The red, white, and blue design works well. Red, green and white doesn’t work as well. It’s still decent, so I’ll give it a B+.

38. Kyle Larson #42 Clover Throwback Chevy Camaro-I never liked the green Kodiak scheme, I always preferred the white scheme. This is a faithful replication, but it doesn’t pop as much as some of the others. I’ll give this a B.

39. Joey Logano #22 Shell/Pennzoil Throwback Ford Mustang-I was not a fan of the Harvick Shell/Pennzoil scheme, and I’m not a fan of this throwback. There are other Shell schemes that could work, but this is just a meh scheme. I’ll give it a C.

Next week, I revisit an older article.

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-August 3, 2019

By David G. Firestone

Landon Cassill #00 StarCom Fiber Chevy Camaro-A smooth look with a great color scheme will always earn an A.

Landon Cassill #00 Jacob Companies Chevy Camaro-This is a good patriotic motif. Not over designed, good color scheme, unique. This works very well, and I give it an A.

Kurt Busch #1 Global Poker Patriotic Chevy Camaro-Camo doesn’t look good on a race car. This color scheme doesn’t work with the camo. The car doesn’t look good, so I give it an F.

Austin Dillon #3 Behr Ultra Chevy Camaro-The car is a bit over designed for my taste. Wave designs aren’t great, but this isn’t too bad. The front and back designs could be toned down. All things considered, this gets a B+.

Kevin Harvick #4 Busch Beer/National Forest Foundation Ford Mustang-The color scheme works very well, and the forest motif is a great look. This is a great look, and it earns an A.

Kevin Harvick #4 Busch Beer Gen X Ford Mustang-This is one of the most horrid, awful, and ugly schemes I have seen in some time. It looks like a bad 80’s movie poster. I can’t give this scheme anything better than an F, so I won’t.

Ryan Newman #6 Oscar Meyer/Velveeta Ford Mustang-The dot fade works well, especially with the great color scheme such as Velveeta and Oscar Meyer, this is a great look, and it earns an A.

Ryan Newman #6 Acronis Ford Mustang-The cutting edge design is over designed. The color scheme works, but could be lightened a little. It’s decent, and it earns a B.

Chase Elliott #9 NAPA Patriotic Chevy Camaro-This is a good patriotic motif. Not over designed, good color scheme, unique. This works very well, and I give it an A.

Chase Elliott #9 Mountain Dewnited States Chevy Camaro-Recipe for an F grade: Take a great color scheme and design scheme, and add the ugliest, over designed and horrific mess of a design to the rear. It’s horrific, and I can’t give this a passing grade.

Ryan Blaney #12 Dex Imaging Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Ryan Blaney #12 Pennzoil Throwback Ford Mustang-Mike’s old Pennzoil scheme was simple, it was attractive, and it worked. This faithful replica works well, and earns an A.

Ryan Blaney #12 Menard’s/Sylvania Ford Mustang-Same scheme as #21, same A grade.

Quin Houff #15 The Elease Project Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as Rim Ryderz, same A- grade.

Ross Chastain #15 YVARS Branding.com Chevy Camaro-Replacing blue with black would be a major upgrade. Hell, replacing this blue with a much darker blue would work better. This shade of blue doesn’t work well with red flames. Add in that it is a tad over designed, and you have a B scheme that could have been an A scheme.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 Roush/Fastenal Ford Mustang-Same scheme as #6, same A grade.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 Acronis Ford Mustang-Same scheme as #6, same A grade.

Paul Menard #21 Menard’s/Richmond Ford Mustang-This new Menard’s template works well with black. This is a great look, and it earns an A.

Paul Menard #21 Menard’s/FVP Ford Mustang-The only good thing I can say is that the yellow looks good. Other than that, this is hideous, and it earns a D.

Paul Menard #21 Quaker State/Menards Steve Kinser Throwback Ford Mustang-It’s a good throwback, with a great design, and that will always earn an A.

Paul Menard #21 Menard’s/Duracel Ford Mustang-Same scheme as #12, same A grade.

William Byron #24 Axalta Patriotic Chevy Camaro-This is a good patriotic motif. Not over designed, good color scheme, unique. This works very well, and I give it an A.

Corey LaJoie #32 Coinlotto.com Ford Mustang-The stripes are very over designed, and that drags the whole design down quite a bit. The color scheme is good, and the lotto balls work well, but the stripes drag the scheme from an A to a B+.

Corey LaJoie #32 Weirs Motor Sales/Adirondack Tree Surgeons Ford Mustang-The color scheme works well, and the car design is bold, but not over done. This is a great scheme that earns an A.

