[Editor’s Note: Instead of Phil’s usual Sunday grab bag, we have something special for you today. With the NASCAR season kicking off with today’s Daytona 500, reader Jory Fleischauer has guest-written a heroically thorough (read: really long) breakdown of the upcoming season. Phil will have Benchies & Uni Concepts following this article. Enjoy.]
By Jory Fleischauer
In motorsports the paint scheme, or livery, is the identity for a team or a driver in much the same way as uniform. Fans resonate with them, impart their “team” colors on themselves at race tracks and proudly brand themselves in their driver’s sponsor apparel.
With each season these schemes evolve or change for a variety of needs. Seeing as NASCAR leads the start of the season with its biggest event, the Daytona 500, teams elect to run a special scheme for a sponsor to highlight the event.
Below are what schemes will be running in the 54th annual Daytona 500, as well as some others that will appear during the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.
1 – Jamie McMurray – Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
The 2010 Daytona 500 winner is back for his third season with the #1 car, with his first update to his paint scheme since returning to Earnhardt Ganassi Racing. Now sporting white numbers with more black than camo, it is a clean evolution for a paint scheme that was once reviled when revealed. The colors may seem gaudy to some, but when they happen to fit the sponsor perfectly.
2- Brad Keselowski – Miller Light Dodge Charger
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Last year’s surprise championship contender Brad Keselowski returns for his second year in the Blue Deuce. And really, what better look for a beer sponsor than having your product being poured down the side? Distracting for fans, and surely for some drivers, Miller is enjoying their 22nd year with Penske Racing yet still seeks their first championship.
5 – Kasey Kahne – Farmers Insurance Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme (Team) – 2011 Regular Scheme (Driver)
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
After a two year wait, Kasey Kahne finally makes his much anticipated start in Rick Hendrick Racing’s #5, albeit sans yellow numbers for the first time in a decade. Excitement turned to confusion when the scheme was revealed, with some wondering if it was unfinished due to prominence of the color grey. That happens to be the color cars are primed with when first built, and many did not understand how this meshed with new sponsor Farmers Insurance. The styling itself is somewhat futuristic, but again how does that go with a company who’s logo is this?
6 – Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. – Ford Ecoboost Ford Fusion
2011 – Regular Scheme (Team)
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
2011 NASCAR Nationwide champion Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. inherits the former number one car of Roush Fenway Racing. Starting in his first Daytona 500, Stenhouse, Jr. is not running a full season, nor is the #6 due to sponsor woes, a first since 1988. Borrowing on the new/old trend of racing stripes, it is a simple yet different scheme, in many ways harkening back to paint schemes of NASCAR’s formative years.
7 – Robby Gordon – SPEED Energy Toyota Camry
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
When you own the product that’s sponsoring the car, there’s no better way to show it off via bold car. Last year saw Robby Gordon’s car show up bright orange, neon yellow, neon pink and, oddly enough, plain black. Apparently this team takes variety and mixes it with a touch of 1960s psychedelic color profiles. And, for some unknown reason, the team has reverted back to it’s original number style after a mid-season change last year. Perhaps the eye straining colors are wreaking havoc with the members of the paint shop.
9 – Marcos Ambrose – Stanley/DeWalt Ford Fusion
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
NASCAR’s Australian connection picked up his first career Sprint Cup victory last year at Watkins Glen with a scheme that drew hoards of discussions when first revealed. The odd choice in number design, akin to his teammate the #43, seemed to not mesh well with the sharp angles of the base scheme. This year the simple addition of the company swoop logo seems to have remedied this, creating a much more fluid flow to the scheme.
10 – Danica Patrick – GoDaddy.com Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme N/A
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
When you’re Danica Patrick, do you even need a formal paint scheme? Apparently not. In her full-time foray into stock cars, Danica will make her Cup debut in a loud, but simple, neon green scheme… although scheme is a loosely defined word in this instance. Will the hype back up the bold color of the car? Who knows? But at least we’re guaranteed more GoDaddy.com ads.
11 – Denny Hamlin – FedEx Toyota Camry
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
2011 championship favorite Denny Hamlin may not have lived up the expectations, but his aggressively styled paint schemes did. It is hard to choose from either the orange, green, red or blue schemes which looked the best on track. It’s even harder to discern how such a scheme related to package delivery… but really, if it looks good, who cares?
13 – Casey Mears – Geico Ford Fusion
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Despite having the same driver, sponsor and base scheme from a year ago, the apperance of the Germain Racing #13 could not look any different. One of the questions that had perplexed fans since the debut of the Geico car several years ago is where in the world did they get those colors for the scheme? Their colors are clearly noted on their website, so where the red and deep blue came from is somewhat of a mystery. The world may never know.
14 – Tony Stewart – Office Depot/Mobil 1 Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme 1 / Regular Scheme 2
2012 – Regular Scheme 1 / Regular Scheme 2
Since becoming part owner of a team in 2009, Stewart-Hass Racing has produced a collection of paint schemes that are stylish and logical as well as some that will continually make you scratch your head. The 2011 champion continues this into the 2012 season with a more typical scheme for sponsor Office Depot and then a chaotic evolution of the scheme for Mobil1. What is with the squiggly lines all over the place? It is almost akin to the design accidentally moving the mouse with his elbow and declaring, “That looks great!” Yet, the most frustrating design element from this team is yet to come.
