The top 5 throwback paint schemes at Darlington

There is no runway and Darlington Raceway will never be confused for New York City or Paris, but in many respects the Southern 500 throwback weekend feels like NASCAR’s version of a fashion show in which teams try to one-up each other by having the best-looking retro paint scheme.

When the concept began in 2014, many thought it was a novel one-off way to celebrate NASCAR returning the Southern 500 to its rightful place on the calendar, Labor Day weekend, a spot the race had occupied from 1950-2003. The response was so enthusiastic, though, with the majority of the teams embracing the idea above and beyond what was expected and fans reacting passionately, throwback weekend instantly became an eagerly anticipated event each season.

“I don’t know that there’s been anything like this, that’s been received like this” said Jeff Burton, former Southern 500 winner and current NBC Sports NASCAR analyst. “The reaction from the fans when you’re at the racetrack and you see the enthusiasm — it’s real. It’s brought a tremendous amount of energy to an already historic race.”

Now in its third year, the throwback weekend has evolved into a competition beyond the race itself. It is also a competition to see who wins for best appearing car and crew, with teams going into great detail planning what historic paint scheme to showcase — including some drivers even growing facial hair to accurately depict the era they’re representing and many crew members wearing classic uniforms.

“The teams have really gotten into it with the uniforms, and in some cases the retro hair styles and retro mustaches,” Burton said. “It’s just such a fun weekend.”

As a primer for what you can expect to see Sunday night during the Southern 500 (6 p.m. ET, NBCSN), here are five of this year’s best throwback paint schemes.

Same car number, same sponsor and nearly identical to the car Rusty Wallace drove to so many victories in the early- to mid-1990s. The only thing absent is Wallace himself climbing behind the wheel of the No. 2 Miller Ford on Sunday.

Yeah, the sponsors are different, but one look at Austin Dillon’s car and immediately images of Dale Earnhardt running roughshod over the competition comes to mind.

The paint scheme honors Earnhardt on the 30th anniversary of him winning the Southern 500. And if Dillon could somehow conjure up some of that old “One Tough Customer” magic Sunday night, it will truly feel like everyone stepped into a time machine.

Patrick will carry the paint scheme and sponsor Dale Jarrett had on his car when he won the 1999 Cup Series championship with Robert Yates Racing. Jarrett was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2014, while Yates will be inducted in January.

An old school team in a modern world means Wood Brothers Racing doesn’t have to do much to fit the theme. Still, the venerable team that’s been competing in NASCAR races since the 1950s goes all out.

On Sunday, Ryan Blaney will race the same scheme Kyle Petty had when he drove for the Wood Brothers in 1987. And although the sponsors are different, the design is terrific.

Few teams have embraced the throwback idea with such fervor than Richard Petty Motorsports, which is understandable considering the team’s namesake who also happened to drive one of the most iconic cars in motorsports history. Heck, Aric Almirola even grew a Fu Manchu a few years back to pay proper homage to “The King.”

This year, Almirola’s car will mirror the look Petty’s car had in 1984 when he won his 200th and final Cup Series race.