Corey LaJoie #32 Shine Armor Ford Mustang-The paint splatter fade works well here. The car has a great look. It’s bold and distinctive. I give this an A.

Corey LaJoie #32 Keen Parts/Corvette Parts Throwback Ford Mustang-Jarrett’s Nestle scheme is an interesting throwback choice, but it’s well done, very faithful, and earns an A as a result.

Michael McDowell #34 Long John Silvers Ford Mustang-Wave patterns are iffy, this is over done. Add in the wood motif, and the color scheme and you have a B+ scheme.

Matt Tifft #36 Louis Kemp Crab Delights Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Matt Tifft #36 Ron Jon Surf Shop Ford Mustang-It’s a smooth look with a great color scheme. I also love the Ron Jon logo, especially the lettering. This is a great look, and it gets an A.

Matt Tifft Southwestern Trucking Ford Mustang-Red, black, and silver is a great color scheme. The design is over designed. I don’t like wave patterns anymore. So I’m taking everthing into concern when I give this scheme a C.

Chris Buescher #37 Maxwell House Chevy Camaro-Plain blue with a white stripe on the bottom works well, looks good, and earns an A.

Chris Buescher #37 Planters Chevy Camaro-Plain blue with a yellow stripe on the bottom works well, looks good, and earns an A.

David Ragan #38 Shriners Hospitals for Children Throwback Ford Mustang-David Pearson’s 1969 Torino Cobra is a great look, and this is a great throwback. I can’t give this less than an A.

David Ragan #38 Long John Silvers Ford Mustang-Same scheme as #34, same B+ grade.

David Ragan #38 Compressor World Ford Mustang-Another example of a great color scheme, but an over-designed mess of a design scheme. Toned down, this scheme could be a lot better, but this isn’t great, and earns a C.

Kyle Larson #42 Credit One Patriotic Chevy Camaro-This is a good patriotic motif. Not over designed, good color scheme, unique. This works very well, and I give it an A.

Kyle Larson #42 Ronald McDonald House Charities Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as #34, same A grade.

B.J. McLeod #51 Jacob Companies Patriotic Ford Mustang-This is a good patriotic motif. Not over designed, good color scheme, unique. This works very well, and I give it an A.

Bayley Currey #52 Monarch Crypto Wallet Ford Mustang-A great fade with a great color scheme will ALWAYS look great! This is no exception. A

J.J. Yeley #52 DriveSmartWarranty.com Ford Mustang-Yet another example of a great color scheme, but an over-designed mess of a design scheme. Toned down, this scheme could be a lot better, but this isn’t great, and earns a C.

B.J. McLeod #52 Jacob Companies Patriotic Ford Mustang-This is a good patriotic motif. Not over designed, good color scheme, unique. This works very well, and I give it an A.

Austin Theriault #52 Bangor Savings Bank Chevy Camaro-Wave designs rarely look great. This is a good example. It’s too over designed, and it looks bad. Add in a mediocre color scheme and you have a B-.

Joey Gase #53 Connected Claim Services/Action Restoration Chevy Camaro-Some patriotic motifs are over designed, and this is another example. The torn flag motif could be good, but this needs to be toned down. I’ve seen much worse, so I’ll give this a C-.

Josh Bilicki #53 Chevy Camaro-A smooth look with a great color scheme will always earn an A.

Quin Houff #77 Sleep6/Abt Chevy Camaro-A smooth look with a great color scheme will always earn an A.

Quin Houff #77 Go-Parts.com Chevy Camaro-Blue and white is a great scheme. This shade of orange doesn’t work here. The car is a bit over designed. Still, it’s not over designed so I’ll give it a B-.

Quin Houff #77 #MyTrackMyRoots Chevy Camaro-Black and red works well as a color scheme, and the checkered flag motif works well here too. This is an all-around great scheme, and it earns an A.

Alex Bowman #88 Nationwide Children’s Chevy Camaro-The toned down stripes look amazing, and they take an A scheme and make it much better. This is awesome, and I give it an A.

Matt DiBenedetto #95 Anest Iwata Toyota Camry-A great fade with a great color scheme will ALWAYS look great! This is no exception. A

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-June 15, 2019

By David G. Firestone

Austin Dillon #3 DOW Salutes Veterans Chevy Camaro-Dale’s Olympic scheme was a great scheme. This somewhat faithful replica looks really good, and I can’t really say anything bad. A

Ryan Newman #6 Coca Cola Ford Mustang-Another great patriotic look. This is a good design, it isn’t over designed, and the car looks great. A

Daniel Hemric #8 Chevy Accessories Chevy Camaro-Changing the angles to curves is a good look. The car looked great last year, and it looks great this year. A

Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield/Meijer Ford Mustang-Another example of a scheme that has two good elements that combine to be a mediocre design. The blue Meijer would work, as does Smithfield. Together, this isn’t a great look, I’ll give it a C.