15 – Clint Bowyer – 5 Hour Energy Toyota Camry
2011 – Regular Scheme (Team) – Regular Scheme (Driver)
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Changing one breakfast type for another, Clint Bowyer moves from long time home Richard Childress Racing to Michael Waltrip Racing. Very nearly since the teams inception, this car has sported the 00 but with the dismissal of long term driver David Reutimann, and the fact the 00 is a family number to him, the decision was made to use the number most closely associated with team owner Waltrip’s career. The scheme itself has drawn modest praise from fans with, save for the typical MWR chrome wheels.
16 – Greg Biffle – 3M Ford Fusion
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
BFBS is never more apparent then in the 3M schemes for Roush Fenway Racing’s Greg Biffle. To be honest, it was almost as if BFBS was a bit of a plague on the scheme. Consider the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 schemes. Many thought that the car for 2012 would be solely black, finally consuming the 3M logos on the car. Alas, restraint has finally conquered BFBS, as the #16 car will sport one of the simplest schemes it has run in almost a decade.
17 – Matt Kenseth – Best Buy Ford Fusion
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
One would think that being a former Winston Cup champion and perennial championship contender, sponsors would be lining up at the door, but for Matt Kenseth this has not been the case. The Best Buy sponsorship came aboard on relatively short notice and for only a handful of races. Aside from this, fans biggest questions have been what in the world is up with this paint scheme. A random yellow bar on the front, odd black lines on the back and a confusing design on the side. Is that supposed to be a price tag? No one really knows. Easily one of the most confusing, if not the most confusing, scheme of the year, especially when you consider the beauty of a scheme Best Buy had last year.
#18 – Kyle Busch – M&Ms Toyota Camry
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Sponsor Mars, Inc., distraught over actions by the driver in other series late last year, pulled their sponsorship for the final two races of the season. They are back for the full season though, building a campaign around their newest character, Ms. Brown. Busch’s Daytona 500 scheme focuses mainly on this character, with much debate focusing around the lack of design on the sides of the car. His regular scheme retains many of the characteristics of years past, save for the removal of the diamond plate that confused fans for many years. How diamond plate and candy goes together is far beyond me, but it has been replaced by a flood of… well I guess you can call that chocolate. That’s up to you I suppose.
#20 – Joey Logano – The Home Depot Toyota Camry
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Much like the #7, when your main sponsor uses a bold color, why not take it to the extreme and coat the car in it? Logano is seeking to improve on what has been a disappointing Sprint Cup career in a car that is… well perhaps equally disappointing. Many long for the days when there was at least some scheme to the car.
#21 – Trevor Bayne – Motorcraft Ford Fusion
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Surprise 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne returns with the Wood Brothers in an attempt to duplicate last year’s success. Virtually every person in the sport admires this paint scheme, which harkens back to the Wood Brother’s schemes of the 1970s. Plus, with a driver’s suit like this, I’m sure even Paul can get behind this team.
#22 – A.J. Allmendinger – Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger
2011 – Regular Scheme (Team) – Regular Scheme (Driver)
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
A.J. Allmendinger hit the lottery last year, earning the best ride of his NASCAR career after the sudden departure of former NASCAR champion Kurt Busch. It is a bit perplexing for Allmendinger is the scheme he is running in 2012, the same as last year, was actually designed in part by Busch. All things withstanding, I’m sure that is something Allmendinger will be more than happy to live with.
#24 – Jeff Gordon – AARP Drive To End Hunger / Dupont Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme 1 – Regular Scheme 2
2012 – Regular Scheme 1 / Daytona 500 Scheme – Regular Scheme 2
Jeff Gordon’s AARP scheme is an evolution from its 2011 counterpart, with the only large change being the removal of the black gradient in the front. The bigger news came when it was announced a special Dupont scheme was designed in honor of Gordon’s 20 years with the sponsor. Fans hoped to see various past Dupont schemes which Gordon made famous. Instead what they ended up with is this. Designed by Sam Bass, the sheer amount of disappointment among fans is simply astounding. Many clamor that Bass has lost his touch over the last few years, repeating similar design elements void of any flow or connection to driver or sponsor. One can only hope that this wrong will be righted at some point during the season, and the rainbow Dupont colors shall return for one more chance at glory.
#26 – Tony Raines – Unsponsored Ford Fusion
2011 – N/A
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
#27 – Paul Menard – Menards Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
The only NASCAR driver with his own Empire, Menard seeks to build upon his success from his first season with Richard Childress Racing, highlighted by his first career victory in Indianapolis. For the 500, long time sponsor PEAK has stepped up their presence by having their own scheme for the Great American Race. Closely related to his Quaker State scheme for a year ago, the bold combination of blue and bright yellow actually work quite nicely on the track. If anything, the #27 car will be very easy to spot in a pack of 43 cars.
#29 – Kevin Harvick – Budweiser Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Richard Childress Racing’s #1 team went back to black for the first time since Dale Earnhardt’s death in 2001. While new sponsor Budweiser adorned an all black car lat year, for 2012 a red fade has been added onto the quarter panels behind the sponsor logo. Many have wondered what the purpose to this may be, as it seems rather out of place compared to the rest of the scheme. Others declare that the occasional alternative “Bowtie” scheme that is run may be a better choice for the sponsor. It might not be a case of just BFBS, but attempting to revive a tradition of years past.
#30 – David Stremme – Unsponsored Toyota Camry
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
The Cinderella story of Speedweeks so far, underfunded David Stremme qualified his unsponsored car into the race last Sunday. While his car is devoid of logos at the moment, they will most likely not be on Sunday as this team prepares for the biggest race of their short existence.
