Drivers ready to blast through storied past at Southern 500

DARLINGTON, S.C. — If Kyle Busch needed extra motivation for the Southern 500, he’s gotten it from Ernie Irvan — or, more specifically, Irvan’s paint scheme from 20 years ago.

Busch, NASCAR’s points leader, is itching to drive a Skittles-themed red car like Irvan used in 1998 when Darlington Raceway honors seven decades of stock car racing history at its latest throwback weekend.

“Seems like when we put a cool paint scheme on the car, we run better,” Busch smiled.

He’ll have plenty of competition on the track and in the garage as teams throughout the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series dress out for Darlington’s latest celebration of the sport’s deep, rich past.

Busch has loved coming to Darlington the past few years knowing he’ll see things he may have only glimpsed in grainy race footage or photo albums.

Racers and crews break out vintage clothes and modified looks with young guns like Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney sporting mustaches as part of their throwback weekend.

“I think a lot of guys really get into it,” Busch said.

And rightly so, said past NASCAR champion Dale Jarrett, honored by Busch’s paint scheme in 2017.

“Fans like it, competitors like it,” Jarrett said. “We’ve got a whole, new era of race drivers who are very successful out there, but for them to recognize where the sport came from and why they are able to the things they’re able to do this day and time. It’s important to them and for them to jump in be willing participants.”

Brad Keselowski’s No. 2 will be trimmed out Sunday night like Rusty Wallace’s old Miller Genuine Draft car.

Clint Bowyer’s No. 14 will honor Dale Jarrett’s father, Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett, with the racing great’s blue color scheme on the Ford Galaxie Jarrett used to win the 1965 Southern 500.

William Byron will run in a No. 24 painted like Jeff Gordon’s memorable, multicolor rainbow racer.