Ryan Blaney #12 Menards/Wrangler Riggs Ford Mustang-Red as a base color is a good look, and the 2018 Menard’s template works very well. This gets a well-earned A.

Ty Dillon #13 Twisted Tea Patriotic Chevy Camaro-The bottom motif works well, it’s simple yet well done. A

Clint Bowyer #14 Haas Automation/IT Savvy Ford Mustang-This is a decent scheme, but this would work so much better with a black-to-orange fade. Still, it’s decet, so I’ll give it a B.

Garrett Smithley #15 Victory Lane Quick Oil Change/Kendall Oil Chevy Camaro-The red and white curves look really good on the black background. The car as a whole looks great. A

Erik Jones #20 Craftsman/SportsClips Toyota Camry-Same scheme as Craftsman, same A grade.

Paul Menard #21 Menard’s/Nibco Ford Mustang-This works well, I’m beginning to come around on the new template. This is a good look. A

Corey LaJoie #32 Harvest Investments Ford Mustang-I don’t know for sure if Big Bird has his own shade of yellow. I hope he does, because this is a great shade of yellow. Add in that the car has a smooth look, and you have an A.

Michael McDowell #34 Melling Engine Parts/Dockside Logistics Ford Mustang-Same scheme as Dockside Logistics, same B+ grade.

Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 Air Force Chevy Camaro-I love everything about this design! The A-10 is one of my favorite Air Force planes. This look is a great look. A

Josh Bilicki #52 Mariott Companies Chevy Camaro-It’s a smooth look, with a great color scheme, and that will always earn an A

Alex Bowman #88 Axalta Throwback Chevy Camaro-The Tim Richmond Folgers scheme was a great scheme, and it’s nice that Axalta is doing a faithful throwback. This is a great look. A

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-June 1, 2019

By David G. Firestone

Landon Cassill #00 StarCom Fiber Patriotic Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as last year, same B- grade.

Brad Keselowski #2 Miller Lite Patriotic Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Ryan Newman #6 Oscar Meyer Patriotic Ford Mustang-The patriotic motif would work, or the Oscar Meyer motif would work. Combined, they don’t work. This is a rare scheme that clashes with itself. It’s not horrible, it’s not great, it’s worth a C.

Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield Patriotic Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same D grade.

Ryan Blaney #12 Dent Wizard Ford Mustang-This could theoretically work if the colors were reversed. Dark over light works with the Penske template, but light over dark doesn’t. This just doesn’t look good. F

Ross Chastain #15 Cross Country Adjusting Chevy Camaro-Blue, white, and orange work well, the car isnt over designed, and the car has a great look. I can’t say anything bad here, so I won’t. A

Erik Jones #20 Reser’s Main St. Bistro Toyota Camry-Same scheme as Reser’s, same A grade.

Reed Sorenson #27 VIP Racing Experience Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as #15, same A grade.

Michael McDowell #34 Love’s Truck Stops Patriotic Ford Mustang-When used correctly, camouflage can work well. This is not one of those cases. I give teams grief for using modern camo, but old school camo does not work on the side of a race car. This is not a good scheme at all. F

Chris Buescher #37 Kroger Thrill of the Grill Chevy Camaro-Black with flames…need I say any more than that? A

David Ragan #38 Select Blinds Patriotic Ford Mustang-This may be the most over designed cars I have seen this year. The amount of flames is amazing, the colors don’t mix well with the design, and the whole car is giving me motion sickness while looking at a picture of it. F

Daniel Suarez #41 Coca Cola Ford Mustang-Coca Cola has a great shade of red, and they use it quite effectively here. Add in a smooth look, and you have a car worth an A.

Darrell Wallace Jr. #43 Orange Vanilla Coca Cola Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as #43, same A grade.

Joey Gase #46 Toyota Camry-Same scheme as #66, same B- grade.

Cody Ware #51 Jacob Companies P-40 Warhawk Ford Mustang-For this car, I had to go to the thesaurus and look up synonyms for amazing, because I didn’t know enough. This is a prodigious looking car based on an empyreal aircraft design. I can’t begin to say how much I love this car. A

Bayley Currey #52 Rick Ware Racing SR-71 Ford Mustang-See above. A

Quin Houff #77 NASCAR Mobile App Chevy Camaro-The black looks good, and the NASCAR logo elements are a unique touch. The car isn’t over designed, and it has a great look. A

Alex Bowman #88 Nationwide Patriotic Chevy Camaro-It’s unique, I’ll give it that. The sublimated designs shouldn’t be sublimated. With this design, it looks like the patriotic was an element is secondary. It’s not the worst, but not the best. C

Matt DiBenedetto #95 Procore-Safety Qualified Toyota Camry-Another example of why camo has no place on a race car. Add in some pointless green designs, and you have an F worthy scheme.