#31 – Jeff Burton – Caterpillar Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
For the first time since Caterpillar joined Richard Childress Racing in 2009, the #31 will have a completely new scheme for the 2012 season. Some will miss the subtle details on the side of the car, while others are merely happy for a change. The spikes behind the front wheel wells are a bit odd, but as a whole it is a nice step in a different direction. Plus, the team has some great looking schemes coming up later in the season.
#32 – Terry Labonte – C&J Energy Services Ford Fusion
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Daytona 500 Scheme
With the 500 scheme being essentially the same as the one run last year at Bristol, Terry Labonte is locked into the field via a past champions provisional. Frank Stoddard’s team in its sophomore year looks to continue with a myriad of schemes, sponsors and drivers
#33 – Elliott Sadler – Kroger/General Foods Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme (Team)
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
When General Mills announced they would no longer sponsor Richard Childress Racing’s #33 full time, Clint Bowyer found himself migrating to another team. What was his loss is Elliott Sadler’s gain, as Kroger has stepped on board to sponsor this brightly colored car for a handful of races. Praise has been given to the subtle fades and rich colors, while successfully integrating a multitude of sponsors, a fact which is typically not done well.
#34 – David Ragan – Scorpion Window Film Ford Fusion
2011 – Regular Scheme (Team) – Regular Scheme (Driver)
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Despite almost winning last year’s Daytona 500 and winning the Pepsi 400 here in July, David Ragan found himself out of a sponsor and out of a ride for 2012. Joining Bob Jenkins’ operation, which historically has fielded sponsors from his bevy of franchises, Ragan finds himself sponsorless heading into the 500. Many appreciate the base scheme found often on Jenkins cars, but often despise the old school number style. If anything it provides a simple splash of color, as seen on last year’s car, while touching a bit on the nostalgia of the sport.
#36 – Dave Blaney – Ollie’s Bargin Outlet Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Following a strong Speedweeks in 2011, several sponsors flocked to Tommy Baldwin Racing and driver Dave Blaney. After kids ate for free at Golden Corral following a Top 5 at Talladega, the team and driver proved their worth on the plate track. For this year’s 500, Ollie’s Bargin Outlet shall be sponsoring the team for the second year in a row, employing a rich combination of mustard and ketchup. Oddly enough, that combination makes the average person hungry rather than wanting to shop.
#38 – David Gilliand – Power Pak Pudding Ford Fusion
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Who can go wrong with pudding? David Gilliand returns for a second season with Front Row Motorsports, hoping to at least equal his top five finish in last year’s Daytona 500. Simple, with a little flair, the deep blue is accented well with the yellow. This is one of the instances of the FRM cars where the old-school styled numbers actually work quite well.
#39 – Ryan Newman – U.S. Army Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Flat black and camo have always gone well with the U.S. Army scheme, although the asymmetrical lines are not as easy on the eyes as last year’s car. Teammate to both the #10 and #14, fans have wondered since this team was unveiled what in the world is going on with that number. The 3 and the 9 look to be two completely different designs, even though they are from the same family. Many have suggested that a change to something like this would be much more visually appealing. If anything, it would rid the sport of one of it’s most annoying design elements.
#42 – Juan Pablo Montoya – Target Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Some question just what in the world lightening bolts have to do with Target? But, again, if it looks good, does it really matter? Former Indy 500 and Grand Prix of Monoco winner Juan Pablo Montoya returns for his sixth season in NASCAR’s top series.
#43 – Aric Almirola – Smithfield Ford Fusion
2011 – Regular Scheme (Team)
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Petty blue returns as the primary color of the new #43 car driven by Aric Almirola. While in past years the incorporation of petty blue created more than a little bit of an eyesore, this season the color works quite well. As with his teammate the #9, the company logo has been worked into the scheme, and it comes across quite successfully.
#47 – Bobby Labonte – Kroger/USO Toyota Camry
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
What’s more American than stock cars and the American flag? Bobby Labonte seeks to better his 4th place finish in last year’s 500, running a simplified evolution of last year’s paint scheme.
#48 – Jimmie Johnson – Lowe’s Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme 1– Regular Scheme 2
2012 – Regular Scheme 1 / Daytona 500 Scheme – Regular Scheme 2
Perhaps no 2012 paint schemes garnered more conversation than Jimmie Johnson’s. While the #48’s design has changed several times over the years, none has been more drastic than this… and none have been met with more praise. Classic, and clean, looking racing stripes paired with the incredibly deep blue and black have produced one of the, dare we say, sexiest looking combinations to hit the track in years. While the familiar neon #48 numbers are gone, once the scheme hit the track few remembered they even existed. Although many yearn for the thicker pin-striping found on the initial reveal, beggers can’t be choosers.
#51 – Kurt Busch – Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme (Team) – Regular Scheme – (Driver)
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Phoenix Racing may have hit the jackpot in hiring former Cup Champion Kurt Busch after his abrupt exit from Penske Racing. Attracting their first serious sponsors since long time sponsor Miccosukee Gaming left, this is easily the most interesting driver-team paring in the series this year. The transition between the design on the side and the stripe running along the front fender is awkward at best, but for a scheme and sponsor that came together quickly it’s still better than some.
#55 – Mark Martin – Aaron’s Toyota Camry
2011 – Regular Scheme (Driver)
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Mark Martin, entering the eighth year of his retirement tour, moves over to Michael Waltrip Racing for a partial schedule in 2012. Virtually the inverse of car owner Michael Waltrip’s scheme, the #55 is car that screams not bad, but definitely could be better. As with the Front Row Motorsports car, much debate revolves around the number styling, the majority of which decry them. Can’t say I blame them.
