Photo Credit: Hendrick Motorsports
On April 13, 2016, it was announced that the Gray Ghost would be resurrected as part of the throwback paint schemes planned for Darlington Raceway’s annual Bojangles Southern 500 over Labor Day weekend. Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet, will be its reviver, as it will be his paint scheme for the weekend.
Earnhardt Jr. and partner Nationwide revealed the throwback paint scheme at Darlington Raceway on Wednesday afternoon. The scheme has a lot of significance to the 41-year old third-generation driver due to his fascination with the history of the sport. The Grey Ghost was previously ran in 1980 by Buddy Baker when he won the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Raceway. It will also carry significant period-relevant signage from Nationwide, as they are celebrating their 90th anniversary today.
“As a significant NASCAR sponsor for almost 20 years, it was very hard for Nationwide not to be the primary sponsor last year in Darlington and sit on the sidelines for the inaugural throwback weekend,” said Jim McCoy, director of sports marketing for Nationwide. “When it came time for the 2016 race draft, we made Darlington a priority because of what Chip [Darlington Raceway General Manager Chip Wile] and the team have built around this race, but more importantly because of our shared passion with Dale for the history of this great sport.
“We tapped into Dale’s passion when designing this year’s throwback car. The 2016 No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS throwback design honors Buddy Baker’s No. 28 Gray Ghost paint scheme.”
This isn’t the first time that he has driven this retro paint scheme either, as he drove a silver, gray, and black scheme during the 2008 NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He is happy to be bringing this retro paint scheme back as he is a fan of all things retro as well as a fan of Buddy Baker because he felt the connection of being a son of a famous race car driver.
“When I was really young, I grew aware of his [Baker’s] situation,” Dale Jr. said last year on Sirius/XM Radio of the second-generation star, who passed away late last season. “I hadn’t become a driver yet and I didn’t feel like I could relate to him. But I knew what growing up in his household must have been like, the yearning to compete and get into the series, to do what your father was doing and be a part of it to be more a part of his life. Being part of his life is one of the main reasons why you get involved.
“He may have been able to appreciate what it was like, and there aren’t a whole lot of us out there. A lot of guys, like Dale Jarrett, I feel that connection with, of wanting to be in that shadow when you’re young and starting out, and then trying to get out of that shadow as you get older. I wouldn’t call it a struggle, but it’s a unique situation.”
The Bojangles Southern 500 is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 4 at Darlington, and will be televised by NBC Sports at 6 p.m. ET.