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-March 30, 2019

By David G. Firestone

Landon Cassill #00 CGS Imaging Chevy Camaro-The color scheme is good, and the stripes look good too. Nothing wrong here! A

Kurt Busch #1 Gearwrench/Monster Energy Chevy Camaro-What kind of grade do you get when the front looks horrific, and the back looks awesome? You get a solid C.

Brad Keselowski #2 Reese/Drawtite Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Austin Dillon #3 Symbicort Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as #31, same C- grade.

Daniel Hemric #8 Bass Pro Shops Chevy Camaro-Orange is finicky, especially this shade of orange. Add in the fact that too much orange was used with a bad design scheme, and you have a bad scheme. It’s not the worst scheme, but it’s worth a C-.

Aric Almirola #10 Smithfield/Shazam Ford Mustang-The Shazam motif is overdone. The dark color works, but the overall scheme is overdone, and mediocre. I’ll give this a B-.

Ryan Blaney #12 Menard’s/Libman Ford Mustang-A definite downgrade from the awesomeness of the 2018 Menard’s template, but this is a decent scheme, so I’ll give it a B.

Clint Bowyer #14 Mobil 1/Rush Truck Stops Ford Mustang-Black with red flames looks awesome, and the car as a whole looks awesome. This gets an A.

Martin Truex Jr. #19 Sirius XM Toyota Camry-Too many designs here. Just because you can add designs does not mean you should. It’s not horrifically bad, but it’s not great. All things considered, this gets a B-.

Michael McDowell #34 A&W Ford Mustang-The wood barrel motif works, as does the creamy foam motif. The two work well together, and the result is an amazing looking A scheme.

Chris Buescher #37 Kroger Speed Up Your Cleanup Chevy Camaro-The color scheme is good, and the stripes look good too. Nothing wrong here! A

David Ragan #38 MDS Ford Mustang-Replacing white with blue doesn’t add or subtract from the B+ this scheme got.

Jeb Burton #52 Muzzy Bowfishing Chevy Camaro-A bad color scheme mixed with a pointlessly over designed car will ALWAYS result in an F.

D.J. Kennington #77 Go-Part Chevy Camaro-The side designs are a little too over designed. Really, that’s my only complaint. Toning down the side designs could bring this scheme up to an A, but this is worth a B+.

Matt DiBenedetto #95 Toyota Express Maintenance Toyota Camry-This color scheme and design scheme aren’t amazing. They are also not awful. They are directly in the middle. So, since they are in the middle, this gets a C.

The Driver Suit Blog-Paint Scheme Grades-March 16, 2019

By David G. Firestone

Landon Cassill #00 Iron Mountain Data Centers Chevy Camaro-It’s a solid, smooth look, I love the use of blues, and the stripes are well done, so this gets an A.

Kurt Busch #1 Global Poker Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as Monster, same A grade.

Brad Keselowski #2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Ryan Newman #6 Oscar Mayer Bacon Ford Mustang-The bacon motif works well, and the color scheme is great too. Nothing wrong here!A

Daniel Hemric #8 Okuma Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as last year, same D+ grade.

Clint Bowyer #14 IT Savvy Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Ross Chastain #15 Chevy Camaro-I like this look, but I do think that the stripes are over done. A-

Erik Jones #20 Reser’s Fine Foods Toyota Camry-Same scheme as last year, same A grade.

Paul Menard #21 Quaker State Ford Mustang-Same scheme as last year, same B- grade.

Michael McDowell #34 Dockside Logistics Ford Mustang-I don’t like this new design as much as I like the Front Row template. I think the new side designs are over done. Still, it has a great color scheme, and the side designs aren’t as bad as they could be. I’ll give it a B+.

Chris Buescher #37 Kroger Flavor Fill Up Chevy Camaro-This scheme is horribly over designed. There are several elements, none of which work with each other. It just doesn’t look good. The only saving grace is that the color scheme is good, so I’ll give it a D-

Daniel Suarez #41 Arris Ruckus Ford Mustang-A smooth look, with a great color scheme will always earn an A.

Quin Houff #77 Rim Ryderz Chevy Camaro-Same scheme as #15/27, same A- grade.