#56 – Martin Truex, Jr. – NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
The easiest way to sum up Martin Truex, Jr.’s car? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
#78 – Regan Smith – Furniture Row Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Aside from Bayne’s Daytona 500 victory, Regan Smith had the most popular first wins in NASCAR history last season in Darlington. Fans have grown to appreciate the normally flat black car with bright orange numbers as one of the simplest, yet best looking, in the sport. As they did last year for the 500, gloss black dominates, but never fear… the flat black will be back next week in Las Vegas.
#83 – Landon Cassill – Burger King Toyota Camry
2011 – N/A
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
You know a scheme is bad when the announcers mock it. Past renditions of cars sponsored by Burger King dwarf whatever unimaginative person designed this one. Even more sad is that the team had options for a good, classic looking scheme yet decided that this ultimately was better. Ray Charles would have cringed at this paint scheme. That’s really all you can say about it.
#87 – Joe Nemechek – AMFMEnergy.com Toyota Camry
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Front Row Joe may not have been within walking distance of the front row in several years, but nonetheless he returns for his 19th Cup season in his familiar blue Camry.
#88 – Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – Diet Mtn Dew/National Guard Chevrolet Impala
2011 – Regular Scheme 1 – Regular Scheme 2
2012 – Regular Scheme 1 / Daytona 500 Scheme – Regular Scheme 2
Switching to Diet Mtn Dew instead of PEPSICO’s brand Amp, NASCAR’s most popular driver employs a striking change to one of his primary schemes. While the National Guard design remains unchanged, the his Diet Mtn Dew scheme glimmers in silver and a deep green. Fans either loved or hated the scheme at its unveiling, which is typical of anything involving Junior, it is, if anything, a more interesting design than in years past.
#93 – David Reutimann – Burger King Toyota Camry
2011 – N/A
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
See Car #83 or say it with me… Yikes.
#98 – Michael McDowell – K-Love Ford Fusion
2011 – N/A
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
This week’s other Cinderella story, McDowell raced his car into the Daytona 500 field via the Gatorade Duels. Plain paint scheme or not, everyone loves an underdog.
#99 – Carl Edwards – Fastenal Ford Fusion
2011 – Regular Scheme
2012 – Regular Scheme / Daytona 500 Scheme
Few athletes have had a more heartbreaking defeat and handled it with more class than Carl Edwards. 2011 sponsor Aflac has taken a step back this season, allowing new primary sponsor Fastenal to take center stage with one of the sport’s most successful drivers. Carrying over from Edward’s 2011 Nationwide scheme, the design appears to fit the Cup car much better than the Nationwide Mustang.
Benchies
by Rick Pearson
Details, details…
And, as always, your full-size.
Uni Tweaks Concepts
We have another new set of tweaks, er…concepts today. After discussion with a number of readers, it’s probably more apropos to call most of the reader submissions “concepts” rather than tweaks. So that’s that.
So if you’ve concept for any sport, or just a tweak or wholesale revision, send them my way.
Please do try to keep your descriptions to ~50 words (give or take) per image — if you have three uniform concepts in one image, then obviously, you can go a little over, but no novels, OK? OK!. You guys have usually been good with keeping the descriptions pretty short, and I thank you for that.
And so, lets begin:
We start with Trent John, who has a new helmet design for Utah:
Phil:
If they take the Utah logo away why not pull a Oregon and go with this look
Trent
Next up is Kyle Hardee who enjoyed THE’s concept, and went a bit further:
Phil-
I liked the logo concept The Jeff used on a Detroit Lions helmet for the 1/1/12 edition of the blog so, I made a logo and helmet myself using his concept.
-Kyle Hardee
And we conclude with Cal N. who has a Pistons concept:
Hey there,
I have been following the blog for quite a few years now. I have an interest and college degree (moreover an expensive picture on the wall) in graphic design and also in sports/sports uniforms. I have participated in a few contests with a website called puckdrawn.com. Confined to only hockey design submissions, I decided to redesign the Detroit Pistons’ brand. I have read that they are redesigning the brand in 2012-13 anyhow.
I heard they are striding for an “uprising” feel to the brand.
– Cal
And that’s all for this week. Back with more next weekend.
And finally…the Oscars
One of the few talents I have (for some strange reason) is picking the Oscar winners, at least for the “Big 6” awards. (Here’s the full list of nominees.)
This year is no different.
So, after the NBA ASG (or in lieu of it, if 176-174 games aren’t your style), tune in to the show.
And see if you can’t beat these picks (feel free to post your own predictions below). If anyone beats me, there just may be a prize for you. First reader to beat me (if there is such a beast) will win something…
My Picks:
Best Picture: The Artist
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Best Actor: Jean Dujardin
Best Actress: Viola Davis
Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer
Best Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer
There you have it. Take your best shot.
Great job with that lede (and it’s even longer than my usual Sunday fare), Jory. What a full load of sports and entertainment today, just before the spring training games of MLB begin this coming week. Everyone have a great Sunday and I will see you next weekend.
“I’m a plain leather shoe type of guy. I wear suits (and appropriate shoes) to work and wear penny loafers with jeans on weekends. Most sneakers look garish to me.” — Jeff Pudlo
Before you get into the comments about today’s article, I notice that someone yesterday commented on there being Australian Rules teams in the USA.
No stranger than this from my local newspaper, I think :)
link
Go, Cam!
Totally love the Oscar Gamble shot.
I have a question – who’s driving the 09 car? There’s an 09 car in that gallery between the 7 and 9, and no link here to it.
It’s Kenny Wallace. His team didn’t make the 500, so that’s probably why it’s not listed above.
I never watch NASCAR, so I have to ask…
are cars required to have fake headlights?
oh man…i never miss NASCAR…
i never watch it so i never miss it
hey martay…don’t you think the cars would look pretty stupid without fake headlights on them?
Yep. You wouldn’t want to tarnish link by removing the “headlights.”
I mean, seriously, thank God for those headlightesque decals or link.
“One more bumper sticker…”
I always laugh at the part in “Cars” when they call Lightning McQueen “Stickers”.
You’re right. It would look stupid.
That’s probably why so many of us love these shirts.
link
Oh… and I forgot to say, “Speaking of headlights…”
Uh, no one loves those shirts, man.
Can we be serious for minute here, The Jeff?
It’s O.K to admit that you like something even if you risk being unpopular. And in this case, these shirts are very popular. There isn’t a single person on this planet that doesn’t love those shirts.
link
I am being serious, those shirts are horrible. People that actually look like that don’t need them, and the people that tend to wear them are ones that we really don’t want to look at in the first place.
surely you can’t be serious
…something something don’t call me Shirley something something…
Mr. Hick, you know damn well that The Provo hates America, so therefore he can’t possibly approve of something that represents everything that is great about this country.
The founding fathers would be spinning in their graves should he ever click the like button on those beauties.
But that’s what is so priceless about those tees. You put one of them on and everyone thinks you have a perfect body.
I even added chest hair to mine just to make it EVEN MORE realistic.
Marty, are you staring at my shirt boobs?
Marty, are you staring at my shirt boobs?
QOTD
I think I speak for all of us, Shane, when I say, “Yes.”
Nice. I was just trying to pay the lady a compliment. We all know that people appreciate being told they’re attractive, screw political correctness. Chr*st, you yourself referred to her as “the appropriately named [sic] Jenny Sweet” (link); so you set the tone for this sh*t and then get all hysterical when somebody follows your lead? Who’s the “d*ck-for-brains moron” now?? What a f*cking hypocrite.
I guess Rush Limbaugh is right about what uptight, arrogant frauds you ESPN people are; how do you ever sit down at all with those sticks up your ass*s?
F*ck you, your column, your site, and everything you represent, and may you go totally blind; “see” how that works out for you. I hope you and all the rest of you snob-ass*s burn in Hell for all eternity (and I hope it’s all ACCURSED PURPLE down there). And your toothless dog too.
“Thanks.”
I think he meant cat.
@reply to His Most Self-Righteousness, lukas:
Go away.
guys…
don’t feed the troll
A NASCAR article with no mention of Dick Trickle? What the…!
Not a NASCAR fan, not even a little bit—but when you mention “Dick Trickle,” I recall one of the best SportsCenter meltdowns ever.
link
Nice work, Jory. I agree on the #24, it’s a mess. But I never understood the praise for Sam Bass’ “art” so it doesn’t surprise me. And once again the Wood Brothers’ #21 looks terrific.
Many forget he designed Gordon’s original paint scheme, as well as Terry Labonte’s Kellogg’s schemes, but he has really, really lost his way in recent years.
I’m not a fan of the speedometer motif for the Pistons, especially if used on a jersey (the large circle encasing the player number is too associated with the Golden State Warriors).
and the “dp” portion of the logo looks an awful lot like the “dc” version of Washington’s logo.
I kinda like the logo, but yeah, the jersey just doesn’t work.
I also feel like I’ve seen it before, but I’m not sure where.
link with the Red Wings’ retired numbers?
Nah… I’d have to actually watch hockey to have seen that. (I have recently sent in a few NHL concepts to Phil though, be warned)
This concept just seems really familiar though. Like it’d been submitted before or… something. I don’t know.
“I’d have to actually watch hockey to have seen that.”
Nah, there’s this blog/ESPN.com column called Uni Watch that is dedicated to stuff like that. You should check it out some time.
Indeed.
*throws rotten tomato*
It does seem familiar. From this board, in fact. I might have even suggested using Interstate Highway shields as opposed to the speedometer on the uniforms.
Or I might be losing what little mind I have…
Hey, want ed to give a shout out to John Turney’s colorization of the 1938 Giants-Eagles pic from yesterday.
That was awesome.
Just one item…do you really think the Eagles green was that dark in tone? I think it would have been a little bit lighter. Green had a tendency to go a little darker in those 1930’s b/w pics. Not as extreme as yellow or red, but a little darker than normal.
Nonetheless, tremendous effort and you are applauded for your work from this corner!
for the record tim, john didn’t actually do the colorizations — he added filters and the like, which is still pretty cool, but the actual colorizations were done by George Chilvers and Larry Bodnovich, respectively
I beg your pardon.
Then, additional love for George and LarryB!!
Thanks to all!!
Thank you :)
Thanks timmy b
It will be an upset tonight if those aren’t the Oscar winners in the major categories. Which is why watching sporting events is so much more interesting than award shows.
For the record, CBS said this morning the 26 David Raines car will carry an ad for Rick Santorum. Does Santorum realize the car only turns left?
Wonder if the car will be a brown & white color
Something about that just seems really wrong to me…
odd, no?
would any NASCAR fans support a social conservative?
(R)edneck/(R)epublican. Same thing, right?
Not always.
Nothing says, “I’m a regular, work-for-a-living, struggling-to-make-ends-meet kinda guy” like putting an ad on a NASCAR vehicle.
So you’re saying it’s more up Mitt’s alley?
who among us doesn’t like NASCAR?
Exactly. Or Newt’s.
minor detail, but it’s Tony Raines.
There were rumors back in ’08 that Obama (a Democrat, *gasp*) would pull a similar move and sponsor a car, but the plan never materialized.
Ron Paul ran on a car in one of the lower series last week. Although he looked more like Colonial Sanders than anything – link
Presidential candidates have done this sort of thing for decades.
Nothing makes me scroll through the top article faster than a post about nascar. It’s not even a sport. and if you’re insistent on covering that abomination of traffic wrapped up in the facade of competition, why is the focus on the car, and not the unitard thing the drivers/pit crew wear with 40,000 sponsor patches all over them?
…because the drivers aren’t running laps, so all we get to see is the cars.
I agree that it isn’t a sport, but it is still “an event”. It’s not like we really have anything else to talk about, since football season’s over and baseball season er, the NFL draft hasn’t started yet.
Jesus, The.
Hockey. HOCKEY.
good point shane
Basketball
THE doesn’t watch hockey, though, as he pointed out above.
I, on the other hand, am listening to the Penguins-Blue Jackets game. Interestingly enough, Mike Lange butchered the description of the Blue Jackets’ third, by attempting to describe the color on the Jackets’ shoulders as something between “gray” and “ochre”… even though the Pens use the same goddamn “vintage white” on their own navy thirds!
I see your point about there being nothing else going on right now. As much as I’d like that ‘activity’ to go far far away and never come back, enough people are into it.
btw completely unrelated, maybe i missed in the comments section recently or whatever, but I saw on cbssports.com in their little rumor things stills from a video showing the new Missouri football uniforms, and a sweet looking new helmet with a bright yellow instead of the gold they have now and a matte helmet. anyone else catch this or am i just out of it?
Does makes you wonder how big the USFL might have become by now had it not been led off by Donald Trump’s ego and instead stayed a spring league, doesn’t it?
Trump’s ego was indeed the downfall of that league. It would have been a viable sport at least as popular as Arena football is now, and my guess, quite a bit more popular. There are a lot of second tier players left off of NFL rosters that would have made the USFL very entertaining. This country is football crazy and a spring league would only add to that appetite. Now maybe the NFL would have had something to say about it, if it started to take off and eat into the combine, free agent, draft season they have going now, but they should have stuck with the niche they carved out.
Actually, if we look at the networks involved and the ratings the telecasts garnered, the USFL was bigger than Arena has been in it’s wildest dreams.
I remember when that whole Trump thing went down practically screaming at my TV, “Are you guys NUTS? You’ve got a pretty good thing going!”
But, hey, Trump was trying to litigate his way into getting an NFL franchise. He didn’t give a rat’s ass about the future of the USFL.
Too bad John Bassett (in Tampa) was dying. He was the guy who should have been out front, the one with the proper vision for the league.
Trump’s ego……that pretty much says everything you ever needed to know
“Trump’s ego”
~~~
isn’t that redundant?
“Nothing makes me scroll through the top article faster than a post about nascar.”
~~~
y’know…i’m no NASCAR fan, and i’m sure there aren’t many here…
but jory put a shit-ton of effort into today’s article — the least you could do is respect the effort and, if it’s not your cuppa, simply skip it, without the additional commentary
fair enough. I meant no disrespect to jory.
To me the term “sport” is defined as athletic competition with an objective scoring system that determines the winner. NASCAR fits that as much as cycling, basketball, football or any other ‘traditional’ sport. I see gymnastics, ice skating and cheerleading competitions as just that. Competitions. The subjective scoring removes them from consideration as sports for my money. But NASCAR is athletic competition with a clear objective scoring system – crossing the line first. So it is a sport. Not my cup of tea, but a sport nonetheless.
I would get a little more precise in the terms of the definition: An objectively scored game of physical skill. “Game” is an important part of it, and since “athletic” is the very word in contention, including it in the definition does nothing to clarify the issue. Is auto racing a game? Yes. Is it objectively scored? Yes. Is the outcome defined by differences in physical skill? Less so than most of what we think of as sports, but sufficiently for me to (grudgingly) accept it as a sport.
Still, it is not enough to show that a given candidate for inclusion as a sport has some physical component. Chess has a physical component; you have to move the pieces accurately and with some precision on the board. Yet chess is not a game of physical skill. Auto racing is closer to being a game of mental skill that happens to involve some physical activity than, say, track and field events. Which is why it’s arguable, but ultimately I’m persuaded that the physical element is decisive enough in the outcome for NASCAR to count as a sport under this definition.
I think you’re greatly underestimating the physical and mental skill needed to race a high powered car. There is a lot more than just mashing the gas and turning left.
For sometimes 4+ hours you are completely focused on what you are doing. I describe it to most people as driving to drive on ice, because that’s how the cars are set up to go fast. Until you’ve ever raced a car or done something like iRacing, it’s really hard to comprehend.
Actually, I think your response illustrates that I have it pretty much spot on. You write “physical and mental skill,” as if the two are the same thing. On the contrary. The two are starkly opposed to one another in terms of defining whether an activity is a sport. We’ve all thrown a football around; we understand intuitively and correctly that the game of football is determined by physical skill more than it is by mental skill. We’ve all driven automobiles in difficult or taxing conditions, whether in a snowstorm or on a no-sleep cross-country ride; we understand intuitively and correctly that mental acuity plays a greater role in determining success behind the wheel than it does in, say, football.
Or put it another way. The fittest, most physically fit idiot will never win a game of chess against the scrawniest, weakest person of average intelligence. The smartest, most mentally agile 90-pound weakling will never win a weightlifting competition against the dumbest guy who works out twice a week. Those are the extremes of metal versus physical skill in determining success in a competition. To argue strenuously that NASCAR is determined by physical skill to the same extent as, say, football, is to say that mental skill isn’t all that important. That the strongest or most agile or quick-reflexed driver will consistently beat the smarter driver. Which, if it were true, would make NASCAR kind of silly; you’d get the same results without the car. Just have the drivers run sprints and call it track and field.
I never hear my NASCAR-loving friends talk about how much weight any given driver presses, or how fast he runs the 100, or how quick he can plant and turn. NASCAR drivers are almost never praised in physical terms; the sports press does not cover races as physical tests between athletes. People talk about drivers being smarter or more strategic or having better instincts. These are mental skills, not physical. As I said, I grant that auto racing is sufficiently dependent on physical skill to meet my definition of “sport,” but it’s a closer call than football, precisely because mental skill is so important to the game.
Spot on. Race car liveries aren’t uniforms. This might as well be about billboards on the highway as that is what they are – rolling billboards.
Better to focus on the drivers’ suits – not just their advertising but construction for safety and comfort.
Oh, and referring to nascar drivers as “athletes” is beyond laughable.
I really don’t give a fuck about auto racing, and it’s clear you know next to nothing about it, but I’d be interested in hearing your argument against the drivers being worthy of the term “athletes.”
i know enough about it to know i dont like it. i respect it as difficult to do and dangerous as hell, but its still not a sport. and thus, the drivers are not athletes. driving a car is not athletic, no matter the speed. step 1) fit int he window. step 2) drive fast and turn left. Repeat.
Sport is athletic competitions between human beings. They involve physical feats. In nascar, the car is the one going 200+ mph around a track. it requires specific modifications and adjustments, mechanically. racing a machine, not matter how difficult is it, does not make the driver an athlete. Skilled, yes. probably crazy rich, yes. but not athlete.
You think link are wearing link. I stand by my statement.
I am no NASCAR fan. To me “Nascar” is the hillybilly pronunciation of “nice car”. However I do think there is a lot of athletic ability in being a NASCAR level driver. Strength, endurance and stamina, quick reflexes are all necessary for the sport. Those are all athletic qualities. It seems that there is a lot more than using your foot on the pedal and hands on the wheel. Give credit where credit is due.
No doubt. But if the athleticism of two drivers is equal, in theory the car will be the difference in who wins and who loses.
I’m sure the pilots in those Red Bull air races are great athletes, too. As are jockeys, for that matter, but Secretariat still remains a helluva lot better known than Ron Turcotte.
Such sports are about the manipulation and handling of a means of conveyance. Like, y’know, hot air balloon racing. As such, they have their own category, I guess.
Actually, I’m sill hoping for time trials down spiral parking ramps.
“A driver and a car.
’round and ’round and down to glory.”
It’d be fantastic. Betcha Maaco would sponsor it.
Haha
Most people forget that a lot of times the interior of the car is pushing 120+ degrees for four hours with no timeouts, halftimes, etc.
It’s been well documented that the more athletically fit a driver is, the better driver he is on the track, but naturally that isn’t always the case.
By using some of the logic here, I wouldn’t consider CC Sabathia an athlete. He doesn’t look like an athlete. He doesn’t run. All he does it make one repetitive motion time after time again. Yet we all know that he is, indeed, an athlete and that there is athletic qualities to that repetitive motion.
That’s why I said manipulation of a means of conveyance is sort of its own category.
Not wrong, just a different form of competition.
America’s Cup, for example.
Valid point.
There’s really not a ton of difference between cars today, so really it does come down to who is the better driver.
As for the parking garage idea… have you ever seen drifting?
this is what i was talking about:
Mizzou new digs
link
Who designed the compression shorts for the NFL Combine, the Village People?
Picture: Midnight in Paris
Director: Woody Allen
Actor: Jean Dujardin
Best Actress: Maryl Streep
Best Supporting Actor: Jonah Hill
Best Supporting Actress: Bernice Bejo
I meant George Clooney for Actor. Forgot to remove your pick in the copy/paste,
that may be the only one you get right (dujardin)
i take that back…
did NOT see meryl streep coming
UWers,
A year ago today, Phil threw me a bone and published my first feature here on Uni Watch. While I’ve come a long way since my OKC Thunder update, I would just like to say thanks to Paul and especially Phil for giving me a place to show my work.
Uni/logo designing is my current favorite hobby and I’m on a good path to make it my career (I hope). I want to thank all the people here who have given me ideas, comments and critiques over the past year, your insight has been taken into account even if you haven’t seen or realized it.
Thanks again to Phil and all of you regulars and I hope that next February we’ll all be talking about something else new and exciting in the sports design world.
-Tim E.
You’ve got a long, difficult road ahead of you. Not only because you need to sharpen your skills immensely, but because there are probably less than 100 people in the world (IN THE WORLD) who can say they have a career in sport uniform design.
Haha, I’ll settle for graphic designer, thanks for the pep talk. ;-)
Pittsburgh Penguins wearing white at home, allowing the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets to wear their alternates.
Oh, my God. Somehow, I managed to completely miss that Curtis Sanford is wearing light blue gear with the Blue Jacket’s third jersey this year. And it looks horrendous – mainly because it doesn’t look like it matches the “steel blue” on the jersey. The pads are too bright, too saturated in color. Steve Mason’s “union blue” third-jersey gear looks much more sane by comparison.
Of course, I’d rather see the thirds join their failed mascot, Boomer the
giant mustachioed phallic symbolcannon, on the scrapheap of history.replace Dujardin with Clooney and you’ll be 6-6
oh…so close
Great article today. Love the insight into a sport that I don’t normally follow. A question borne of naievete: is there any difference between the “Ford Fusion” and the “Toyota Camry” or “Chevy Impala” beyond the fake plastic shell of a body and the decals of hood and headlights? The detailing associating any given car with a production model looks so fake and superficial that I would otherwise assume that there’s absolutely nothing under the hood that connects with the production model each is pretending to be, so if there actually is a Fusion or an Impala under there, or meaningful bits of either, I’d love to know more about it.
There hasn’t been anything true “stock” about a stock car since the late 1960s. Parts of the body of the car, such as the hood, are identical to the production models, but that is about as close as you’ll get.
As for differences between makes, there can be quite a bit depending on the team. Each runs their own engine, which has to fit certain specifications, and so on. Part of the challenge in recent years has been exploiting the gray area either between suspensions, the engine and even the body.
Unfortunately in recent years the body’s have become very spec between the makes, but that’ll be changing starting next year. – link
I loved the thorough NASCAR coverage today. Great job!
On an unrelated note: Big hockey jersey foul, or biggest hockey jersey foul?
Front: link
Back: link
I mean, where do you even start with that?
(Credit to Mike Obrand, @HabsLaughs on Twitter, for that abomination.)
It would be a bigger foul if the NOB was CAN-ADA. Or the name and number were ORIGINAL 6.
THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THAT, EVER.
Frankenjerseys are, in and of themselves unacceptable – with the possible only exception being mothers of players who actually played for both teams – but that ranks right up there with Yankees-Red Sox, Giants-Dodgers, Cowboys-Redskins, and Michigan-Ohio State among the granddaddies of combination no-nos.
Though – at least he used a knock-off Leafs jersey! Wrong font for that logo!
Agreed. What actually drives someone to get a Frankenjersey (other than the mother example)?Even with the mother, maybe wear the jersey of the son playing at home (I’m sure the other son will still know you love him).
They look absolutly atrocious.
“Under armor” from the UW-WSU game: link
Not UnderArmour: that’s a Nike Pro Combat padded base layer shirt.
hence “under armor” not UnderArmour
The All Star Game unis suck. They could come up with any design they wanted, and THAT’S what they come up with? It looks like hoops if it were played on a Star Trek holodeck.
But the kids like ’em.
but the SHOES, man…the SHOES!
and it’s color vs. color, so jim vilk and THE approve, as does one robert p. marshall the third
ricko can’t tell the teams apart on his HMV 2634 “Imp”
I think Katy Perry wears short little red socks sometimes, doesn’t she?
Well, it is in Orlando, hometown of such marvels as Space Mountain and Spaceship Earth.
Why don’t they just use a transparent rubber basketball with a glowing green core? That’s where this is all heading anyway. Have the backboards levitate in mid-air with their own jet packs.
Play it on a black court with glowing lines and moon gravity and I’d watch that. (once)
link
for the court surface.
Not for the always-lovely Stockyard Channing.
It really just the shorts. If you’re going to make it a gradient, at least make the shorts the color of the bottom gradient.
The jersey and shorts look as mismatched as the gold Wizards combo.
link
OSCARS© on now. “WHO ARE U WEARING?”
Well, let’s see—hoodie by Russell Athletic..NYPD shirt from NY NY in Vegas, black t-shirt pants from JCPenney.
Hoodie by Nike… Sweatpants by I forget where I bought them… Socks from The Peoples’ Republic of China.
What the hell are t-shirt pants?
1 for 12 for 23 for 34 for 44 for 55 for 6good for ms. streep, even if she did cost me the perfect game
Dug the Oscar Gamble reference.
MERYL STREEP, SUCK IT PHIL!
did NOT see her coming…still, i’d rather be wrong about her than clooney
Never, ever, bet against Meryl Streep.
…except for those 14 times.
Oh, right… (sheepish duh)
On Mad Dog radio today there was talk about Terrel Owens’ debut in the arena football league Sat.nite. Are there photos of him, like whiich number he wore, which team-colors?? I did hear he caught 3 TD’s.
there was video of it on ESPN…he wore navy blue and silver…and #81
sounds very near to Patriots. There is speculation about Randy Moss joining same team. Also, Manny Ramirez is gonna don the green and yellow of Oakland?
here
His name looks similar to when he was in a Cowboys uni. “81” looks blotchy. Thanks for the pic Phil
he’s not playing in the AFL, it’s the link.
My predictions were pretty damn good.
Jory, great effort!
Sure they were, Matt.
Cars going around in circles is not a sport. What’s next what pro video game players wear?
But running in circles IS a sport. Got it.
Wow, that’s a lot of cars.
You can tell I’m not a racing expert, ’cause I don’t know what’s wrong with the Burger King cars’ schemes. I especially like the number font.
Ah, since I’m at it…
A Daytona 5(hundred)&1:
Honorable Mention to link – Always liked a Petty car, although if you have to have a sponsor, that one should have STP, right?
5. link – I like the solid color over the gradient of the #83.
4. link – Nice contrast, and the sponsor is auto-realted.
3. link – Although in a car race, a sponsor that does same-day delivery would be more appropriate than an overnight company…
2. link – Simple, bright color and a good font.
1. link – “Sponsorless”? I still see 20+ little logos on there. ;)
And the bad one: link – The 3M logo overpowers the bad-looking number font.
Ah…a little googling tells me that FedEx *does* do same-day delivery these days. Never mind…